The U.S. Open became the first major to publish a direct pathway for LIV Golf players, on Wednesday announcing an exemption category that awards one spot to the leading player from among the top three at LIV’s halfway point.

The next exemption category will include one spot this year from the May 19 standings in LIV. Starting with the 2026 U.S. Open, the USGA will take the leading player in the final 2025 individual standings, along with the leading player from the May 18, 2026, list. In each case, the exemption goes to the leading player not already exempt, and the player must be among the top three.

The other majors have not turned away players from the Saudi-backed LIV Golf League. The Masters has invited Joaquin Niemann each of the last two years, though that was based on his international play.

The PGA Championship has invited LIV players based on their world ranking, and for 2024 at Valhalla it invited Talor Gooch, who had won three times on LIV the previous year. But the PGA of America does not have specific criteria, lumping LIV players and others into “special invitations.” Niemann and Sergio Garcia have received PGA invitations this year.

For this year’s U.S. Open, an exemption from qualifying will be given “the top player who is not otherwise exempt and in the top three” of the LIV individual standings as of May 19.