The PGA Championship is the last of golfs four majors that will allow members of the rival circuit to compete in this seasons championship, a nod to LIV Golf League.
Wednesdays announcement by The PGA of America was made by the International Federation Ranking List, which includes three categories for players who are interested in tours of Australia, South Africa, Japan and Asia.
The top three finalists will be determined on April 24, These are the current leaders Sihwan KimLIV Golfs newest player is. Shaun NorrisDespite having played an entire LIV Golf Season last year, he is not part this years 48-man roster.
Additionally, the PGA of America said that it reserves to invite additional players… in pursuit of the annual goal of delivering the strongest field of golfers.
This years event will be exempted from the following categories: Former PGA Championship winners, which include LIV Golf members Phil Mickelson, Brooks Koepka Martin KaymerThe list includes LIVs winners as well as other major winners over the past five year. Bryson deChambeau, Dustin Johnson Patrick Reed. You can also see the winners of the Players Championship for the past three year, including LIV. Cameron SmithAlso exempt are:
Mito Pereira Brendan SteeleAfter finishing in the top 15 of last years event, he will also be eligible to play at the PGA Championship.
The majority of the PGA Championship field are PGA Tour players, whether they win or are on the money lists. Officials also rely upon special invitations which are vague terms that depend on the world ranking. The PGA Championship has a reputation for being the strongest of the four majors.
Seth Waugh, PGA of America CEO, said in a statement that our decisions are always based in the best interest of PGA of America and that he believes the championship will be a success. Sadly, the current division in professional golf is not good for the sport and the future of the game. We hope that there will be a solution soon.
May 10 will see the announcement of the 156-player field. The tournament will be held at Oak Hill Country Club in Rochester (New York) May 18-21.
The R&A on Tuesday said that qualifying LIV Golf members will be allowed to compete in the 151st edition of The Open this summer at Royal Liverpool. LIV golfers are eligible to participate in the 2023 Masters and U.S Open events.
Players in the Top 100 on the Official World Golf Rankings list would be eligible to enter the PGA Championship. This list would include DP World Tour star Thomas Pieters, who is ranked No. 34 LIV jumped to the top last week.
LIV might not be ranked in the top 100.
The Official World Golf Ranking board has received notification that the league has submitted a request. LIV events will have ranking points that are significantly lower than the PGA Tour. This is due to the 48-man LIV field. Six LIV Golf players are currently among the top 50.
Eighteen LIV Golf players currently in the top 100 are at No. 75 and lower, and likely will continue to drop.
Kerry Haigh is the chief championships officer of PGA of America. He stated that LIV Golf will be treated the same way as other circuits.
He said, We look at other tours and money lists as we have done in past and will continue to do so in the future. It doesn’t prevent us from seeing other great players.
Haigh answered, Absolutely.
This report was contributed by The Associated Press.