Perhaps the 2023 Open Championship at Royal Liverpool will be the final time there will be a clear distinction between two sets of competitors: those who are in the LIV Golf League and those who are not.
There will be 16 members of LIV Golf in the field this week when the Open begins on Thursday. That’s nearly one-quarter of the entire LIV Golf membership and barring any withdrawals, will tie for the second-most LIV players in one of the four major championships this year.
There were 18 LIV players who qualified for the Masters but two withdrew, Kevin Na and Louis Oosthuizen. The PGA Championship had 17 LIV players and the U.S. Open had 15.
Leading the LIV pack will be four past champions, defending champion Cameron Smith of Ponte Vedra Beach, Phil Mickelson, Louis Oosthuizen and Henrik Stenson.
By the time the 2024 Masters hits the calendar, it’s hopeful that the tentative peace and pending agreement between the PGA Tour and the Saudi Arabia Public Investment Fund (which bankrolls LIV) will have been finalized and its players allowed back on the PGA Tour and the DP World Tour.
Until then, LIV players are still barred from playing on the PGA Tour and DP World Tour and have only been able to play on the same course with them in the majors.
Here are the LIV players who qualified for the Open Championship:
Open record: Four appearances, two cuts made.
Best finish: Tie for 11th in 2022.
Best finish at Royal Liverpool: First appearance.
Open record: Four appearances two cuts made.
Best finish: Tie for 22nd, 2017.
Best finish at Royal Liverpool: First appearance.
Open record: Three appearances, two cuts made.
Best finish: Tie for 37th, 2017.
Best finish at Royal Liverpool: First appearance.
Open record: Five appearances, two cuts made.
Best finish: Tie for eighth, 2022.
Best finish at Royal Liverpool: First appearance.
Open record: Two appearances, two cuts made.
Talor Gooch was the first player to win three LIV Golf events.
Best finish: Tie for 33rd, 2021.
Best finish at Royal Liverpool: First appearance.
Open record: 10 appearances, eight cuts made.
Best finish: Tie for sixth, 2017.
Best finish at Royal Liverpool: Tie for 36th, 2014.
Open record: 13 appearances, 11 cuts made.
Best finish: Tie for 2nd, 2011.
Best finish at Royal Liverpool: Tie for 12th, 2014
Open record: Eight appearances, six cuts made.
Best finish: Tie for fourth, 2019.
Best finish at Royal Liverpool: Tie for 67th, 2014.
Open record: 28 appearances, 20 cuts made.
Best finish: Won in 2013.
Best finish at Royal Liverpool: Tie for 23rd, 2014.
Open record: Three appearances, two cuts made.
Best finish: Tied for 53rd, 2022.
Best finish at Royal Liverpool: First appearance.
Open record: 12 appearances, five cuts made.
Best finish: Won in 2010.
Best finish at Royal Liverpool: Tie for 36th, 2014
Open record: Five appearances, five made cuts.
Best finish: Tie for 28th, 2018.
Best finish at Royal Liverpool: First appearance.
Open record: Eight starts, five made cuts.
Best finish: 10th, 2019.
Best finish at Royal Liverpool: Missed cut, 2014.
Open record: 14 appearances, eight made cuts.
Best finish: Tie for seventh, 2014.
Best finish at Royal Liverpool: Tie for seventh, 2014.
Open record: Five appearances, four made cuts.
Best finish: Won in 2022.
Best finish at Royal Liverpool: First appearance.
Open record: 17 appearances, 13 made cuts.
Best finish: Won in 2016.
Best finish at Royal Liverpool: Tie for 39th, 2014.
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