Six key LIV Golf stars absent from U.S. Open as Jon Rahm forced to pull out

Jon Rahm, one of LIV Golf’s notable players, will not compete in this week’s U.S. Open at Pinehurst due to an injury. Rahm, a former U.S. Open champion, is one of several LIV golfers missing from the field, underscoring the ongoing lack of representation for the breakaway league at major championships.

Many LIV players missed out on qualifying for the U.S. Open in North Carolina because the league’s 54-hole events do not offer Official World Golf Ranking (OWGR) points. As a result, only 13 members from the Saudi-backed series will compete at Pinehurst, with nine securing their spots through various exemptions and three others qualifying through final stages. Among them is Spanish newcomer Eugenio Chacarra, who earned his place by excelling in a 36-hole qualifier at Dallas Athletic Club. He is joined by fellow Spaniard David Puig and South African Dean Burmester, who also made it through the arduous final qualifying known as “Golf’s Longest Day” on June 3.

Several prominent LIV players will be absent from the tournament. Here is a closer look at the key names missing from Pinehurst:

**Jon Rahm**
Rahm is the most high-profile absentee from the U.S. Open. The 2021 champion was set to compete but withdrew due to a foot injury sustained during LIV Houston last week. Despite attempting to recover in time for Pinehurst, Rahm ultimately decided he was not fit to compete.

**Joaquin Niemann**
Joaquin Niemann, currently one of LIV Golf’s top performers, also failed to make the U.S. Open field. Despite his strong form and two wins on the LIV circuit this year, Niemann missed out by one shot in the final qualifying round in Florida. He had previously earned invites to the Masters and PGA Championship but fell short for the U.S. Open.

**Graeme McDowell**
Former U.S. Open champion Graeme McDowell, who won the event in 2010, will not be competing either. His 10-year exemption expired in 2020, and he failed to qualify through the regular channels. McDowell’s focus will now shift to qualifying for the Open Championship in July.

**Patrick Reed**
Patrick Reed, the 2018 Masters champion, also did not secure a spot at Pinehurst. After his five-year exemption for major championships ended, Reed was ineligible for the U.S. Open. Although he received a special invitation to the PGA Championship, he did not get the same consideration for the U.S. Open.

**Talor Gooch**
Talor Gooch, who had a stellar 2023 season with three LIV wins, is another key player missing from the U.S. Open. Gooch’s lack of OWGR points has prevented him from qualifying for any of this year’s majors, despite receiving an exemption for the PGA Championship.

**Carlos Ortiz**
Carlos Ortiz, who recently won his first LIV title in Houston and an Asian Tour event in Oman, also did not qualify for the U.S. Open. Ortiz missed out on final qualifying after a double bogey on the last hole. He expressed his frustration, feeling he deserved a place in the major based on his current form.

These absences highlight the challenges faced by LIV Golf players in maintaining their status in major championships due to the league’s exclusion from the OWGR system. As the league continues to develop, its players are looking for ways to secure their spots in golf’s most prestigious tournaments.