In a major rule update by the PGA of America, LIV Golf players will now be eligible to participate both in the Ryder Cup as well as the PGA Championship. The Saudi-backed tour has been officially added to the list of ‘approved tours’ by the PGA of America.
Brooks Koepka was one of the only players last year to qualify for the Ryder Cup through the captain’s pick. Moving forward, the PGA of America has prioritised the talent pool of American golfers and have added LIV Golf to the approved tours roster.A statement released by the PGA of America said:
“To ensure the PGA Championship will continue to deliver the strongest field in golf and that the U.S. Ryder Cup team will continue to have access to the best American players, the PGA of America board has determined that LIV Golf players will be eligible for both.”
Getting the approval of LIV to be on the approved-to-participate list grants the players an A-3 PGA Membership that endears LIV for both events.
In future, all the players affiliated with LIV Golf are allowed to play PGA Championship while any of the American player can participate in Ryder Cup point earner or even one of the captain’s selections. This is in line with LIV Golf players who have been participating in the PGA Championship of the last two years. Yesterday last year Brooks Koepka represented the US Ryder cup team. “
This membership is the same eligibility that is been provided to the players as those that are on the PGA Tour and DP World Tour.
Chief Championship Officer of PGA of America provides further clarification regarding LIV Golf eligibility
PGA of America’s Chief Championship officer, Kerry Haigh, claimed that LIV players have always been eligible to play in both the events. According to NBC Sports, Haigh said:
LIV players have always been eligible and this cleanup of the bylaws just makes it more consistent with the other tours and will allow the best players in the world to play the PGA Championship and represent the U.S. team at the Ryder Cup, which has always been the case.”
The PGA of America has made significant changes to their Ryder Cup rules But is the DP World Tour to permit LIV players to compete for the Ryder Cup for the European team?