The British Open at Royal Troon this month represents the final major of the golf calendar, with several big-name LIV Golf stars set to be absent after Final Qualifying.
This month, the Open Championship will be held at Royal Troon, but it is notable that many big-name players will not be participating in the tournament.
The emergence of LIV Golf as a competitor to the PGA Tour caused controversy within the golfing community and created waves in the world of sports.
However, players who switched to the Saudi-backed circuit have faced a setback. LIV Golf’s players are required to compete in qualifying events because the organization does not have recognition from the Official World Golf Rankings. This means that their spots in tournaments are not guaranteed unless they receive exceptions.
Ahead of the fourth and final major of the year, here are nine LIV Golf stars – including the 2023 overall individual champion – who will be absent from The Open.
Talor Gooch.
Despite winning three times on last year’s LIV Golf circuit where he beat high-profile players in the season-long points race, Talor Gooch will not compete at The Open. The 2023 individual LIV Golf champion spoke openly about his willingness to play in the major tournaments, but he turned down the chance to qualify for both the U.S. Open and The Open through Final Qualifying, while he also failed to receive an invite to Augusta.
Sergio Garcia.
On Tuesday, Sergio Garcia learned he will miss the British Open after the LIV Golf star fell two shots short in Final Qualifying at West Lancashire Golf Club. The Spaniard enjoyed a fine start to the day, carding a solid one-under-par 70 in his opening round in difficult conditions. While he improved in the second round, the Fireballs captain fell two shots short at three-under and has now failed to get through British Open qualifying in successive years.
Bubba Watson.
The Open has never been kind to Bubba Watson, who is struggling to find any form at the wrong end of the LIV Golf individual standings. Aside from his annual appearance to Augusta, the two-time Masters champion – whose best finish at the Open was T23 – appears done with playing majors as he settles into life on the Saudi-backed circuit.
Paul Casey.
Paul Casey has not played in a major since the 2022 Open at St. Andrews. The five-time European Ryder Cup star is currently applying his trade at LIV Golf as part of Bryson DeChambeau ’s Crushers GC, and he opted not to play in Final Qualifying.
Ian Poulter.
For the second year in a row, Ian Poulter turned down the opportunity to play in Final Qualifying. The beloved Englishman and Ryder Cup hero has played in 20 Open Championships, finishing second and third in 2008 and 2013 respectively. The Majesticks GC star will instead be among the home favourites at LIV Golf UK, which is held at JCB Golf Club the following week.
Lee Westwood.
Despite making his debut in the over-50s majors at the U.S. Senior Open, Lee Westwood turned down the opportunity to qualify for The Open. The former world No.1 has made 27 consecutive appearances at The Open Championship from his 1995 debut, but will instead simply compete in LIV Golf where he sits 33rd after a tied-third finish in Nashville.
Martin Kaymer.
Martin Kaymer, the 2014 U.S. Open champion, will not tee off at The Open after deciding not to attend qualifying. On his return to Pinehurst No. 2 last month, Kaymer made the cut but is languishing down in 38th in the LIV Golf standings.
Graeme McDowell.
Graeme McDowell, a winner of four PGA Tour events and the 2010 U.S. Open, hails from Northern Ireland. He is having a successful season with Smash GC, achieving three top-10 finishes.
Despite participating in Kent Final Qualifying, McDowell was unable to secure a spot in the field at Royal Troon. This means that McDowell has not competed in a major tournament since 2020.
Thomas Pieters
Thomas Pieters is a six-time European Tour winner, but the Rangegoats GC player will not contest a single major in 2024. The Belgian now finds himself outside the top 300 in the OWGR after his departure from the PGA Tour, while he sits in 30th in the LIV Golf standings.
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