LIV Golf players will be able to compete at all four Majors this year.
The PGA of America announced its eligibility requirements for the 2023 PGA Championship on Wednesday, and despite past signals about LIV defectors possibly jeopardising their status for the tournament, members of the Saudi-backed circuit will indeed get to compete for the Wanamaker.
“Our decisions are always based on what’s in the best interest of the PGA of America and conducting the best championship possible,” said PGA of America chief executive Seth Waugh. “Sadly the current division in the professional game is not good for the sport or the future of the game. We hope there might be some resolution soon. In the meantime, as always, our focus will be on our mission to grow the game and improve the lives of our members, who work so hard to impact millions of lives every day.”
The championship’s bylaws had required players to be PGA of America members in order to play in the PGA Championship, a status they gain through their membership on the PGA Tour. Two years ago at Kiawah Island Waugh said those who were banned or suspended by the tour would likely lose their PGA of America privileges, keeping them out of the PGA Championship and Ryder Cup. Last May at Southern Hills, Waugh said his Kiawah comments “still stand”.
“Our bylaws do say that you have to be a recognized member of a recognised tour in order to be a PGA member somewhere, and therefore eligible to play,” Waugh said at the 2022 PGA Championship. “If that becomes, if something else became one of those, obviously we’d have to recognise it.”
Instead, past PGA Championship winners who have jumped to LIV, along with winners of the other major championships the past five years and winners of the Players Championship the past three years, will receive an invite to this year’s PGA. Recent LIV signees Mito Periera and Brendan Steele will likewise be in the field by finishing in the top 15 at last year’s championship.
The 2021 PGA winner, Phil Mickelson, did not defend his title last year amid the fallout from his controversial remarks about Saudi Arabia, although Mickelson ended his sabbatical weeks later at the launch of LIV Golf.
The move comes a day after the R&A announced that the Open Championship will remain open to LIV Golf members. Augusta National and the USGA had previously announced their respective tournaments for 2023 will remain open to LIV Golf members. Augusta National, the USGA and PGA of America are all currently involved in an antitrust probe by the Justice Department amid the legal battle between the PGA Tour and LIV Golf. The PGA of America additionally announced a new category, where the top three players on the International Federation Ranking List will grab a PGA spot. This year’s PGA Championship begins on May 18 at Oak Hill Country Club. Justin Thomas is the defending champion.
