The PGA Championship 2025 promises one of the strongest fields of the year and now two more LIV Golf players have joined. Northern Ireland’s Tom McKibbin and Spain’s David Puig have received late invitations to the major at Quail Hollow, increasing LIV’s presence amid ongoing debates about world ranking points and qualification criteria.
PGA Championship: Golf’s Deepest Major Field?
The PGA Championship is renowned for its inclusivity. While the Masters maintains strict entry limits, the PGA of America traditionally invites nearly all top-100 players, unless they qualify otherwise. Since LIV events offer no world ranking points, stars like Bryson DeChambeau and Brooks Koepka rely on past major wins or special exemptions. Others, such as Joaquín Niemann, depend on invitations despite consistent LIV performances.
Tom McKibbin: Northern Ireland’s Rising LIV Star
Tom McKibbin could have played on the PGA Tour after securing his card via a strong 18th-place finish in the 2024 DP World Tour Race to Dubai. Despite warnings from Rory McIlroy, the 22-year-old joined LIV Golf, where he now plays for Jon Rahm’s Legion XIII.
Currently ranked 115th in the world, which is too low for automatic PGA Championship qualification, McKibbin’s steady LIV performances, including a team win in LIV’s season opener in Saudi Arabia, convinced the PGA of America to extend an invite. Legion XIII confirmed his participation via social media on Tuesday.
David Puig: Spain’s Bold College-to-LIV Prospect
David Puig jumped straight from college to LIV Golf. The 23-year-old sits 20th in LIV’s individual standings and recently impressed with a T4 at the Bahrain Championship on the DP World Tour.
Yet Puig’s world ranking slipped to 107th, typically insufficient for PGA Championship entry. Like McKibbin, he earned a late invitation, a golden opportunity to compete against golf’s elite and chase crucial ranking points.
LIV Stars at the PGA Championship
Beyond McKibbin and Puig, marquee LIV players like Bryson DeChambeau, Brooks Koepka, Jon Rahm, and Cameron Smith will tee off at Quail Hollow. These major champions remain world-class despite LIV’s ranking-points drought.
All eyes are on DeChambeau as a potential contender, while veterans like Martin Kaymer, Sergio Garcia, Dustin Johnson, and Patrick Reed add experience. Rising talents like Niemann, Dean Burmester, and Eugenio Chacarra round out the field. Even Richard Bland, Laurie Canter, and McKibbin underscore LIV’s depth. For all, the PGA Championship is a chance to chase glory and global legitimacy.
LIV’s World Ranking Dilemma
The PGA Championship highlights LIV players’ qualification hurdles. Without ranking points on their tour, majors and sporadic DP World/Asian Tour starts are their only paths to climb the standings.
Niemann secured a U.S. Open spot via LIV’s performance, aided by a new rule granting starts to three top unqualified LIV players. For McKibbin and Puig, Quail Hollow offers a critical opportunity to play their way up the rankings.