PGA Championship — Who made it to the field list of second major in 2025? Are LIV Golf players allowed?
The PGA Championship released its field Tuesday for next week at Quail Hollow, leaning heavily on the top 100 in the world ranking.
Who participates in the PGA Championship?
The PGA Championship tries to get the top 100 in the world ranking, which won't be the case because No. 24 Billy Horschel announced on social media he will have hip surgery next week.
The PGA Championship does not have a specific category for the top 100 in the world ranking.
It's more of an unwritten tradition to fit them under 'special invitations.' Unlike the U.S. Open and British Open, the PGA chose not to create a category for LIV. That's similar to the Masters, which can invite players through its special exemptions.
The world ranking formula was changed in 2023 and is more heavily weighted toward PGA Tour events because of stronger fields.
When is the PGA Championship happening?
The PGA Championship is scheduled between May 15-18 at Quail Hollow in Charlotte, North Carolina.
Are players from LIV Golf allowed?
Yes, the PGA Championship will give full consideration to players from the Saudi-funded LIV Golf League.
LIV Golf will have 16 players in the 156-man field, the same number as last year. That includes John Catlin, a reserve who has played three LIV tournaments this year. He qualified through his Asian Tour performance.
Who is the defending champion of the PGA Championship?
Xander Schauffele is the defending champion, and Justin Thomas is the last PGA Championship winner at Quail Hollow in 2017.
Among the LIV players getting a spot was Tom McKibbin of Northern Ireland, who joined the rival league this year.
He is No. 115 in the world ranking. His lone victory was the European Open in Germany in 2023, and he spent only two weeks in the top 100 before joining LIV.
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Also getting special invitations were Joaquin Niemann, a three-time winner on LIV this year, and Sergio Garcia. They were notified months ago. Patrick Reed sewed up his spot with his third-place finish in the Masters.
Why is Dustin Johnson getting a special invitation?
Dustin Johnson required a special invitation because the PGA takes the last five winners of the Masters, instead of a Masters champion getting a five-year exemption. Johnson won the Masters in November 2020 during rescheduling due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Who are the other names in the PGA Championship?
Patrick Fishburn was bumped out of the top 70 in PGA points the final week to No. 71. He is also No. 110 in the world. Fishburn winds up getting in with the Horschel withdrawal.
Rico Hoey is the first alternate and is likely to get in. The PGA is reserving two spots for the winners of the Truist Championship and the Myrtle Beach Classic this week on the PGA Tour if they are not already eligible.
In the Truist Championship, a signature event in Philadelphia, Michael Thorbjornsen is the only player not yet eligible for Quail Hollow.
The PGA Championship also offered an exemption to Rickie Fowler, who has plunged to No. 125 in the world. There is a category for players in the most recent Ryder Cup — Fowler was at Marco Simone 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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