LIV Golf

Talor Gooch appeared to be the target of several jokes after Tiger Woods was handed an exemption into the 2024 U.S. Open. 

Woods, 48, wasn’t exempt into a major championship for the first time since the 1996 PGA Championship.

His five-year exemption, that he earned at the 2019 Masters, ran out last year and therefore officials from the USGA decided to hand the legendary golfer a special invitation.

Woods, who won the U.S. Open in 2000, 2002 and 2008, said he was ‘honoured’ to have been given the opportunity to tee it up over 13-16 June at Pinehurst No.2.

One person who will not be there is Gooch.

The American joined LIV Golf in 2022 which immediately put appearances in the majors and the Ryder Cup in jeopardy.

Court docs later revealed Gooch was warned repeatedly that he would be suspended by the PGA Tour if he did so and, when he rocked up to LIV’s inaugural event at Centurion Club he claimed he didn’t think the circuit follow through with the threat.

He also said he was too stupid to understand the concept of sportswashing.

Still, over the last 18 months Gooch has consistently hit the headlines when he has addressed the thorny topic of LIV players’ access to the majors.

Memorably, Gooch said any Rory McIlroy Masters win should come with a potential asterisk given there would be some notable LIV players absent.

It has now become clear that the status quo will not alter its form to accommodate the likes of Gooch.

And nor is he willing to fly all over the globe, like Joaquin Niemann, to play on other tours to get some much-needed points.

Before LIV Golf Singapore, Gooch joined Graeme McDowell and Jason Kokrak for a news conference.

Kokrak and McDowell outlined their plans to try and qualify for the Open and U.S. Open.

It looks as though Kokrak and McDowell will have an extremely busy summer.

Gooch, on the other hand, was the last to speak on the matter.

“I am not.”

According to some X users, his declaration was ‘indefensible’:

The PGA of America is due to finalise the field for the 2024 US PGA Championship next week.

Gooch was given an invite to play last year, despite his LIV status.

That was because he was ranked 62 in the OWGR but he has since fallen outside the top 600.

It really is a shame, because he is undoubtedly very talented.

But rules are rules.

And you can’t say Gooch wasn’t warned.