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see also: U.S. Open, the USGA's Major Golf Championship, Shinnecock Hills Golf Club
The USGA creates a new category to create pathway for LIV Golf’s top performers
The United States Golf Association (USGA) today announced the exemption categories for the 2025 U.S. Open Championship, to be played June 12-15 at Oakmont (Pa.) Country Club.
Exemptions from local and final qualifying are awarded to players in a variety of categories, including the past 10 U.S. Open champions, various USGA and amateur champions, other major winners and performance on various tours around the world.
“The USGA continues to evaluate the pathways that exist to ensure those playing their best have the opportunity to compete in our national championship,” said John Bodenhamer, USGA chief championships officer. "Consistent with our historical approach, we continuously evaluate talent levels on professional tours and in amateur events, which has led us to add a new exemption category."
For the 2025 championship, a full exemption will be awarded to the top player who is not otherwise exempt and in the top 3 of the 2025 LIV Golf Individual Standings as of May 19, 2025.
In addition, a local exemption will be awarded to the top 10 players from the 2025 LIV Golf Individual Standings as of April 7, 2025.
Beginning with the 2026 championship at Shinnecock Hills Golf Club in Southampton, N.Y., June 18-21, the following exemptions will be awarded:
Full Exemption
The top player who is not otherwise exempt and in the top 3 of the Final 2025 LIV Golf Individual Standings as of May 18, 2026
The top player who is not otherwise exempt and in the top 3 of the 2026 LIV Golf Individual Standings as of May 18, 2026
Local Exemption
The top 10 players from the Final 2025 LIV Golf Individual Standings
The top 10 players from the 2026 LIV Golf Individual Standings as of April 6, 2026
Two-stage U.S. Open qualifying (local and final) will continue to be conducted at U.S. and international sites in April, May and June.
More information about the 2025 U.S. Open is available at usopen.com.
List of 2025 U.S. Open exemption categories from local and final qualifying
F-1. Winners of the U.S. Open Championship the last 10 years:
F-2. From the 2024 U.S. Open Championship, the 10 lowest scorers and anyone tying
for 10th place:
F-3. Winner of the 2024 U.S. Senior Open Championship:
F-4. Winner of the 2024 U.S. Amateur Championship:
F-5. Winners of the 2024 U.S. Junior Amateur and U.S. Mid-Amateur Championships, and the 2024 U.S. Amateur runner-up (must be an amateur):
F-6. Winners of the Masters Tournament 2020-2025:
F-7. Winners of the PGA of America Championship 2021-2025:
F-8. Winners of The Open conducted by the R & A 2021-2024:
F-9. Winners of The Players Championship 2023-2025:
F-10. Winner of the 2024 DP World Tour BMW PGA Championship.
F-11. Those players who qualified and were eligible for the season-ending 2024 Tour Championship:
F-12. Multiple winners of PGA Tour events that award a full-point allocation for the FedExCup, from the conclusion of the 2024 U.S. Open (June 13-16) to the initiation of the 2025 U.S. Open:
F-13. The Top 5 players in the 2025 FedExCup standings as of May 19, 2025, who are not otherwise exempt:
F-14. The points leader from the 2024 Korn Ferry Tour season using combined points earned on the Official Korn Ferry Tour Regular Season Points Standings and points earned in the Korn Ferry Tour Finals:
F-15. The top two players from the final 2024 Race to Dubai Rankings, who are not otherwise exempt as of May 19, 2025.
F-16. The top player on the 2025 Race to Dubai Rankings as of May 19, 2025, who is not otherwise exempt.
F-17. Winner of the 2024 Amateur Championship staged by the R&A (must be an amateur)
F-18. Winner of the 2024 Mark H. McCormack Medal (Men’s World Amateur Golf Rankings) (must be an amateur)
F-19. Winner of the 2025 NCAA Division I Men’s Individual Golf Championship (must be an amateur)
F-20. Winner of the 2025 Latin America Amateur Championship (must be an amateur)
F-21. From the current Official World Golf Rankings, the top 60 points leaders and ties as of May 19, 2025.
F-22. From the current Official World Golf Rankings, the top 60 points leaders and ties as of June 9, 2025
F.23. Winner of the 2024 Olympic Gold Medal, contested August 1-4, 2024:
F.24. The top player who is not otherwise exempt and in the top 3 of the 2025 LIV Golf Individual Standings as of May 19, 2025.
F-25. Special exemptions selected by the USGA. Deadline for submission of request: May 15, 2025
About the USGA
The USGA is a mission-based golf organization whose purpose is to unify the golf community through handicapping and grassroots programs; to showcase the game’s best talent through the U.S. Open, U.S. Women’s Open Presented by Ally and 13 other national championships and our museum; to provide unbiased global governance with The R&A through the playing, equipment and Amateur Status rules; and to advance issues important to golf’s future, with a focus on driving sustainability, accessibility and inclusion. As a nonprofit association, our work and our team are driven to act for the good of the game. For more, visit usga.org.
The U.S. Open is the biggest of the 15 national championships conducted by the USGA. Open to amateurs and professionals. Amateurs gain entry via USGA win or runner-up finishes while having the opportunity to qualify alongside non-exempt professionals...
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