The field for the 2024 U.S. Open scheduled to take place June 13-16 at Pinehurst Resort & Country Club is now set, with 156 players teeing it up at the famed North Carolina layout. However, several notable pros who golf fans expected to see will be conspicuously absent.

Topping the list of surprises is Joaquin Niemann. The Chilean star has played in every major since 2019 but failed to secure a spot in this year's U.S. Open. Niemann, who now competes on LIV Golf, came up just short at the final qualifying event in Jupiter, Florida.

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Another streak that will come to an end is Patrick Reed's remarkable run of 41 consecutive major appearances. Reed withdrew from qualifying and was not granted entry into another sectional, ending his decade-long run dating back to the 2014 Masters.

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Fresh off a win at the inaugural LIV Golf event in Houston, Carlos Ortiz was aiming to play his way into Pinehurst but also fell short in Dallas qualifying. The victory and $4 million prize money do little to assuage the Mexican who feels he "deserves to be there."

Carlos Ortiz wins 2024 LIV Golf Houston

Talor Gooch will be another LIV defector on the sidelines. The three-time LIV winner passed on trying to qualify after only receiving an invite to the PGA Championship earlier this year.

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Zach Johnson, Keith Mitchell, Luke List, Joel Dahmen and Patrick Rodgers were among others who nearly punched their tickets via sectional qualifying but ultimately came up just short.

Once a mainstay in the majors, Louis Oosthuizen's absence from his third straight U.S. Open is also a notable omission. The 2010 Open Championship winner reportedly declined an invitation to play at Southern Hills as well.

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While these stars will be watching from home, a new champion will be crowned at Pinehurst on Father's Day. But their absence serves as a reminder of the divide between the establishment and the upstart LIV circuit that threatens to reshape the sport.

Read more: Top Golfers Set to Tee Off at 2024 US Open in Pinehurst

What criteria does the USGA use to select players for the U.S. Open?

Top 60 in the Official World Golf Ranking (OWGR) as of two weeks prior to the tournament.

Past U.S. Open champions from the past 10 years and past PGA champions from the past 5 years.

Top 60 on the PGA Tour money list from the prior season.

Winners of PGA Tour events that award a full allocation of FedEx Cup points in the current calendar year or previous 12 months.

Low scorers from the final qualifying events held one week prior. Typically around 9 spots available through these 36-hole qualifiers.

Exemptions for major winners and other achievements from the past 2 years as determined by the USGA.

Top 30 on the Rolex Rankings (for amateurs).

Sponsor exemptions awarded at the USGA's discretion, usually for top international players.

Section Champions from past year who are amateurs and have remaining amateur status.

References: https://golf.com/news/10-surprising-players-wont-see-2024-us-open/

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