PGA Championship Makes Their Decision: LIV Golf Pros Can Participate in Major

The PGA Championship announced that LIV Golf pros will be able to compete in the event this May at Oak Hill in Rochester, New York, if they are eligible.

With the PGA of America making their decision, it now means that LIV will have a presence in all four majors in 2023.

LIV Golf players won’t be banned from playing in PGA Championship https://t.co/HOmcEwKdBq pic.twitter.com/AklsVcACIU

— New York Post (@nypost) February 23, 2023

PGA of America CEO Seth Waugh said in a press release:

“Our decisions are always based on what’s in the best interest of the PGA of America and conducting the best championship possible. 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.”

There was some thought that even though players like 2021 PGA winner Phil Mickelson, Dustin Johnson, and Cameron Smith are eligible, they might not be allowed to play due to their suspended status on the PGA Tour.

At last year’s PGA Championship, Waugh said:

“Our bylaws do say that you have to be a recognized member of a recognized tour in order to be a PGA member somewhere, and therefore eligible to play. If something else became one of those, obviously we’d have to recognize it.”

Seth Waugh is not a fan of the LIV Golf circuit.

— Golf Digest (@GolfDigest) May 17, 2022

LIV players eligible include former PGA winners Mickelson, Brooks Koepka, and Martin Kaymer, past major winners of the last five years (Johnson, Smith, Bryson DeChambeau, Patrick Reed), and players who finished in the top 15 in the 2022 PGA Championship (Mito Pereira, Brandon Steele).

Cover Image Via USA Today