PGA allows LIV golfers in US Ryder Cup team & PGA Championship

Golfers who play on the Saudi-backed breakaway LIV Golf tour will be allowed in the United States Ryder Cup team, the PGA of America has announced.

LIV players will also be able to compete at the US PGA Championship – one of the four men’s majors held each year.

Golfers must be members of the PGA of America to be considered for the Ryder Cup and the body has now added LIV to its list of “approved tours”, giving those players membership.

“Going forward, all LIV Golf players are eligible for the PGA Championship and any American player who qualifies for the Ryder Cup on points or is added to the US team as a captain’s pick is eligible to compete,” the body said.

LIV’s Brooks Koepka was included in the US team for the biennial tournament against Europe as a wildcard pick last year, but only because of a grace period that was in place following golf’s split.

The PGA Tour, which is separate to the PGA of America, and Europe’s DP World Tour announced a “framework agreement” for a merger with Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund – which backs LIV – last year. However talks are still ongoing to repair the fracture in men’s golf.

LIV players can qualify for the European team but they need to have retained their membership of the DP World Tour and played in four of the organisation’s events.

They may incur penalties for playing on the LIV tour without a waiver from the European tour, but remain eligible if they settle those sanctions.

The Ryder Cup between Europe and the United States will be played at Bethpage Black in New York next September.