"Clean-up of the bylaws"- PGA of America CEO clarifies LIV Golfers' eligibility in Ryder Cup
The PGA of America made a huge announcement on Thursday, September 19, regarding the eligibility of LIV Golf players to participate in the Ryder Cup. After the initial shock wears off, it looks like an announcement that most people might have known already: that, should they qualify or be selected, LIV Golf members can play in the Ryder Cup for America.
That was already the case, as Brooks Koepka was selected by Zach Johnson for the 2023 roster despite him playing on LIV. Kerry Haigh, the interim CEO for the PGA of America, said that this recent announcement was just to make everything as straightforward as possible.
Haigh, who took over when Seth Waugh stepped down in June, said that players might have needed additional requirements to get in, but this makes it much simpler for them to qualify in the same way moving forward.
The executive continued (via NBC Sports):
“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.”
It has been much harder for LIV Golf members to compete in events like this (they're prohibited entirely from the Presidents Cup) and Major tournaments, but it has not been impossible. That will remain so for the time being.
PGA CEO evens up restrictions on LIV players for Ryder Cup
While it's never been impossible for LIV Golf players to get into events, the lack of points in their events makes it harder. There are opportunities that so many have pursued at different times, but it's simpler for PGA Tour players.
For the Ryder Cup, that's changing. Kerry Haigh said they have cleaned up the bylaws to make sure LIV players don't have to jump through extra hoops. Via NBC Sports, he said:
“We’ve added the LIV tour to the list of tours that are eligible towards A-3 membership, which all [PGA] Tour members are eligible for. The LIV players had previously been [PGA of America] members but had we not done this they would have had to go through more requirements which no other tour members are asked to do.”
In the past, nothing has been done along these lines, but the golf world is slowly coming back together and this is yet another sign of that.