Bryson DeChambeau is currently at risk of next year’s Masters being his last for the foreseeable future with his 2020 US Open exemption running out in 2025.
The American golfer won his first major at Winged Foot four years ago, which earned him a decade-long exemption for the next 10 US Opens.
It also give him five years of access to the three other majors, but that runs out next year.
As the Official World Golf Ranking system rejected LIV Golf’s application for points, DeChambeau has fallen down the pecking order.
Bryson DeChambeau may not qualify for the 2026 Masters
GETTY
The top 50 players in the world earn qualification to the Masters while there are several other ways for players to play the Augusta National major.
That’s unlikely for DeChambeau with LIV players still banned from playing on the PGA Tour.
Talks are still ongoing about a merger between the two rival tours, but there hasn’t been any real sign of a breakthrough yet.
It means that DeChambeau faces the very real possibility of not being a part of the Masters in two year’s time.
His predicament also acts as a warning to fellow LIV Golfers Brooks Koepka and Cameron Smith.
Dustin Johnson, Phil Mickelson, Jon Rahm, Sergio Garcia, Patrick Reed, Charl Schwartzel and Bubba Watson all gain qualification to the Masters for the rest of the rest of their life.
Koepka, Smith and DeChambeau are the only LIV Golfers who have active exemptions to the Masters due to their past victories at other majors.
Smith won The Open in 2022, meaning he’s exempt to play in all other majors through to 2027.
Koepka won the PGA Championship last year, meaning he has access to play the Masters through to 2028.
His fifth major last year proved timely as well as this year’s Masters was set to be his last based on his previous major coming back in 2019 on the PGA Championship.
Bryson DeChambeau was in contention to win this year’s Masters
GETTY
Both Smith and Koepka are seen as two of the best players in the world and will be among the favourites to add another major to their trophy cabinet in the next few years.
But majors aren’t always guaranteed for the best players with Rory McIlroy’s last coming back in 2014.
The Northern Irishman has been able to continue qualifying for the Masters due to his ranking and wins on the PGA Tour while LIV Golfers are not able to rely on that system currently.
LATEST SPORT NEWS:
Brooks Koepka is exempt for the Masters through to 2028
GETTY
There appears to be plenty of optimism from LIV players such as DeChambeau that they won’t face a situation where they won’t be invited.
But there are players such as Paul Casey, Talor Gooch, Louis Oosthuizen, Matthew Wolff, Marc Leishman, Thomas Pieters, Ian Poulter and Lee Westwood who have had to face up to the current reality of not being able to qualify for the Masters this year.
And time is now running out for DeChambeau to be in the field for the 2026 Masters.
Post comments (0)