GOLF.AI • Oct 29, 2025

LIV's Backdoor to the Majors

As the Official World Golf Ranking (OWGR) system remains a closed door for most LIV Golf players, a new strategic front has opened on the Asian Tour. The Hong Kong Open has become a pivotal battleground, attracting a large contingent of 29 LIV players, all vying for the tournament's golden tickets: invitations to The Masters and The Open Championship. This is no ordinary tour stop; it's a calculated end-run around the established major qualification pathways.

The human element of this strategic push is perfectly embodied by Charles Howell III. Having grown up in Augusta, Georgia, the home of the Masters, Howell now finds his most viable path back to the iconic tournament runs through Hong Kong. After 607 starts on the PGA Tour, this alternative route underscores the seismic shifts in professional golf.

The sheer number of LIV players transforms the event into a de facto 'LIV vs. The World' qualifier, highlighting a coordinated effort to secure major championship berths. The field presents a fascinating dynamic, featuring players like past Masters champion Charl Schwartzel, who is already exempt, alongside those like Howell who are desperately seeking entry. This mix of players with nothing to lose and everything to gain illustrates the real-time fallout from golf's civil war, showcasing how players are creatively navigating the new landscape and elevating the importance of international tours as neutral territory.