The US Open will become the first major to offer exemptions to LIV Golf players, introducing new qualification criteria for them to compete in the championship, the USGA announced on Wednesday.

The United States Golf Association became the first governing body to award LIV Golf a pathway into its flagship championship.

Starting with the 2026 U.S. Open, the USGA will take the leading player in the final 2025 individual standings, along with the leading player from the May 18, 2026, list.

The 2025 season of LIV Golf gets underway in Saudi Arabia this week with a flood-lit first event at the Riyadh Golf Club.  English star Tyrrell Hatton comes into this first tournament as the favorite ahead of defending individual champion and Legion XIII team captain Jon Rahm.

LIV Golf has agreed a deal with ITV to show live coverage of the 2025 season in the UK. Coverage will begin with the second round of the season-opening event in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, with 41 rounds of live golf shown across 14 tournaments on ITVX.

LIV Golf, the Saudi-backed rebel tour, has secured a landmark rights deal with ITV Sport to show live free-to-air coverage in the UK. The breakaway series had failed to land a major broadcast partner after forming in 2022,

LIV Golf has signed another new broadcast deal as ITV will now show the 2025 season on free-to-air television in the UK