Dozens of LIV Golf members have jetted to the Far East to take part in the Hong Kong Open, where spots in the Masters and Open Championship are up for grabs after a rule change
Talor Gooch is among the LIV Golf players competing in the Hong Kong Open(Image: Michael Miller/ISI Photos/ISI Photos via Getty Images)
More than half of LIV Golf’s roster will compete at the Hong Kong Open this week, with coveted spots at the Masters and Open Championship on the line after a major rule change.
Major champions Patrick Reed, Graeme McDowell, Louis Oosthuizen and Martin Kaymer headline the field for the Asian Tour International Series event, which tees off at Hong Kong Golf Club in Fanling on Thursday.
A $2 million purse and a top prize of $360,000 are up for grabs, but for many of the players involved, the most significant rewards on offer are invites to Augusta National and Royal Birkdale next year. It comes after Augusta National and The R&A agreed to major changes to its qualification pathways.
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Many LIV players have struggled to qualify for major championships since joining the breakaway league due to the absence of world ranking points, making this week’s event in Fanling a huge opportunity to play their way onto the sport’s biggest stages.
The winner of the event will receive an invitation to The Masters, while the highest finisher not already exempt will punch their ticket to Royal Birkdale.
The allure of major championship qualification has attracted a star-studded field to Hong Kong. Reed, the reigning champion in Hong Kong, is already exempt for the Masters due to his 2018 win, but he has yet to secure his place at The Open.
It is the inverse for 43-year-old Oosthuizen, who has an exemption for The Open through his 55th birthday, but the former World No. 4 has not played in the Masters since 2023.
Patrick Reed is the defending champion in Hong Kong(Image: Getty Images)
Kaymer and McDowell, major winners more than a decade ago, have been frozen out of both tournaments in recent years and are eager to make a return to the pinnacle of the game. Charl Schwartzel, the 2011 champion at Augusta National, has a lifetime Masters exemption, but has played in just one of the past six editions of The Open.
In addition to the established names competing in Hong Kong, a host of LIV’s young guns are chasing the opportunity of playing in the majors. Rory McIlroy protege Tom McKibbin, American talent Caleb Surratt and Spain’s Josele Ballester are in the field at Fanling.
The Hong Kong Open has long been a revered event among players, with McIlroy, Justin Rose, Colin Montgomerie and Greg Norman among its previous winners.
Cho Minn Thant, commissioner and CEO of the Asian Tour, is delighted to see the event’s prestige recognized by Augusta National and the R&A.
LIV Golf members at Hong Kong OpenFull-time membersTalor GoochHarold Varner IIIGraeme McDowellKevin NaAdrian MeronkDean BurmesterRichard BlandThomas PietersJinichiro KozumaMatt JonesJosele BallesterJason KokrakSam HorsfieldDanny LeeCharles Howell IIIPatrick ReedTom McKibbinDavid PuigMartin KaymerLouis OosthuizenCharl SchwartzelPaul CaseyChieh-po LeeCaleb SurrattPeter UihleinBen CampbellAnirban LahiriReserve playersWade OrmsbyJohn CatlinOllie SchniederjansMaximilian RottluffMinkyu KimRelegated players
“This is a phenomenal announcement which is tremendously important to our members and the Asian region,” he said in a statement.
“The Link Hong Kong Open has been one of the pillars of the Asian Tour over many decades. The recognition from Augusta National Golf Club and The R&A naming them as a gateway event to their illustrious Major Championships acknowledges the heritage and stature of the tournament in Asia.
“We are extremely thankful the two bodies recognise the rising level of talent of professional golf in Asia by providing this incredibly important pathway.”
Fred Ridley, chairman of Augusta National, announced the qualification changes in August, with some PGA Tour events losing their qualification places.
“The Masters Tournament has long recognised the significance of having international representation among its invitees,” he said, explaining the decision.
Augusta National boss Fred Ridley has sought to create a more international field for the Masters(Image: Getty Images)
“We, along with The R&A, have a shared commitment to the global game and are proud to work together. Today’s announcement strengthens our organization’s collective vision of rewarding top talent around the world who rise to the top of historic national open championships.
“We hope this formal recognition shines a bright light on these players and the events they will represent at the Masters and The Open, beginning next year.”
Mark Darbon, chief executive of The R&A, added: “We take great pride in the range of qualification routes we offer to players around the world through The Open Qualifying Series.
“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. This creates an outstanding opportunity for players in all parts of the world to qualify and we firmly believe this will continue to enrich the quality of the fields in both major championships.”
