A recent rule review by the United States Golf Association (USGA) has affected Talor Gooch’s status for next month’s US Open.
Gooch was originally scheduled to play for the Los Angeles Country Club because he had qualified for the PGA’s Tour Championship before defecting to LIV.
However, the USGA recently said that golfers must qualify «and [be] eligible» to play at East Lake: By joining LIV, Gooch was no longer considered «eligible» for the Tout Championship.
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Phil Mickelson speaks at a press conference for the US Open on June 13, 2022. (David L. Ryan/The Boston Globe via Getty Images)
It was a slight change in language, but it turned out that Gooch was left out of the third major of the year.
«Every time we make changes to our criteria in the future, it affects someone and that sucks, but we can only look forward,» USGA CEO Mike Whan said. GolfChannel.com on Monday.
But fellow LIV golfer Phil Mickelson, who earned a bye from the tournament by winning the 2021 PGA Championship at Kiawah Island, shot Whan down.
«Hey Mike, how about we change a rule and make it retroactive to exclude someone who already qualified?» he tweeted on friday. «How can Talor Gooch not take that personally? It’s a direct attack on him and his career. How does it benefit the usga or the US open? It doesn’t. Just ad! *K move.»
Team Captain Phil Mickelson of Hy Flyers GC walks down the fairway on the 10th hole during the quarterfinals of the LIV Golf Invitational – Miami at Trump National Doral Miami in Doral, Florida on October 28, 2022. (Eric Espada/Getty Images)
PATRICK MAHOMES, STEPHEN CURRY READY TO RETURN FOR THE MATCH ALONG WITH THEIR TEAMMATES TRAVIS KELCE, KLAY THOMPSON
«Yes. Qualified 9 months ago via Tour championship. 3 months ago Whan changed wording on qualifying criteria to remove it. Total d!*k move by Whan. He leads our governing body. Sad», mickelson said in another tweet.
Earlier this week, Mickelson said the move helped «match» the PGA.
«Mike Whan recently changed the wording from ‘qualified’ for the Tour championship to ‘eligible’. Thus removing Gooch’s exemption, as he was ineligible to play even though he had qualified.» he tweeted on tuesday. «This doesn’t make the US Open any better, but it does help to support the Tour.»
LIV golfer Phil Mickelson, right, and Talor Gooch cross a bridge on the 18th hole during the first round of the LIV Golf Invitational Series Chicago at Rich Harvest Farms in Sugar Grove, Illinois on September 16, 2022. (Brian Spurlock/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
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The US Open is scheduled to start on June 15.