Former LIV golfer Laurie Canter qualifies for The Players

Laurie Canter of England became the first player with LIV Golf ties past or present to qualify for The Players Championship.

Canter, who last played on the LIV Golf circuit in 2023, finished second this weekend at the South African Open on the DP World Tour to rocket into the top 50 of the Official World Golf Ranking (projected No. 42).

Because of that ranking by the Monday cutoff date -- and because he hasn't competed in a LIV event for more than a year -- Canter will secure an invitation from the PGA Tour to its flagship event for the first time.

Canter's only previous experience competing in a PGA Tour event outside the majors came at the 2021 WGC-Workday Championship, where he tied for 64th. He also played last year's Genesis Scottish Open, co-sanctioned by the PGA and DP World tours.

Canter, 35, won on the DP World Tour for the first time at last year's European Open in Germany and doubled that win total this past February at the Bahrain Championship.

The Players Championship is scheduled for March 13-16 at TPC Sawgrass in Ponte Vedra Beach, Fla.

--Field Level Media