Talor Gooch still hoping for major spot after Masters told they "need" LIV champ

13 November 2023 , 15:34

867     0

Talor Gooch is still hoping to make the 2024 majors (Image: AP)

LIV Golf champion Talor Gooch has revealed he is still hoping to find a route into next year's major championships, after receiving the backing of former U.S. Open champion Graeme McDowell.

Gooch enjoyed an impressive season on the breakaway circuit after winning three times in Adelaide, Singapore and Andalucia, before being crowned the league's individual champion. The American became pro golf's richest earner in 2023, as his eye-watering £14.7 million winning bonus took his earnings to £30.6million for the year.

Remarkably though Gooch is ineligible to compete at all four majors in 2024, with the 31-year-old continue to drift down the world rankings, despite his impressive run of form.

READ MORE: Rory McIlroy reveals Tiger Woods messages in aftermath of Ryder Cup car park bust-up

Gooch is not alone, with LIV Golf still yet to acquire ranking points from the Official World Golf Rankings (OWGR). After LIV's latest world ranking rejection in October, there were a number of calls for the those in charge of golf's four majors to create some sort of route that would allow the breakaway league's most in-form stars to compete.

Bubba Watson shares details of horror knee injury ahead of LIV Golf debut

Bryson DeChambeau, 2020 U.S. Open champion, led the calls by suggesting LIV's top-12 finishers should earn exemption into the flagship events, but for now the likes of Gooch will be forced to watch from home. With just five months to go until the opening major of the year at Augusta National, the LIV champion is still hoping to find a possible route down Magnolia Lane.

"We will see what they [those in charge of the major championships] all decide," Gooch told Mirror Sport whilst competing at the Hong Kong Open on the Asian Tour's International Series last week. "And you know, I hope I can be at the majors next year."

Talor Gooch won the 2023 LIV Golf title (AP)

One week earlier Gooch's fellow LIV star McDowell fought the 2023 champion's corner, telling those in charge of the Masters and Open Championship that they "need" to include the American in their 2024 fields. Despite languishing outside the top 200 in the world, the Northern Irishman also claimed that the RangeGoats star was a 'top-25' player amid his hot form.

For Gooch, it was an "honour" to receive the backing from a fellow player and major champion. He added: "When you have a major champion, and a great player like Graeme saying that it is an honour." With time ticking though, the American is more than aware he needs more than the support of his peers to earn a major spot.

"We all know in the game, we know that there are players deserving to be in the majors," Gooch added. "So it is cool whenever there are other guys that are going about for me. Unfortunately that does not do anything, so we will see what they decide."

Alongside his impressive run on the breakaway league in 2023 Gooch played in three of the four majors, with his best finishing coming in April's Masters. The American finished in a tie for 34th at Augusta, but failed to stake his claim elsewhere on the big stage.

Either side of failing to qualify for the U.S. Open at Los Angeles Country Club, Gooch missed the cut at the PGA Championship at Oak Hill and on the Royal Liverpool links at July's Open Championship. Despite remaining hopeful Gooch and his fellow LIV stars were dealt a blow late last month, after Augusta chariman Fred Ridley played down the chances of the qualifying process being changed ahead of next April's event.

He did however hint that the door could well be opened further down the line for those who fall out of the current exemption list. "While we do not at this time anticipate making any changes in 2024, you know, we do always look at them and we will continue to do that," Ridley said at the Asia-Pacific Amateur Championship.

"I would just answer by saying that, you know, that our qualifications are very much dynamic, and we adjust to what we feel is the best interests of the tournament representing the best players in the world, so we always look at that."

Joshua Lees