More Than Bruised Ego: Talor Gooch’s Year-Long Feud With the USGA & It’s Harsh Standards Explored

In the 2023 season, the number of LIV Golf players participating in the U.S. Open qualifying events dropped from 23 to only 15. The drastic change might happen again in 2024. Adding to those opting out of the qualifying event is Talor Gooch, arguably one of LIV’s hottest players. Initially, the three-time LIV Golf winner’s straightforward response to skip qualifying and state “I’m not” playing seemed fueled by a grudge.

The supposed grudge could stem from Gooch missing out on Augusta National while 13 other LIV players secured spots. However, upon closer examination, a year-long dispute with the USGA resurfaces, explaining why Gooch might have opted out of the 2024 U.S. Open qualifying events.

Talor Gooch and the USGA do not see eye-to-eye

Last year, Talor Gooch was confirmed to be at Pinehurst No. 2 to play the U.S. Open for the third time in his career. Things seemed to be going his way until the USGA came up with a last-minute rule change. Per the rules, any player who qualified for the 2022 Tour Championship would be on the field.

The rule was altered to state that just being eligible would not confirm the U.S. Open berth, as the golfer must also be a part of the PGA Tour. Fortunately or unfortunately, Gooch qualified for the season finale; however, he joined the rebel league even before playing the event. Eventually, the PGA Tour suspended the 31-year-old and he couldn’t ever play in the season finals.

But he had one more chance to play in the 2023 U.S. Open, which was through the top 60-ranked category. At the time of the rule change, Gooch was 63rd on the OWGR and needed only a few points to play at Pinehurst. So, he teed up at the 2023 PGA Championship in the hopes of winning it or finishing in the top place for the OWGR points.

To his dismay, he missed the brutal cut and so were gone his dreams of playing at the U.S. Open. Seeing the USGA’s rule change, even Phil Mickelson spoke on behalf of Gooch and called it a “d**k move by Whan.” Though Mike Whan, the chairman of the USGA, explained that there were no anti-Gooch rules at the USGA, the organizing body changed rules slightly every year, and 2023 was no different.

Gooch was pretty bummed out, even though Whan said that the USGA was open to any golfer if they qualified through the other criteria. So, following last year, Gooch would be missing another consecutive edition of the U.S. Open. As he has closed that door, is there a chance of seeing the 31-year-old at the second major of the year?

Is Talor Gooch qualified to play in the PGA Championship? 

Last year, Talor Gooch could play all three majors except the obvious one. However, this year, he might miss all four majors; he has already missed one. In 2023, Gooch was allowed to play in the PGA Championship on a special exemption. But this year, a special exemption has been given to Tiger Woods.

Moreover, Gooch is not in the top 3 on the Official World Ranking Points; currently, the 31-year-old stands at 624th in the world ranking, missing that criterion too. Even though he is 10th on the LIV Golf standings, they cannot be beneficial, as the OWGR doesn’t recognize LIV Golf for any points. As it seems, Gooch will not play any majors unless a miracle strikes. Currently, the 2-time PGA Tour winner hasn’t won a single major and with his reluctance to participate in the U.S. Open, that might be the case for the longest time.