The 2024 PGA Championship is scheduled for May 15-18. It will feature many of the LIV Golf players, emphasizing the current clash between the traditional golf circuits and the upstart LIV Golf League. Now, for the first time, sixteen members from LIV Golf will be in this invited and extremely exclusive field of participants. It still draws a world-wide pool of top talent.
Among the most notable figures who have made the switch to LIV Golf include Bryson DeChambeau, Jon Rahm, Sergio Garcia, Brooks Koepka and Patrick Reed. All of these players have considerable championship experience and a fierce competitive streak that adds an extra element of excitement to the final. Koepka has a phenomenal track record at the PGA Championship. He came in second place back-to-back in 2019 and 2020.
Along with Koepka, it’ll be the first time many golf fans are introduced to a handful of other big names like Cameron Smith and Joaquín Niemann. Smith’s recent form on the LIV circuit has been impressive. He’s ready to put his stamp down after proving outlier-like performances this season. Niemann’s young but accomplished career further complicates the LIV narrative.
Similar to The Masters, the PGA Championship has quite tough eligibility requirements. For example, the winners of the previous five Masters tournaments automatically qualify to compete in the prestigious event. At the same time, the PGA of America can extend invitations to other players who fail to meet that standard qualification. This flexibility combined with relatively low barriers to entry has helped create a vibrant, innovative, and competitive field.
Dustin Johnson, one of the biggest names to join the LIV Golf fold, had a very difficult go at last month’s Masters. Sadly he missed the cut. He has two top-10 finishes already this season after only seven LIV Golf events. This accomplishment speaks to his resilience and knack for stepping up when it matters most.
As the PGA Championship creeps forward, what LIV Golfers being allowed to play represents —larger changes in professional golf’s landscape— is perhaps even more significant. The tournament gives the top ranked male and female golfers the opportunity to display their skills on one of the biggest stages and compete against the world’s best. With a field of 156 players, fans can expect to see spectacular play and intense competition.
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