In what appears to be an escalation in the expanding divide between professional golf’s status quo and the long-rumored super league the R&A has removed the exemption into next year’s Open Championship for the winner of the Asian Tour’s order of merit.
“We review and update our exemptions from time to time and any changes are considered carefully by our championships committee,” the R&A said in a statement.
There is speculation that the move is a response to a long-term investment of $200 million into the Asian Tour by LIV Golf Investments, the fund that’s behind the proposed rival tour that is led by Greg Norman.