Martin Slumbers, Chief Executive Officer of the R&A, and Fred Ridley, chairman of Augusta National Golf Club have clarified reports suggesting the Open Championship and the Masters are considering adjusting their qualification criteria to create exemptions for LIV golfers to qualify for those major championships based on their performance in LIV tournaments.

“As I’ve stated a number of times, our conditions are designed in a way to create pathways for the very best players in the world to compete for the Open Championship next year at Royal Troon,” Slumbers told reporters last week in Australia before the start of the Asia-Pacific Amateur Championship, whose winner earns exemptions into the Open and the Masters.

“I would say, though, there has been some speculation in the media recently on the topic that you’re raising, and I would say that it is completely off the mark. I would like to make it very clear that exemptions for the Open, we do not discuss them with anyone, and nor would we at any point in time.

“I think it’s very important that we don’t lose sight of the fact that the Open is intended to be open to everybody, but you earn your place in the field and through exemptions, and that won’t change.”

*I would like to make it very clear that exemptions for the Open, we do not discuss them with anyone, and nor would we at any point in time.”

Ridley offered a similar, but slightly more open, response regarding the Masters.

“As you recall last year, there was some speculation as to whether or not we would invite LIV golfers, and we stayed true to our qualification criteria and we invited everyone who was eligible, Ridley said. “And so, while we do not at this time anticipate making any changes in 2024, we do always look at them, and we will continue to do that.

“So, I would just answer by saying that our qualifications are very much dynamic and we adjust to what we feel is the best interests of the tournament representing the best players in the world, so we always look at that”

The Masters is an invitational with its own qualifying criteria as well as special exemptions. The Open Championship provides spots through designated events on the PGA Tour and the DP World Tour as well as through 36-hole qualifying tournaments.