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Newsweek
07-05-2025
- Sport
- Newsweek
Controversial 2-Time Major Champion Receives Invite to PGA Championship
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. This season's second major, the PGA Championship, is just eight days away! Last year, Xander Schauffele edged out LIV Golf's Bryson DeChambeau by a single stroke to claim his first major title. But this time, it's not just DeChambeau, who has been in stellar form, posing a challenge for the two-time major winner. Another controversial two-time major champion is set to make headlines. On Tuesday, the PGA Championship unveiled its field for next week's tournament at Quail Hollow Club in Charlotte. It included 16 LIV golfers. Among them is former U.S. Open and Masters winner Dustin Johnson, whose inclusion raised eyebrows. MEXICO CITY, MEXICO - APRIL 27: Dustin Johnson of 4Aces GC plays his shot from the 6th tee during day three of LIV Golf Mexico City at Club de Golf Chapultepec on April 27, 2025... MEXICO CITY, MEXICO - APRIL 27: Dustin Johnson of 4Aces GC plays his shot from the 6th tee during day three of LIV Golf Mexico City at Club de Golf Chapultepec on April 27, 2025 in Mexico City, Mexico. (Photo by) More Getty Images Despite once being a dominant force in the golf world, Johnson's performance has notably declined since his move to LIV Golf in 2022. His struggles are not merely reflected in his current world ranking of 751, but more so with only two top-10 finishes in LIV Golf events this season. The 40-year-old missed the cut at Augusta National last month, marking another setback in his recent form. But Johnson's presence at the PGA Championship also conjures up his controversial past. His alleged history with cocaine addiction led to a six-month suspension from the PGA Tour in 2014, which also kept him out of that year's PGA Championship and Ryder Cup. Golfer Dustin Johnson is serving a 6-month suspension from PGA Tour after testing positive for cocaine, per source. (via @si_golf) — SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) August 1, 2014 At the time, the suspension was never officially announced, but reports later surfaced that Johnson had failed a third drug test, prompting the ban. When Johnson returned to Quail Hollow Club the following year, he failed to make the cut. His performance improved slightly in 2016, hovering around the top 15 while Justin Thomas claimed the title. It wasn't until 2019 and 2020 that Johnson recorded his best PGA Championship finishes, coming close to victory. Now, with a special invitation securing his place in the field, Johnson has a chance to rewrite his story. But with fellow LIV golfers Bryson DeChambeau, Jon Rahm, Brooks Koepka, and Phil Mickelson also in the mix, the competition will be fierce. What do you think? Will the 40-year-old be able to recreate what he did in 2019-2020? Let us know in the comment section below! More Golf: PGA Tour Pro Blasts Signature Events Despite $1M Payday: 'I hate it'
Newsweek
29-04-2025
- Sport
- Newsweek
LIV Golf Players' Future in Majors Takes Stunning OWGR Turn
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. LIV Golf may be about to get the break it needs to solidify its league for the foreseeable future. The OWGR (Official World Golf Ranking) and LIV Golf executives are in "serious discussions" about awarding points for their events, per a Sportico report. The Saudi-backed league has fought for this move since its first season started in 2022. MEXICO CITY, MEXICO - APRIL 27: Matt Jones of Ripper GC reacts during day three of LIV Golf Mexico City at Club de Golf Chapultepec on April 27, 2025 in Mexico City, Mexico. MEXICO CITY, MEXICO - APRIL 27: Matt Jones of Ripper GC reacts during day three of LIV Golf Mexico City at Club de Golf Chapultepec on April 27, 2025 in Mexico City, Mexico. Photo byHowever, the OWGR often stated that their format and field sizes were a big reason they did not give them points. A few teams have inked contracts with big-time equipment brands, which has helped provide some of them a few points. In March, Legion XIII, Jon Rahm's team, signed a deal with Callaway Golf. Then, in April, Joaquin Niemann's Torque GC team signed on with PING Golf. Players can also win points through majors and European Tour events. But none of that moved the needle enough for LIV players to qualify for majors. Due to that fact, the players in the Saudi-backed league have plummeted in the rankings. Bryson DeChambeau ranks the highest right now at No. 12. However, he won the U.S. Open last year and finished well in most majors. There are only three players inside the Top 50 right now, with Tyrrell Hatton and Patrick Reed joining DeChambeau. Rahm is ranked 73rd, with most ranking several hundred spots lower. LIV Golf recently hired a new CEO, Scott O'Neal, who replaced Greg Norman. OWGR also received new leadership, with Trevor Immelman taking over the chair from Peter Dawson earlier this year. Those changes may have led to the potential change of course. O'Neil and Immelman were spotted chatting at Augusta National. Earlier this year, the U.S. Open was the first major championship to add a LIV Golf exemption category. Shortly after, the R&A, which governs the Open Championship, also approved an exemption category for LIV players. FS1 averaged 110,000 viewers for Sunday's final round of LIV Golf Mexico City, won by Joaquin Niemann. Saturday coverage: 84,000 on FS1 Friday: 30,000 on FS2 — Josh Carpenter (@JoshACarpenter) April 29, 2025 Last week, LIV Golf was in Mexico, and Niemann won for the fifth time, tying Brooks Koepka for the most in the league's short history. With that win, Niemann punched his ticket to Oakmont for the U.S. Open. Everything seems to point to LIV Golf having a stronger presence in major championship fields. These discussions to finally award OWGR Points to LIV may be coming at a strategic time since many of its top players are in the last year of their contracts. It may help sway some of those guys to stay on if they were to secure points. It has been a big year for the Saudi-backed league, which also signed on with Fox Sports in January to broadcast the LIV Golf events. However, the framework negotiations between PIF and the PGA Tour are still in progress, and it is unclear when or even if a deal will ever happen. More Golf: Rory McIlroy, Shane Lowry Crumble at Zurich Classic, Unlikely Heroes Emerge
