Nine live golf stars including 2023 champion to miss The Open due to civil war with PGA

Published on: 16/07/2024

Nine live golf stars including 2023 champion to miss The Open due to civil war with PGA

LIVE golf’s ongoing civil war with the PGA Tour is pulling major stars away from the big stages.

Fans have missed out on seeing some of the world’s best players compete in major tournaments, and this week’s Open will be no different.

LIV Golf's nine big names will miss out on the chance to compete for the Claret Jug at The Open this weekend — LIV Golf’s nine big names will miss out on the chance to compete for the Claret Jug at The Open this weekendCredit: Getty

Last year's LIV Golf Champion Talor Gooch will not participate in this tournament — Last year’s LIV Golf Champion Talor Gooch will not participate in this tournamentCredit: Getty

Royal Troon is set to welcome golf’s most exciting players, but it has a few shortcomings. nine Many of live golf’s biggest names will not be heading to Scotland for the final major tournament of the season.

Stars who join the Saudi-backed circuit are unable to climb up the Official World Golf Ranking through their LIV performances.

This means they will have to rely on exemptions, excellent Major form or the tournament’s qualifying events to secure a spot in the field.

Here’s a look at the nine biggest names who won’t be participating in the world’s oldest golf tournament…

Sergio Garcia

Sergio Garcia, one of the best players in the world, has risen to 323rd in the world rankings after leaving the PGA Tour to join LIV Golf.

The 2017 Masters champion’s five-year exemption expired this year – leaving him to try to gain a place through qualifying.

The Spaniard put in a good effort but fell two shots short of booking his place in final qualifying at West Lancashire Golf Club.

Talor Gooch

The individual champion of LIV Golf in the previous year will be expected to participate in the Major tournament.

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However, his hard work in the Saudi League did not earn him any points in the world rankings and means his 751st ranking leaves him far from qualification.

Gooch did not have the opportunity to gain a place through qualification and turned down the chance to play in the qualifiers.

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Sergio García failed to qualify for the event.Credit: Getty

Talor Gooch turned down chance to qualify despite being reigning LIV golf championCredit: Getty

Paul Casey

Another LIV golf star who turned down the chance to play in Final Qualifying.

The former world number three has not played a major tournament since the 2022 Open at St Andrews.

Ian Poulter

Despite having once finished second at the Open, Ryder Cup hero Ian Poulter has turned down the chance to play in Final Qualifying to take his place this year.

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Postman said he had decided not to participate in the tournament in order to spend the holidays with his family.

while talking to talkSPORT“I had the ability to go and qualify, but I couldn’t do it,” he said.

“I was on a family holiday in Switzerland. That’s what LIV Golf has given me, a chance to spend a little more time with the family. My schedule is still quite busy, playing 14 tournaments at LIV.”

Ian Poulter declined to apply for qualification in favour of holidaying with his familyCredit: Getty

Lee Westwood

Now turning to the LIV Tour as well as senior golf, Westwood has turned down the chance to enter The Open through qualifying.

Westwood, 51, did the same last year — ending his 27th consecutive appearance at the Open.

Bubba Watson

Two-time Masters champion Bubba Watson has never had much success at the Open, with his best finish being T23 in 2012.

So it comes as no surprise that the 45-year-old won’t be competing this year either.

His lifetime exemption into the Masters means the annual Augusta appearance is the only time he competes in major championships these days.

Bubba Watson is rarely seen in major competitions these daysCredit: Getty

Thomas Peters

Belgium’s Thomas Pieters is another star who will not be playing at Royal Troon.

The 32-year-old was once as high as 23rd in the world rankings but is now placed 310th.

martin kaymer

The 2014 US Open champion is another LIV star who turned down qualification.

Martin Kaymer earned a berth at last month’s U.S. Open at Pinehurst but will not participate in this weekend’s events.

Graeme McDowell

Another US Open champion who won’t be participating.

Graeme McDowell, who won the US Open in 2010, had tried to qualify but failed during the Kent Final Qualifying.

LIV Golf Qualifiers

Despite nine big names not featuring at Royal Troon this week, there are a few LIV stars who will be competing for the Claret Jug.

Exemptions, world ranking position and qualification mean players such as Brooks Koepka, Bryson DeChambeau and Phil Mickelson will be able to play in Scotland.