The U.S. Open became the first major championship to publish a pathway for players from LIV Golf through a new exemption category.

The U.S. Open's move, combined with a new broadcast agreement that puts LIV tournaments on broadcast television, further legitimizes and broadens the breakaway tour, which claims many of the golf world's most notable and charismatic stars.

The USGA has created an exemption category for LIV Golf players to compete in the U.S. Open, making the tournament the first of golf's four majors to introduce a formal pathway for golfers on the Saudi-backed circuit,