Can LIV Golfers play in The Open Championship 2024? Saudi-backed players' eligibility explained

Similar to the first three majors of the season, the Open Championship 2024 will see LIV Golf stars in action. A total of 17 players from the Saudi-backed circuit will compete at the fourth and final major of the year.

The Open Championship 2024 is scheduled to take place from Thursday, July 18, to Sunday, July 21, at Royal Troon in Scotland. As the oldest major championship, it will feature over 156 players vying for the coveted title.

The Open Championship will showcase the highest number of LIV Golfers among all four majors. The Masters Tournament featured 13 players from the rival circuit, the PGA Championship had 16, while the US Open included just 12 players from the Saudi-backed circuit.

The 17 LIV Golfers qualified for the Royal Troon via different routes. Here's a look at the eligibility criteria:

• Won the Open Championship in the past and were aged less than or equal to 60 on July 21.
• Won the championship in the past ten editions
• Finished in the first ten or tied at the last edition
• Top 50 player in OWGR
• Top 30 in the Race to Dubai Rankings for 2023 season
• Won the BMW PGA Championship in the past three editions
• Won the US Open in the past five editions
• Won the Masters Tournament in the past five editions
• Won the PGA Championship in the past six editions
• Won the Players Championship in the past three editions
• Finished in the top 30 at the 2023 FedEx Cup
• Won the VISA Open de Argentina 2024
• The top 5 players on the 2024 Federations Ranking List
• Won the Japan Open 2023
• Won the Senior Open 2023
• Won the Amateur Open 2024
• Won the US Amateur Open 2023
• Won the European Amateur Open 2024
• Won the Mark H McCormack Medal (Men's WORLD AMATEUR GOLF RANKING) 2023
• Won the Asia-Pacific Amateur 2023
• Won the Latin America Amateur 2024
• Won the Open Amateur Series 2024
• Won the Africa Amateur Champion 2024
• Medical Exemption

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Which LIV Golf professionals are playing at the Open Championship 2024?

Here are all the 17 LIV Golf professionals competing at the Open Championship 2024:

1. Abraham Ancer: Final Qualifying
2. Dean Burmester: earned the OQS South Africa via winning the Joburg Open
3. John Catlin: OQS Malaysia
4. Bryson DeChambeau: US Open Champion
5. Tyrrell Hatton: Top 50 in the OWGR and top 30 in FedEx Cup and Race to Dubai
6. Sam Horsfield: Final Qualifying
7. Dustin Johnson: 2020 Masters Champion
8. Brooks Koepka: 2023 PGA Champion
9. Adrian Meronk: Top 30 in Race to Dubai
10. Phil Mickelson: Former Open Champion
11. Joaquin Niemann: Australian Open Champion
12. Andy Ogletree: Top 5 in OWGR's Federation Ranking
13. Louis Oosthuizen: Former Open Champion
14. David Puig: Top 5 in OWGR's Federation Ranking
15. Jon Rahm: 2023 Masters Champion
16. Cameron Smith: Former Open Champion
17. Henrik Stenson: Former Open Champion