Major Golf Championship Lineup: Second Season Tournament Contenders Announced
Revamped Scoop:
Golf's PGA Championship is revving up for Quail Hollow, welcoming a star-studded mix of top-ranked players, including those hailing from the Saudi-backed LIV Golf League. Let's break down who's joining the green fray!
The PGA Championship traditionally strives to gather the world's top 100 but, with Billy Horschel confirming a hip surgery next week, the top 100 won't be gracing Quail Hollow this time.
The tournament is set to kick off on May 15-18 in Charlotte, North Carolina, with Xander Schauffele defending his title and Justin Thomas, last PGA champ at Quail Hollow in 2017, eager to claim glory again.
This year, LIV Golf will boast a solid 16-player lineup within the 156-man field – the same number as last year. One of them is John Catlin, a reserve who has participated in three LIV tourneys this year, thanks to his Asian Tour performance.
As for Dustin Johnson, he scored a special invitation as the PGA reluctantly passes over Masters champions who typically get five-year exemptions. The reason? D.J.'s impressive Masters victory in November 2020 during the COVID-19 pandemic rescheduling.
Among the LIV players bagging spots are Tom McKibbin from Northern Ireland, a rookie in the rival league. Despite his lowly rank (No. 115) and recent brief stint in the top 100, he made the cut. His sole victory came at the European Open in Germany last year.
Other recipients of special invitations include Joaquin Niemann, a prolific three-time winner in LIV this year, and Sergio Garcia, who received the news months ago. Patrick Reed secured his spot through his impressive third-place finish at the Masters.
The PGA Championship doesn't officially categorize the top 100; instead, they fall under the category of "special invitations." Unlike other major tournaments, the PGA decided against creating a specific category for LIV. Instead, they maintain the flexibility to invite deserving players from any tour.
Kerry Haigh, the championships director for the PGA of America, explains their approach: "We've been doing this for the last three years and plan to keep it up. We have the adaptability to invite those worthy players from whichever tour."
When it comes to automatic qualifications, the PGA chooses the top 70 from the PGA Championship Points list and then looks beyond that to complete the field. However, this year, they leant more on the world ranking with their exemptions.
Interestingly, the world ranking formula underwent a change in 2023, with PGA Tour events now carrying increased weight due to stronger fields. Due to these changes, Patrick Fishburn was pushed out of the top 70 in PGA points, landing at No. 71. However, his world ranking (No. 110) grants him a spot in the championship, thanks to the Horschel withdrawal.
The first alternate is Rico Hoey, with two spots reserved for any Truist Championship or Myrtle Beach Classic winners this week on the PGA Tour who haven't yet clinched a Quail Hollow invite. Michael Thorbjornsen, the only player not yet eligible at the Truist Championship, should keep a close eye on those events!
In addition, the PGA offered an exemption to Rickie Fowler, whose declining world ranking ranks him at No. 125. Interestingly, there's a category for players in the most recent Ryder Cup teams, provided they're in the top 100 of the world rankings.
Finally, if you're wondering about Fowler's history with Quail Hollow, he scored his very first PGA Tour victory there in 2012.
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- The PGA Championship, revving up for Quail Hollow, features a mix of top-ranked players from both the PGA Tour and the Saudi-backed LIV Golf League.
- Despite Billy Horschel's upcoming hip surgery, the PGA Championship will still welcome a star-studded field, with Xander Schauffele defending his title and Justin Thomas aiming for another win at Quail Hollow.
- LIV Golf will boast a 16-player lineup within the 156-man field, including John Catlin, a reserve who has participated in three LIV tournaments this year.
- Dustin Johnson received a special invitation to the PGA Championship, bypassing the usual five-year exemption for Masters champions, due to his impressive Masters victory during the COVID-19 pandemic rescheduling in November 2020.
- Tom McKibbin, a rookie in the LIV Golf League, made the cut for the PGA Championship despite his lowly rank (No. 115) and recent brief stint in the top 100.
- Rickie Fowler, with a declining world ranking (No. 125), was offered an exemption to the PGA Championship, a tournament where he scored his first PGA Tour victory in 2012.
