Dustin Johnson gets special invitation to PGA Championship in surprise decision
It was a name not expected to be among the 156 completing at Quail Hollow in the season's second major.
Dustin Johnson, whose status on the PGA Tour and in the World Rankings has disappeared since he joined LIV Golf, was invited by the PGA of America via special exemption, and he accepted the invite.
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3 Dustin Johnson plays his shot from the fifth tee during the first round of the Masters Tournament.
IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
Johnson, 40, is a two-time major winner, capturing the 2016 U.S. Open and the 2020 Masters.
His Masters win allowed him to participate in the next five PGA Championships regardless of qualification status, but that exemption ended last year.
His best PGA Championship finish was a second place in both 2019 and 2020.
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Johnson hasn't made a lot of noise on LIV, finishing in the top 10 in two events this season, and he missed the cut at the Masters in April.
The U.S. Open and British Open have created a category for LIV players to get into their respective fields.
The PGA, however, does not.
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Similar to the Masters, the PGA can invite players through its special exemptions.
'That's what we have done the last three years and continue to do so,' Kerry Haigh, the championships director for the PGA of America, said recently. 'We have that flexibility to be able to invite those players who are deserving from whichever tour.'
3 Dustin Johnson of 4Aces GC plays his second shot on the 3rd hole on day one of LIV Golf Korea at Jack Nicklaus GC Korea on May 02, 2025 in Incheon, South Korea.
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Ways into the PGA include being in the top 70 in PGA points — a PGA Tour money list from the past 12 months.
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The world ranking formula was changed in 2023 and is more heavily weighted toward PGA Tour events, because of stronger fields than LIV, and it doesn't award any points to LIV players.
Because of this, the LIV players have tumbled down the rankings.
Saudi-funded LIV Golf will have 16 players in the 156-man field at Quail Hollow — the same number as last year.
That includes John Catlin, a LIV reserve who's played three LIV tournaments this year. But he qualified through his Asian Tour performance.
3 Dustin Johnson of 4Aces GC lines up a putt on the 3rd green on the 3rd hole on day one of LIV Golf Korea at Jack Nicklaus GC Korea on May 02, 2025 in Incheon, South Korea.
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Other LIV Golf members who are listed in the field include Phil Mickelson, the 2021 PGA winner; Bryson DeChambeau; Sergio Garcia; Tyrrell Hatton; Patrick Reed; Cameron Smith; and Joaquin Niemann.
Xander Schauffele is the defending PGA Championship winner. He, along with world No. 1 Scottie Scheffler and reigning Masters champion Rory McIlroy, will be the favorites.
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The PGA Championship also offered a special exemption to Rickie Fowler, a fan favorite, whose ranking has plummeted to No. 125.
There's a category for players in the most recent Ryder Cup — Fowler played two years ago in Italy — provided they are among the top 100 in the world. Fowler's first PGA Tour victory was at Quail Hollow in 2012.
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