AUSTRALIAN OPEN (Dec. 4-7, 2025) – Current LIV Golf players have thrived in Australia’s national open in recent years, winning four of the past five competitions – Abraham Ancer in 2018, Matt Jones in 2019, Adrian Meronk in 2022 and Joaquin Niemann in 2023 (the tournament was canceled in 2020 and 2021 due to Covid). Cameron Smith’s Masters exemption for winning the 2022 Open still has two years left, so he’s good for next year, but his fellow Rippers Jones, Marc Leishman and Lucas Herbert could use an invite.
SOUTH AFRICAN OPEN (Feb. 26-March 1, 2026) – Three members of Stinger GC – Dean Burmester, Branden Grace and captain Louis Oosthuizen – are past champions of their national open, and each currently lacks a Masters invite. (The fourth Stinger, Charl Schwartzel, won the Masters in 2011 and would gladly enjoy some company next April.)
Although The Open Championship has yet to announce its exemptions for the 2026 Open, R&A officials indicated they will be aligned with Augusta National in terms of exemptions for the selected national opens. That’s especially good news for the Hong Kong Open, which wasn’t part of the exemption list this year.
The Australian Open, South African Open, and Scottish Open already were part of The Open Qualifying Series for 2025, and the Japan Open champion also received an exemption, so now the winner of those Opens will be able to double-dip into two majors.
“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,” said Mark Darbon, Chief Executive of The R&A.
LIV Golf players, accustomed to playing a global schedule, have shown an inclination to compete in these historic tournaments. With the added incentive of a potential trip to Augusta National next April, their participation numbers could grow. The offseason promises to be a busy one for players chasing major invites, but the reward just became substantially more intriguing.
EXEMPTIONS
Confirmed exemptions for LIV Golf players for next year’s four majors. Other exemptions will be determined via ranking, qualifiers, special invitations and other pathways based on each tournament’s qualifications. Tyrrell Hatton, for instance, is expected to receive a PGA Championship exemption based on his Ryder Cup participation this month.
