U.S. Open says Phil Mickelson, all eligible golfers welcome to play in major

[underpants]

https://www.espn.com/golf/story/_/id/34052949/us-open-accept-phil-mickelson-all-eligible-golfers

Phil Mickelson and Dustin Johnson are welcome to play the U.S. Open next week under a USGA decision announced Tuesday that puts the open nature of the championship over a player's decision to play in a Saudi-funded rival league.

Mickelson and Johnson are among a dozen players in the LIV Golf Invitational this week who are exempt for the U.S. Open on June 16-19 at The Country Club outside Boston. Both have said they plan to play the third major of the year.

Among other U.S. Open players who signed up for the new league are Sergio Garcia, Louis Oosthuizen and Kevin Na.


"Regarding players who may choose to play in London this week, we simply asked ourselves this question -- should a player who had earned his way into the 2022 U.S. Open, via our published field criteria, be pulled out of the field as a result of his decision to play in another event? And we ultimately decided that they should not," the USGA said.

[IngridsLittleAngel]

1. As far as I know, this is up to each of the governing bodies of the majors

Even if Jay Monahan were to ban all of these players for life, I believe The USGA, PGA of America, R&A and Augusta National Committee are free to decide whether the turncoats are allowed to play or not.

With that said: Boooooooo. Boooooooooooo Phil. Booooooooooooo Johnson. Booooooooo Sergio. Boooooooooooo Rickie Fowler. Booooooooo all of them.

I guess Dustin Johnson has flat-out left the PGA Tour according to something I read this morning.

[Docreed2003]

2. Yep...DJ resigned from the PGA

Apparently it's in the "best interests of his family" to pursue a path with the murderous Saudis because he wasn't making enough millions hitting a ball around a course in the PGA. It's disappointing. As far as I've read, the only tournament that those in the rival league would be excluded from is the Ryder Cup, which specifically states you have to be a PGA member to compete.

[IngridsLittleAngel]

4. Let's hear it for rich people...

DJ has made roughly $74 million in his career just from tour earnings. That of course doesn't account for sponsorship deals or any other sources of income. His father is law is, of course, Wayne Gretzky. Yet, he's whining about money, about opportunities, about "I didn't want to play golf for the rest of my life." Poor guy. $74+ million playing a game. Why can't he have the easy life, like saying making $70,000 a year doing construction work?

He's the epitome of why I love the game of golf but despise the culture. "Too much and never enough," as was once said about a greedy, ignorant right-wing golfer...

And, that is correct. As he is not a Tour member anymore, he's now out of the Ryder Cup. Well, that was his decision. When the Ryder Cup goes on without him, he only has himself to thank.

You're right, though. It's not just the greed and arrogance and being out of touch... It's doing all of this to accept blood money from the Saudis.

[Docreed2003]

6. I agree completely...and I really like watching DJ play but this is ridiculous

"Too much and never enough" is spot on

[IngridsLittleAngel]

7. I've had a love-hate relationship with DJ over the years...

Love to watch him play, but, doubt I'd like him very much as a person.

His defection - and explanation - pretty much cement that.

[underpants]

3. Yea it is up to each even as you posted

The US Open is USGA not the PGA.
Augusta of course has made sure that everyone knew it is THEIR tournament for a loooong time.

[IngridsLittleAngel]

5. Oh yes

Complete with laying down the law with CBS on coverage, and agreeing to single-year contracts year after year. The bulk - if not all - of the money needed to run The Masters comes from membership fees. They don't need CBS's money.

They are the major I could see as mostly likely to tell the defectors "Nope. You're no longer eligible here."