Rory McIlroy’s ex-agent would be ‘amazed’ if LIV golfers don’t get major exemption by 2025 - “They're frightened of giving LIV too much credibility”

Rory McIlroy's former agent Andrew ‘Chubby’ Chandler says LIV Golfers could have special exemptions to major championships by next year. The former European Tour golfer claimed that the officials running the majors, including The Open Championship, are currently ‘frightened of giving LIV Golf too much credibility.’

Chubby Chandler’s comments came while talking about Sergio Garcia’s failed Open Championship qualification attempt. The 71-year-old lauded the LIV Golfer for attempting qualification and noted that players from the breakaway tour will soon find a path to major competitions.

The former superstar agent stated that the officials looking over LIV’s top 10 players and not making their entry path to majors official would be ‘crazy.’

Speaking in an interview with Tap It In’s Matt Vincenzi ahead of the 152nd Open Championship at Royal Troon, Chubby Chandler said (at 6:13):

“I think for sure the fact he (Sergio Garcia) tried to qualify (for The Open) was a big plus point to him. I'd be amazed if by January 1st next year, there isn't an exemption for LIV players into all the majors, whether it be top 10 or whatever. I think they're frightened of giving LIV too much credibility, because that would really give them a lot of credibility.

But I would think if you had a look at the top 10 on the LIV money list or whatever, however they work it, there won't be that many extra players right… there'll only be two or three because the rest of them all be exempt. And to not make it official would be crazy.”

Chandler called out the officials and noted that they “can't just keep saying we're working at it” and resolve LIV golfers’ issues. He said the R&A needs ‘somebody with ba**s’ to resolve the exemption situation for the Saudi-backed circuit.

He further noted that there’s ‘something wrong’ in the issue as even PGA policy board member Tiger Woods hasn’t managed to work it out.

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USGA chief suggests LIV Golf pathway to major championships

Chubby Chandler’s comments come just a month after a governing body of a major golf championship admitted to considering a path for LIV golfers to qualify for the event.

Speaking ahead of the US Open in June, USGA CEO Mike Whan acknowledged conversations being held towards setting up a direct qualification system for players on the Saudi circuit.

Whan said, as quoted by The New York Times:

“We’re going to talk about it this offseason, whether or not there needs to be a path to somebody or somebodies that are performing really well on LIV that can get a chance to play in that way. I think we are serious about that.”

It is pertinent to note that this came after years of struggle from LIV Golf for consideration into the majors. The breakaway tour had earlier conceded defeat in its quest to earn Official World Golf Ranking (OWGR) points. The ranking board found issues with the circuit’s closed field, 54-hole format.

Several LIV Golf players and officials, including commissioner Greg Norman and 2023 Masters champion Jon Rahm have spoken against the current system. It’ll be interesting to see how the LIV qualification system for the majors plays out.