LIV Golf star Talor Gooch earns exemption for major

Talor Gooch, last year’s outspoken LIV Golf League season champion, said Monday he has received a special invitational to next week’s PGA Championship.

Gooch had complained about the lack of world golf ranking points for LIV’s 54-hole events keeping strong players out of major tournaments.

But he appears set to show what he can do next week at Valhalla as five-time major winner Brooks Koepka, another LIV player, tries to defend his title.

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“Looking forward to Valhalla next week! Thank you for the invitation PGA, See y’all there,” Gooch tweeted Monday as he prepares to battle for the $4.5 million (A$6.8m) top prize.

The PGA of America would issue such special invitations but has not announced them for this year.

Gooch caused a stir earlier this year by saying that if Rory McIlroy had won the Masters to complete a career Grand Slam, the feat should come with an asterisk because so many talented LIV Golf players were not in the field.

Those comments continue to linger with some calling it out on social media after Gooch’s announcement.

Chile’s Joaquin Niemann of LIV was given a special invitation into the Masters and the PGA Championship after winning the Australian Open title.

Gooch won LIV crowns last year at Adelaide, Singapore and Andalucia and lost another at Jeddah in a playoff to Koepka.

This year, Gooch ranks eighth in LIV standings with his best showing a runner-up effort at Las Vegas. He was fourth last weekend at Singapore.