Louis Oosthuizen teeters on missing three majors next season as three LIV golfers earn spots in 2023 British Open

Oosthuizen is teetering on the brink of missing three majors in 2023.

Unless the R&A announces a change in the criteria for earning spots in the British Open, South Africa’s Louis Oosthuizen will have a chance to play next July at Royal Liverpool because he won the 2010 British Open at St. Andrews. All past winners are given a spot in the field until they reach age 60.

However, after tying for second at the 2021 PGA Championship, then being the runner-up at the U.S. Open and tying for third at the British Open that same year, Oosthuizen is teetering on the brink of missing the other three majors in 2023.

Last week, Golfweek explained to readers how pros earn spots in all four major championships, and while each uses a slightly different set of criteria to fill out their field, maintaining a high spot on the OWGR is a primary method elite golfers use. For instance, golfers ranked 50 or better on Dec. 31, 2022 can expect to get an invitation to compete in the 2023 Masters.

As of Monday morning, Oosthuizen is No. 49.

The OWGR does not award points for performances in LIV events, so like most LIV golfers, Oosthuizen’s spot on the OWGR has slowly risen since he was suspended from the PGA Tour. In his case, Oosthuizen has risen from No. 21 in early July to No. 49 on November 20. If he goes higher than 50, and he likely will in the next week or two, Oosthuizen will not meet any of the traditional criteria used by the Augusta National Golf Club to warrant an invitation. He also won’t have an exemption into next season’s PGA Championship. As for the U.S. Open, Oosthuizen will likely need to go through qualifying to get into the field at Los Angeles Country Club because the OWGR cutoff for an exemption has traditionally been No. 60 two weeks before sectional qualifying (May 23, 2023) or on the day of sectional qualifying (June 6, 2023).

Three other LIV golfers are likely feeling better than Oosthuizen on Monday because they appear to have earned spots in the field at the 2023 British Open.

Traditionally, golfers who finish in the top 30 in the DP World Tour’s Race to Duabi earn a spot in the following year’s British Open. Rory McIlroy won on Sunday, but Spain’s Adrian Otaegui finished 15th and fellow Spaniard Pablo Larrazabal finished 23rd. England’s Richard Bland finished 24th.

Those performances do not earn them a spot in any of the other three major championships and their world rankings of 98 (Otaegui), 86 (Larrazabal) and 89 (Bland) are not high enough to earn exemptions either.

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DP World Tour suspensions temporarily stayed for Ian Poulter, Adrian Otaegui, Justin Harding, which could allow them to play in 2022 Genesis Scottish Open

LIV Series golfers Ian Poulter, Adrian Otaegui and Justin Harding might play in the Genesis Scottish Open after all.

LIV Golf Series golfers Ian Poulter, Adrian Otaegui and Justin Harding just might play in the 2022 Genesis Scottish Open after all.

The three golfers are members of the upstart LIV circuit and subsequently were suspended by the DP World Tour. However, on Monday, DP Tour officials sent an update that read in part: “following a hearing Monday before HHJ Sycamore CBE, appointed by Sport Resolutions (UK), suspensions imposed on Ian Poulter, Adrian Otaegui and Justin Harding have been temporarily stayed, pending determination of their substantive appeals by an Appeal Panel in due course.”

The Scottish Open is being co-sanctioned for the first time by the DP World Tour as well as the PGA Tour, a move that a part of a bigger strategic alliance between the two bodies. Both tours have banned players for joining the LIV circuit.

Keith Pelley, the CEO of the DP World Tour, was participating in the first day of the JP McManus Pro-Am in Ireland on Monday. When reached for comment, he said: “Out of respect for JP and Noreen McManus, their wonderful Pro-Am and the outstanding fundraising they undertake on behalf of charities in the west of Ireland, I will not be giving a detailed response on this matter right now.”

He expressed disappointment in the outcome of the hearing and said his tour will abide by the decision but also noted that “this is only a stay of the sanctions imposed, pending the hearing of the players’ appeal as to whether those sanctions were appropriate.”

Pelley went on to concede that the field for the Scottish Open will be updated, if necessary.

“The make-up of the field for the Genesis Scottish Open will be advised in due course, but based on this decision the field size will increase beyond 156.

“We will make further comment on this in due course, but not during our time at Adare Manor.”

The JP McManus Pro-Am concludes Tuesday at Adare Manor in Limerick, Ireland. The Scottish Open is set to begin Thursday morning.

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Pablo Larrazabal rides birdie streak to home win in Spain at ISPS Handa Championship

“I knew that I had a low one in my bag and that’s what I did.”

Pablo Larrazabal hit the gas around the turn and sped off to his first win on home soil.

The 38-year-old Spaniard made five consecutive birdies on Nos. 9-13 en route to an 8-under 62 to secure a one-shot win at 15 under over countryman Adrian Otaegui at the 2022 ISPS Handa Championship in Spain for the second win of his DP World Tour season and seventh of his career.

“I knew that I had a low one in my bag and that’s what I did,” said Larrazabal. ” Today I holed putts and that was key. I mean, to shoot 62 in windy conditions with the flags out there, it was good.”

Hennie du Plessis and Aaron Cockerill finished T-3 at 13 under, with Antoine Rozner in fifth at 12 under.

The tour tees it up next week at the Catalunya Championship at PGA Catalunya Golf and Wellness in Spain, April 28-May 1.

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Adrian Otaegui earns unique win at Scottish Championship for third European Tour title

Adrian Otaegui earned a unique win at the Scottish Championship at Fairmont St. Andrews for his third European Tour title.

Adrian Otaegui is no stranger to winning golf tournaments.

The 27-year-old Spaniard now has three titles on the European Tour after Sunday’s Scottish Championship victory. What makes this one at Fairmont St. Andrews unique? It’s Otaegui’s first 72-hole stroke play win.

His previous triumphs on the European Tour came in 2017 at the Saltire Energy Paul Lawrie Match Play and the 2018 Belgian Knockout.

“Stroke play is my favorite way of golf, I think it’s the proper way,” said Otaegui despite a stellar match play record. “You have to play very solidly and very consistently all four rounds, which I think I did. I’m very happy to be able to win stroke play as well, my third win on the European Tour.”

Scottish Championship: Leaderboard

Otaegui began the tournament with a 62 on Thursday and ended his title pursuit with a Sunday 63, overcoming a four-shot deficit thanks to eight birdies over an 11-hole stretch to finish atop the leaderboard at 23 under, four shots ahead of 54-hole leader Matt Wallace (-19).

“I had no expectations this morning, really. I just wanted to go out there, play well and shoot as well as possible. I mean, if you told me I was going to shoot 63 this morning, I wouldn’t believe it,” added Otaegui. “Everything went well, I played very well, I felt very well, I was very focused and I holed some good putts. It’s been a very good week and especially today was a very good day to finish that week.”

“I feel so happy. To be able to win in Scotland, especially here in St. Andrews, the home of golf, it means a lot to me.”

Aaron Rai finished third at 17 under, with Chris Paisley and Garrick Porteous T-4 at 16 under.

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