LIV Golfers now eligible to play in the Ryder Cup and PGA Championship in major PGA of America rule update
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."
Being added to the list of approved tours provides LIV with an A-3 PGA Membership that makes them eligible for both the events.
"Going forward, all LIV Golf players are eligible for the PGA Championship and any American player who qualifies for the Ryder Cup on points or is added to the U.S. team as a captain's pick is eligible to compete. This is consistent with LIV Golf players competing in the PGA Championship the past two years. Brooks Koepka was a member of the U.S. Ryder Cup team last year."
This membership is the same eligibility that is offered to those players 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."
While the PGA of America has made major updates to their Ryder Cup rules, the question of the DP World Tour allowing LIV players to play the Ryder Cup for the European team still remains.