Opportunity knocks for McKibbin as USGA announces US Open exemptions for LIV Golf
Tom McKibbin tees off on the 11th hole during the first round of the 2024 U.S. Open at Pinehurst Resort & C.C. (Course No. 2) in Village of Pinehurst, N.C. on Thursday, June 13, 2024. (Logan Whitton/USGA)
Tom McKibbin may get to play in more than one major this year after the USGA announced an exemption for a LIV Golfer player for June’s US Open at Oakmont.
In announcing its exemption categories for 2025, the USGA revealed that a full exemption will be awarded to the top player (not otherwise exempt) who is in the top 3 of the 2025 LIV Golf Individual Standings as of May 19.
In addition, an exemption from local qualifying will be awarded to the top 10 players from the 2025 LIV Golf Individual Standings on April 7.
The USGA also announced concessions to LIV Golf that will apply for the 2026 US Open at Shinnecock Hills.
For 2026, the top player (not otherwise exempt) in the top three of the Final 2025 LIV Golf Individual Standings and the top player (not otherwise exempt) who is in the top three of the 2026 LIV Golf Individual Standings as of May 18, next year will also get to play.
“The USGA continues to evaluate the pathways that exist to ensure those playing their best have the opportunity to compete in our national championship,” said John Bodenhamer, the USGA’s chief championships officer. "Consistent with our historical approach, we continuously evaluate talent levels on professional tours and in amateur events, which has led us to add a new exemption category."
The exemptions are good news, not only for McKibbin but for 2010 US Open winner Graeme McDowell, whose exemption for winning at Pebble Beach ran out at Winged Foot in 2020.
McKibbin said on the eve of the season-opening LIV Riyadh event in Saudi Arabia that potentially missing out on chances to qualify for the Ryder Cup and the Majors by joining LIV was something he considered.
He opted to sign for Legion XIII anyway, despite advice to the contrary from Rory McIlroy "I'm not in those majors anyway at the minute, so it really didn't bother me too much,” said McKibbin, who finished joint 41st on his US Open debut at Pinehurst No 2 last year
LIV Golf members currently exempt for this year’s US Open include past winners Bryson DeChambeau (2024), Jon Rahm (2021), Brooks Koepka (2018), Dustin Johnson (2016); 2024 US Senior Open winner Richard Bland; former US PGA winner Phil Mickelson (2021); and former Open winner Cameron Smith (2022).
Rory McIlroy (top 10 at Pinehurst last year) and Shane Lowry (Tour Championship qualifier) are the only Irish players exempt so far for this year’s US Open, which will be played at Oakmont from June 12-15.
List of 2025 U.S. Open exemption categories from local and final qualifying
F-1. Winners of the U.S. Open Championship the last 10 years:
F-2. From the 2024 U.S. Open Championship, the 10 lowest scorers and anyone tying for 10th place:
F-3. Winner of the 2024 U.S. Senior Open Championship:
F-4. Winner of the 2024 U.S. Amateur Championship:
F-5. Winners of the 2024 U.S. Junior Amateur and U.S. Mid-Amateur Championships, and the 2024 U.S. Amateur runner-up (must be an amateur):
F-6. Winners of the Masters Tournament 2020-2025:
F-7. Winners of the PGA of America Championship 2021-2025:
F-8. Winners of The Open conducted by the R & A 2021-2024:
F-9. Winners of The Players Championship 2023-2025:
F-10. Winner of the 2024 DP World Tour BMW PGA Championship.
F-11. Those players who qualified and were eligible for the season-ending 2024 Tour Championship:
F-12. Multiple winners of PGA Tour events that award a full-point allocation for the FedExCup, from the conclusion of the 2024 U.S. Open (June 13-16) to the initiation of the 2025 U.S. Open:
F-13. The Top 5 players in the 2025 FedExCup standings as of May 19, 2025, who are not otherwise exempt:
F-14. The points leader from the 2024 Korn Ferry Tour season using combined points earned on the Official Korn Ferry Tour Regular Season Points Standings and points earned in the Korn Ferry Tour Finals:
F-15. The top two players from the final 2024 Race to Dubai Rankings, who are not otherwise exempt as of May 19, 2025.
F-16. The top player on the 2025 Race to Dubai Rankings as of May 19, 2025, who is not otherwise exempt.
F-17. Winner of the 2024 Amateur Championship staged by the R&A (must be an amateur)
F-18. Winner of the 2024 Mark H. McCormack Medal (Men’s World Amateur Golf Rankings) (must be an amateur)
F-19. Winner of the 2025 NCAA Division I Men’s Individual Golf Championship (must be an amateur)
F-20. Winner of the 2025 Latin America Amateur Championship (must be an amateur)
F-21. From the current Official World Golf Rankings, the top 60 points leaders and ties as of May 19, 2025.
F-22. From the current Official World Golf Rankings, the top 60 points leaders and ties as of June 9, 2025
F.23. Winner of the 2024 Olympic Gold Medal, contested August 1-4, 2024:
F.24. The top player who is not otherwise exempt and in the top 3 of the 2025 LIV Golf Individual Standings as of May 19, 2025.
F-25. Special exemptions selected by the USGA. Deadline for submission of request: May 15, 2025
