PGA Championship: 16 LIV Golfers made the match, defined

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

Golf followers all over the place welcome that, as golf’s nice schism has completed just one purpose to this point: 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 subject:

1. Brooks Koepka

Exemption: Previous Champion (2018, 2019, 2023)

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

Photograph by Andrew Redington/Getty Pictures

2. Jon Rahm

Exemption: 2023 Masters Champion

Though Jon Rahm has not but gained a LIV Golf occasion, no person ought to depend 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 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 gained 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.

Photograph by Mark Metcalfe/Getty Pictures

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 working 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

Top-of-the-line putters on this planet, Cameron Smith, gained the Claret Jug at St. Andrews two years in the past and may play within the PGA Championship by 2027. He has the sport to contend anyplace and most just lately tied for sixth at Augusta Nationwide.

6. Tyrrell Hatton

Exemption: High 15 end at 2023 PGA Championship

Due to a closing spherical 3-under 67 at Oak Hill a 12 months in the past, Hatton made this subject 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 this planet. Leaping from the PGA Tour to LIV Golf in January—alongside along with his prime 10 end at Augusta—has stored his stable rating intact.

Photograph by Andrew Redington/Getty Pictures

7. Dustin Johnson

Exemption: 2020 Masters Champion

Like DeChambeau, Dustin Johnson’s exemption into this championship is working out. His victory at Augusta within the fall of 2020 awarded him entry into the PGA by 2025, so he should win one other main to increase it. Sadly for him, his recreation 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.

Photograph by Sam Greenwood/Getty Pictures

10. Talor Gooch

Exemption: Particular Invite

Talor Gooch missed the lower 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, gained 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 gained the ISPS Handa Championship in Japan. He has not gained anyplace since, however as a result of he jumped to LIV Golf originally of the season, his world rating has not fully plummeted. At present ranked ninetieth within the OWGR, the PGA of America invited Herbert to Valhalla, the place he’ll play in his sixth straight PGA Championship.

Photograph by Lionel Ng/Getty Pictures

13. Patrick Reed

Exemption: Particular Invite

Patrick Reed completed in solo fourth on the Worldwide Collection 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 everywhere in the world as a lot as he can. The additional effort and journey have paid dividends, because the Spaniard gained the Worldwide Collection 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.

Photograph by Andrew Redington/Getty Pictures

15. Andy Ogletree

Exemption: High 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 shall be Ogletree’s first.

16. Martin Kaymer

Exemption: Previous Champion (2010)

After lacking the lower 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 subject this week by the use of his victory at Whistling Straits in 2010.

Jack Milko is a golf workers author for SB Nation’s Taking part in Via. Make sure you take a look at @_PlayingThrough for extra golf protection. You possibly can observe him on Twitter @jack_milko as nicely.