LIV Players Get Even More Pathways Into Majors with The Masters New Move

LIV Golfers are receiving even more pathways into the Major Championships, including The Masters, which made a new announcement today as it jointly aligns with The R&A with qualification requirements.

Augusta National Golf Club and The R&A, the organization that manages The Open Championship, have aligned on qualification criteria for their respective tournaments today, which will open immediately.

Augusta National Golf Club and The R&A jointly announced plans to align aspects of the qualification criteria for the Masters Tournament and @TheOpen, ensuring strong international pathways into both major championships.

— The Masters (@TheMasters) August 26, 2025

Fred Ridley, Chairman of Augusta National, said:

“The Masters Tournament has long recognized the significance of having international representation among its invitees. We, along with The R&A, have a shared commitment to the global game and are proud to work together. Today’s announcement strengthens our organizations’ collective vision of rewarding top talent around the world who rise to the top of historic national open championships. We hope this formal recognition shines a bright light on these players and the events they will represent at the Masters and The Open, beginning next year.” 

The Masters and The Open Championship will now allow winners of the Scottish Open, Spanish Open, Japan Open, Hong Kong Open, Australian Open, and South African Open into the tournaments, granting them a one-year exemption into those Majors.

With LIV Golfers not being able to play in other pathways, like PGA TOUR events, the Majors’ governing bodies are trying to find ways to get them into their tournaments. They also do not currently qualify for Official World Golf Ranking (OWGR) points, another easy pathway into the four biggest tournaments of the year.

However, not having those players there grants a disservice to fans and the tournaments themselves. Having high-caliber players from LIV absent from the biggest weekends of the year pulls back interest. That’s the last thing the sport of golf needs.

Mark Darbon, Chief Executive of the R&A, said:

“We take great pride in the range of qualification routes we offer to players around the world through The Open Qualifying Series. We share the same goal as Augusta National to offer places in both The Open and the Masters to players competing in national opens and by doing so to help to showcase and strengthen our sport in those regions. This creates an outstanding opportunity for players in all parts of the world to qualify and we firmly believe this will continue to enrich the quality of the fields in both major championships.” 

The 2026 Masters will be the 90th playing of the Masters Tournament and is scheduled for April 6 – 12. The 154th Open is scheduled for July 12 – 19 at Royal Birkdale.

Cover Image via The Independent