How Many LIV Golfers Have Qualified For the PGA Championship?
Phil Mickelson and Brooks Koepka are just two of 16 players from LIV Golf who will be able to tee it up at the PGA Championship at Quail Hollow


Traditionally not the most prestigious of the four men's golf Majors, but the PGA Championship this year holds extra special intrigue following what happened at The Masters.
As Rory McIlroy heads to one of his favourite venues at Quail Hollow fresh off a Green Jacket win and career Grand Slam that will make him a big favorite in many people's eyes.
Jordan Spieth could even follow him by completing his own Grand Slam, or could even the rejuvenated Justin Thomas successfully defend the PGA Championship crown he won at the venue back in 2017?
Those PGA Tour favorites will have to deal with the LIV Golf challenge again though, with 16 players from the team golf league qualifying or receiving invites to play.
Like The Masters, past champions can compete in the PGA Championship for life, so Phil Mickelson, Martin Kaymer and Brooks Koepka will tee it up at Quail Hollow.
As Major champions in the last five years, Bryson DeChambeau, Jon Rahm and Cameron Smith also qualify.
Dustin Johnson initially missed out as his five-year exemption into the PGA and Open expired thanks to the 2020 Masters being held in November, but he was handed an exemption.
Get the Golf Monthly Newsletter
Subscribe to the Golf Monthly newsletter to stay up to date with all the latest tour news, equipment news, reviews, head-to-heads and buyer’s guides from our team of experienced experts.
The PGA of America issued special invites to both Chilean Joaquin Niemann and Sergio Garcia - with the Spaniard returning to the PGA Championship for the first time since 2022.
David Puig was also given an exemption into the final field alongside Northern Irish youngster Tom McKibbin and former Masters champion Patrick Reed.
Veteran Richard Bland earned a spot by winning the Senior PGA Championship last year while Tyrrell Hatton gets in thanks to being a member of the last European Ryder Cup team who will remain in the OWGR top 100 a week before the tournament.
The PGA Championship is the only Major that doesn't give automatic invites to the top 50 in the OWGR, but players in the top 100 not already qualified usually get in so Patrick Reed could be a late entry nearer to the tournament.
Dean Burmester qualifies by virtue of a top 15 finish in last year's PGA, while LIV Golf reserve John Catlin qualifies as one of the top three in the OWGR International Federation ranking.
LIV Golfers qualified for the PGA Championship
- Brooks Koepka (Past champion)
- Phil Mickelson (Past champion)
- Martin Kaymer (Past champion)
- Jon Rahm (Major winner)
- Cameron Smith (Major winner)
- Bryson DeChambeau (Major winner)
- Dustin Johnson (PGA Invite)
- Tyrrell Hatton (Ryder Cup & Top 100)
- Joaquin Niemann (PGA invite)
- Sergio Garcia (PGA invite)
- Richard Bland (senior PGA champion)
- John Catlin (International Federation ranking top 3)
- Dean Burmester (Top 15 last year’s PGA)
- David Puig (PGA Invite)
- Tom McKibbin (PGA Invite)
- Patrick Reed (PGA Invite)
Qualifying criteria for the PGA Championship
- All winners of any PGA Championship
- Winners of the last five Masters
- Winners of the last five US Opens
- Winners of the last five Open Championships
- Winners of the last three Players Championships
- Top three on the Official World Golf Ranking International Federation Ranking List
- Current Senior PGA champion
- The top 15 (and ties) in the previous year’s PGA Championship
- The top 20 in the PGA Professional Championship
- The 70 leaders in PGA Championship points list (based on official money earned on the PGA Tour since the previous PGA Championship)
- Members of the last USA and European Ryder Cup teams ranked in top 100 of OWGR one week before the start of the tournament
- Any tournament winner co-sponsored or approved by the PGA Tour since the previous PGA Championship
- Any additional players not included in categories 1-12 that the PGA of America deems worthy of an invite
- The first available players from the list of alternates (those below 70th place in official money standings) to make the field up to 156

Paul Higham is a sports journalist with over 20 years of experience in covering most major sporting events for both Sky Sports and BBC Sport. He is currently freelance and covers the golf majors on the BBC Sport website. Highlights over the years include covering that epic Monday finish in the Ryder Cup at Celtic Manor and watching Rory McIlroy produce one of the most dominant Major wins at the 2011 US Open at Congressional. He also writes betting previews and still feels strangely proud of backing Danny Willett when he won the Masters in 2016 - Willett also praised his putting stroke during a media event before the Open at Hoylake. Favourite interviews he's conducted have been with McIlroy, Paul McGinley, Thomas Bjorn, Rickie Fowler and the enigma that is Victor Dubuisson. A big fan of watching any golf from any tour, sadly he spends more time writing about golf than playing these days with two young children, and as a big fair weather golfer claims playing in shorts is worth at least five shots. Being from Liverpool he loves the likes of Hoylake, Birkdale and the stretch of tracks along England's Golf Coast, but would say his favourite courses played are Kingsbarns and Portrush.
You must confirm your public display name before commenting
Please logout and then login again, you will then be prompted to enter your display name.
-
Famara Frill Dress Review
Golf dresses are popular, so how did Famara's frill hem dress shape up on test?
-
Justin Rose Withdraws From Truist Championship
The Englishman withdrew from the tournament prior to his third round on Saturday due to illness, with Rose focusing on recovering for next week's PGA Championship
-
The Public Cannot Play Quail Hollow But Here Are 6 Historic PGA Championship Venues Where You Can
While places like Quail Hollow and Valhalla are out of action for the public, there are still several other former PGA Championship venues you can consider...
-
The 3 Big Changes LIV Golf Would Have To Make To Gain OWGR Points
With recent reports of LIV Golf bidding again for OWGR points, we look at the three major changes the league would have to make to succeed
-
Who Are The 20 Club Professionals Playing In The PGA Championship?
There are 20 club professionals teeing it up at the PGA Championship headlined by 2023 hero Michael Block but also including a record-breaking qualifier from this year
-
Big Names And Notable Players Missing The 2025 PGA Championship
The PGA Championship will be without a couple of star names as well as a number of LIV Golfers and notable players who just missed out via the world rankings
-
'You're Trying To Become Part Of History And That Has A Certain Weight To It' - Rory McIlroy Explains What Jordan Spieth Has To Go Through To Join Grand Slam Club
Rory McIlroy explained the unique challenges facing Jordan Spieth in his latest bid to complete his own career Grand Slam at the PGA Championship
-
Which LIV Golfers Will Feel Hard Done By After Missing Out On PGA Championship Invites?
David Puig and Tom McKibbin got late PGA Championship invites but players above them in the LIV Golf standings and two event winners this year missed out
-
'I Knew What I Was Signing Up For' - LIV Golfer Philosophical About Missing Out On PGA Championship Invite
The LIV Golfer is philosophical about missing out on a special invitation to the PGA Championship, despite some impressive form
-
‘Why Are They Scheduling Regions The Same Week’ - John Daly Questions Scheduling Issue That Led To PGA Championship Withdrawal
The two-time Major winner will miss out on the PGA Championship, with Daly instead opting to play the Regions Tradition on the same weekend