BREAKING: LIV Golf blow as nine stars fail to qualify for The Open as player makes striking decision

The Open will begin later this month, but nine LIV stars will be absent.

LIV Golf has suffered a significant setback as nine of its stars failed to qualify for The Open. The fourth major of the season will begin at the Royal Troon Golf Club on Thursday, July 18, with the champion crowned three days later.

LIV Golf became a challenger to the PGA Tour after its inception in 2021, with a slew of golf luminaries defecting to the new tour, which is backed by Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund.

Some players have earned a little fortune since joining the new competition.

However, LIV Golf competitions are not recognized by the official global golf rankings, therefore players must qualify for events like The Open.

Talor Gooch, Sergio Garcia, Bubba Watson, Paul Casey, Ian Poulter, and Lee Westwood will all miss this year’s Open, as will Martin Kaymer, Thomas Pieters, and Graeme McDowell.

Gooch is the current LIV Golf Player of the Year, having won three events on the circuit last year. However, he took a surprising choice to decline the opportunity to qualify for this year’s US Open and The Open via Final Qualifying.

When asked if he and his Smash GC teammates planned to compete in qualification for the US Open earlier this year, Gooch simply said, “No.”

Seven of the nine absentees chose not to participate in Final Qualifying, leaving only Garcia and McDowell.

The Spaniard fell two strokes short after carding three-under par in his second qualifying round, missing the major for the second year in a row. Meanwhile, the Northern Irishman, a four-time PGA Tour winner, has not competed in a major since 2020.

Ahead of The Open, Scottie Scheffler is the favourite to win the trophy, with Rory McIlroy, Bryson DeChambeau, and Xander Schauffele also expected to compete.

Brian Harman, who won last year’s tournament at Royal Liverpool Golf Club in Hoylake, Merseyside, is a rank outsider this time around.

Following his victory in 2023, the American ace explained: “You know, I’ve always believed in myself to be able to do things like this. It’s simply that when it takes so long, it’s difficult not to become discouraged, as if I’m not going to win again.

“To come out and put on a show like that, from beginning to end, required a great deal of control. I’m not sure why it happened this week, but I’m grateful it did.