Talor Gooch has decided that he will not play the qualifiers for the US Open or the Open Championship. Therefore, unless he receives a special invitation from the USGA or the Royal Ancient, the American player will not play any of the four Majors in 2024.
Gooch was blunt when asked about the matter this Thursday in the run-up to the LIV Golf in Singapore. Specifically, a journalist posed the question to Jason Kokrak, Graeme McDowell and him. While Kokrak and McDowell explained that they are going to play both, even giving dates and places, Gooch responded with a laconic: “I’m not going to play them”.
The leader of the LIV Golf ranking in 2023 did not give further explanations, but it seems evident that he believes he has earned his access to the Majors due to his performance on the Saudi circuit and that he has nothing more to prove. Either that, or he doesn’t care too much about the majors. The normal thing is to do everything on your part to be in them, according to the eligibility criteria, and then wait.
However, it seems that Gooch does not like these criteria or the qualifiers. Afterwards, we will see if, as he said before the Masters, he thinks that the winner of the PGA, US Open or Open should have an asterisk in case of victory due to his absence, as well as that of other LIV players who do not meet the criteria of the Majors.
In this regard, Brooks Koepka has not hidden that he is somewhat worried about his preparation for the PGA Championship, which will be held at Valhalla in 15 days and in which he defends the title. The result of the Masters of Augusta, he finished in 45th place and was never involved in the fight for victory, left him worried. “It feels like I’ve done nothing but waste time between December and April. In light of what happened in Augusta, it’s clear that I can’t be happy with the evolution of my game,” he assured.
The five-time majors winner is putting special emphasis on his putt. “I’m going through one of those streaks where the ball doesn’t fall into the hole. I think I’m making good putts, I’m working a lot on this aspect, but I just keep touching edges. I simply can’t find the hole,” he explained.
Gooch himself is not entirely happy with his game either. “I’ve been telling my caddy for two weeks that I miss the feeling of last year, where everything seemed easy and whatever happened I was going to play well”.
Finally, Koepka has again clarified that LIV Golf has nothing to do with the negotiation between the PIF (Saudi Public Investment Fund) and the PGA Tour. “I want that to be clear. LIV Golf is one thing and that negotiation is on another level. I have no doubt that in the coming years LIV will continue and we will see more players from this circuit winning Majors, not in vain we have many players capable of it like Jon, Bryson, Dustin or Cameron Smith”.
