PGA Championship: 16 LIV Golfers made the event, defined

For under the second time this season, PGA Tour and LIV Golf professionals will tee it up side-by-side on the PGA Championship.

Golf followers in every single place welcome that, as golf’s nice schism has completed just one aim thus far: elevate the significance of the 4 main championships.

Anyway, 16 gamers from the Saudi-backed circuit will play this week at Valhalla, all of whom certified in a unique style.

We clarify how every participant did so beneath, whereas additionally rating every LIV golfer within the discipline:

1. Brooks Koepka

Exemption: Previous Champion (2018, 2019, 2023)

Brooks Koepka arrives at Valhalla because the defending champion, having received his fifth main title at Oak Hill a 12 months in the past. He lately received a LIV Golf occasion in Singapore, proof that his sport is rounding into kind on the proper time.

Picture by Andrew Redington/Getty Photographs

2. Jon Rahm

Exemption: 2023 Masters Champion

Though Jon Rahm has not but received a LIV Golf occasion, no person ought to rely out the two-time main champion this week. He has the sport to thrive at Valhalla, a course that locations a premium on distance and accuracy off the tee. Rahm can play within the PGA Championship by way of 2027 because of his win at Augusta Nationwide final 12 months.

3. Joaquin Niemann

Exemption: Particular Invite

Joaquin Niemann began the LIV Golf season with fireworks, firing a 59 at Mayakoba to launch up the leaderboard. He went on to win that week and in addition received a LIV Golf occasion in Jeddah in March. As well as, Niemann triumphed on the Australian Open this previous December, completed in a tie for fourth on the Hero Dubai Desert Traditional in January, after which completed solo third in Oman in March. Therefore, the PGA of America invited Niemann to compete this week.

Picture by Mark Metcalfe/Getty Photographs

4. Bryson DeChambeau

Exemption: 2020 U.S. Open Champion

Bryson DeChambeau gained entry to the 2024 PGA Championship by the use of his U.S. Open triumph at Winged Foot in the course of the pandemic. However his 5-year exemption into this championship is operating out. His bomb-and-gouge technique may come in useful this week at Valhalla, so maybe he contends for a second straight main.

5. Cameron Smith

Exemption: 2022 Open Champion

The most effective putters on the earth, Cameron Smith, received the Claret Jug at St. Andrews two years in the past and may play within the PGA Championship by way of 2027. He has the sport to contend wherever and most lately tied for sixth at Augusta Nationwide.

6. Tyrrell Hatton

Exemption: Prime 15 end at 2023 PGA Championship

Due to a ultimate spherical 3-under 67 at Oak Hill a 12 months in the past, Hatton made this discipline with a top-15 end. However he would have gained entry a few different methods, too. He performed within the Ryder Cup and the Official World Golf Rankings (OWGR) has him because the 18th-ranked participant on the earth. Leaping from the PGA Tour to LIV Golf in January—alongside together with his prime 10 end at Augusta—has saved his strong rating intact.

Picture by Andrew Redington/Getty Photographs

7. Dustin Johnson

Exemption: 2020 Masters Champion

Like DeChambeau, Dustin Johnson’s exemption into this championship is operating out. His victory at Augusta within the fall of 2020 awarded him entry into the PGA by way of 2025, so he should win one other main to increase it. Sadly for him, his sport has not appeared sharp these days.

8. Adrian Meronk

Exemption: Particular Invite

Adrian Meronk, the reigning DP World Tour Participant of the Yr, obtained a particular invitation from the PGA of America to compete this week. He tied for fortieth in his PGA Championship debut one 12 months in the past and hopes to enhance upon that mark at Valhalla.

9. Phil Mickelson

Exemption: Previous Champion (2005, 2021)

Fortunately for Phil Mickelson, he doesn’t have to fret about whether or not or not he can play within the PGA Championship. He’ll at all times have an invitation. However the one main he should fear about is the U.S. Open, the place he has completed runner-up a report six instances. His exemption into that championship expires in 2026.

Picture by Sam Greenwood/Getty Photographs

10. Talor Gooch

Exemption: Particular Invite

Talor Gooch missed the reduce at each Oak Hill and Royal Liverpool a season in the past. However his sturdy play on LIV Golf led the PGA of America to ask him again for his fifth straight PGA Championship look. His greatest end got here in 2022, when he tied for twentieth in his native Oklahoma.

11. Dean Burmester

Exemption: Particular Invite

Dean Burmester, who hails from South Africa, received twice in his residence nation in late 2023 after which triumphed once more at LIV Golf Miami in April. His two wins on the Joburg Open and the Investec South African Championship led the PGA of America to ask him. Burmester will make his eighth profession begin in a significant.

12. Lucas Herbert

Exemption: Particular Invite

Earlier than Australian Lucas Herbert tied for fortieth at Oak Hill final 12 months, he received the ISPS Handa Championship in Japan. He has not received wherever since, however as a result of he jumped to LIV Golf at the start of the season, his world rating has not utterly plummeted. At the moment ranked ninetieth within the OWGR, the PGA of America invited Herbert to Valhalla, the place he’ll play in his sixth straight PGA Championship.

Picture by Lionel Ng/Getty Photographs

13. Patrick Reed

Exemption: Particular Invite

Patrick Reed completed in solo fourth on the Worldwide Sequence Macau on the Asian Tour in March after which tied for twelfth at Augusta Nationwide the next month. He additionally tied for fourth on the 2023 Masters and capped off the calendar 12 months with a powerful end on the Indonesian Masters.

14. David Puig

Exemption: Particular Invite

David Puig has made it a precedence to play all around the world as a lot as he can. The additional effort and journey have paid dividends, because the Spaniard received the Worldwide Sequence Singapore this previous October after which conquered the Malaysian Open in February. Since then, Puig has recorded three top-10 finishes on the Asian Tour and two prime 15s on LIV Golf. This week will mark his first begin on the PGA Championship.

Picture by Andrew Redington/Getty Photographs

15. Andy Ogletree

Exemption: Prime 3 Worldwide Federation Rating

Andy Ogletree earned a spot on LIV Golf this season as a result of he completed atop the Asian Tour standings in 2023. That additionally put him among the many prime three of the Worldwide Federation Rankings, a separate standards the PGA of America makes use of to find out the sector for its championship. Like Puig, the 2024 PGA Championship will likely be Ogletree’s first.

16. Martin Kaymer

Exemption: Previous Champion (2010)

After lacking the reduce in 4 straight PGA Championships, Martin Kaymer missed final 12 months’s version at Oak Hill for undisclosed causes. However, Kaymer is again within the discipline this week by the use of his victory at Whistling Straits in 2010.

Jack Milko is a golf workers author for SB Nation’s Enjoying Via. Remember to try @_PlayingThrough for extra golf protection. You’ll be able to comply with him on Twitter @jack_milko as properly.