Talor Gooch won’t play in 2024 US Open, USGA confirms

Talor Gooch does not qualify for any exemptions to play in the US Open and has just announced his decision to opt out of the qualifying process. The issue has raised eyebrows and sparked debates about the fairness of the invitation process, with a high peak after the United States Golf Association (USGA) confirmed that Talor Gooch will not receive any special treatment.

USGA CEO Mike Whan, confirmed in a recent interview with Sports Illustrated that several LIV players are already exempt, and many others are set to try to qualify for a spot at the U.S. Open. He emphasized that the USGA welcomes any golfer who’s good enough to qualify to compete in the U.S. Open, including everyone from LIV Golf.

As for the LIV Golf players (including Talor Gooch), Whan said they will be welcomed “with open arms,” but those who are not exempt will have to earn their spot in the field through the qualifying process. Ergo, no special invitations for the breakaway league.

“There is a good chunk of LIV players and other major winners who are already in and have played since LIV started playing and we’re proud of that,” Whan said. “But there are a lot of great players on the DP World Tour, the PGA Tour, the Korn Ferry Tour, and the Asian Tours that aren’t in either and they have to go play 36 holes and try to qualify.”

“We saw it last year, we had a pretty consequential amount of LIV players go to qualify. We had players who went to qualify and got in and some went to qualify and didn’t. The same will be true this year.”

“When people talk about other majors, some of those majors are kind of full and the only way to get in is an invite. In our case, half of our field is not only not full, it’s wide open. If you’re good enough to get in, we welcome you with open arms.”

Hours earlier, Talor Gooch, speaking from Singapore where he is playing in the seventh event of the LIV Golf season, said he would not seek a spot in the US Open field through the qualifying process.

🏆🇺🇸 World #624 Talor Gooch on if he plans to play in a U.S. Open qualifying event: “I’m not.”

Should the USGA give LIV Golf’s Talor Gooch a special exemption? pic.twitter.com/enhnD2SIwh

— NUCLR GOLF (@NUCLRGOLF) May 2, 2024

Talor Gooch is on his own in this position. 35 of LIV Golf’s 54 players entered the qualifying process, including major champions such as Sergio Garcia, Henrik Stenson and Graeme McDowell. LIV Golf’s 2024 leader, Joaquin Niemann, will also be looking to advance in the local qualifying event.

In addition, a total of eight LIV Golf players are exempt from playing in the US Open. They are Martin Kaymer, Bryson DeChambeau, Brooks Koepka, Dustin Johnson, Phil Mickelson, Jon Rahm, Tyrrell Hatton and Cameron Smith.

The U.S Open, one of the most prestigious golf tournaments, is fast approaching. Set to take place at the renowned Pinehurst Resort from June 13-16, 2024, the event is expected to draw top golfers from around the globe. 

Talor Gooch’s Absence from the U.S Open

Talor Gooch’s absence from the tournament has raised questions about the fairness of the qualifying process. While golfers like golf legend Tiger Woods received a special invitation, Gooch, despite his three LIV Golf victoris in 2023, did not. This discrepancy has led to calls for a review of the qualifying criteria, with some critics arguing that the USGA’s decision to change its qualifying criteria has unfairly impacted Gooch.

In response to these criticisms from Talor Gooch and others, Whan defended the USGA’s decision, stating that any changes to the criteria would inevitably impact someone. He also pointed out that the U.S Open provides more open qualifying spots than any other major championship, offering a chance to play to anyone who’s not in one of their exempt spots.

The U.S. Open’s qualifying process is designed to ensure that the tournament field is composed of the best golfers from around the world. However, the process has been criticized for being too restrictive, with some arguing that it favors golfers who are already established on the PGA Tour.

Talor Gooch’s decision not to qualify for the U.S. Open highlights the challenges faced by golfers who are not part of the PGA Tour. While the U.S. Open is open to all golfers, the qualifying process can be daunting, especially for those who are not part of the tour, namely LIV golf players.

The U.S. Open’s qualifying process is just one aspect of the larger debate about the future of golf. As the sport continues to evolve, it is likely that the qualifying process will also undergo changes to ensure that it remains fair and inclusive for all golfers.

In the meantime, golf fans will be eagerly watching the U.S. Open to see how the tournament unfolds. With 35 LIV golf players attempting to qualify, the field is shaping up to be one of the most diverse in recent history.