While a move to LIV Golf certainly boosts the bank account, the caveat means securing places at the four major championships becomes much more difficult.
This is due to the fact players don’t receive Official World Golf Ranking (OWGR) points for their performances in the breakaway tour. Something which has cause plenty of disharmony between the Liv Golf League and the OWGR since 2022.
As such, unless a player has a major exemption, or a place in the top 100 of the World Rankings (top 60 for the US Open), they won’t qualify for the biggest events in the game.
Several have even said they wont resort to qualifying for certain majors, including Phil Mickelson, who recently stated that the 2025 US Open might well be his last.
Could we see Ian Poulter back on the grandest stage sooner rather than later, however? As it appears he looks set to try and qualify for the Open Championship held at Royal Portrush next month.
Ian Poulter could qualify for his first major start since 2022
The Ryder Cup hero hasn’t played in any major since the 2022 Open Championship. His slide down the World Rankings has been well documented during the three years he has spent with LIV Golf.
Poulter – who won the Ryder Cup five times – has committed to final qualifying for the 2025 edition, which will take place on 1 July.
According to a report by the Mirror, Poulter’s representatives have confirmed that the Englishman will attempt to qualify for the sport’s oldest major at Royal Cinque Ports, having missed the 2023 and 2024 tournaments.
Poulter didn’t enter qualifying last summer. Speaking to talkSport, he said: “My world ranking is not high enough to get into the Open Championship. I had the ability to go and qualify and I didn’t. I was on holiday with the family in Switzerland instead.”
Things are certainly looking different this year for the 2008 runner-up. If he does secure a place at Portrush, it will be his 21st appearance at the Open.
This season, the 49-year-old has finished higher than 20th in just one start in 2025. That came at LIV Golf Korea and he occupies 46th in the individual standings.
It will be a big ask for Poulter to qualify, especially by playing 36 holes in one day. If anyone can do it, however, it is the Englishman.
Remember, the ‘postman’ always delivers.
