LIV Golf pros seal another MAJOR victory with latest PGA of America news

LIV Golf players will be allowed to compete in this year's US PGA Championship at Oak Hill Country Club, the PGA of America has confirmed.

Of course though, they will still need to fulfil the qualifying criteria in order to compete in the tournament, which you can read by scrolling down the bottom of this article. 

The news comes just 24 hours after LIV Golf players were informed they will not be banned from this year's Open Championship at Royal Liverpool.

Although some players on LIV Golf will be sweating somewhat after one exemption category was wiped off the board. 

The latest update from the PGA of America would come as something of a surprise to many, especially given their CEO Seth Waugh said at last year's US PGA Championship that players banned or suspended by the PGA Tour would "likely lose" their PGA of America privileges going forwards.

But the PGA of America, just like the R&A, has decided it wants the best of the best to be competing in its major championship test. 

Waugh said on Wednesday: 

All former winners of the US PGA Championship such as LIV Golf's Brooks Koepka, Martin Kaymer and Phil Mickelson are definitely in the field.

As for whether Mickelson, who won the 2021 US PGA Championship, will return to compete in the tournament remains to be seen.

Lefty controversially skipped his title defence at last year's US PGA Championship. 

Mickelson became golf's oldest major champion at the age of 50 when etching his name on the famous Wanamaker Trophy at Kiawah Island.

The PGA of America has also confirmed that winners of the other three majors the last five years, as well as winners of the Players Championship over the past three years, will receive an invite into the championship.

That means Dustin Johnson and Cameron Smith are in, too. 

Players such as Mito Pereira and Brendan Steele, who this week joined the Saudi-bankrolled circuit ahead of its new season, will be eligible for the US PGA Championship this year as a result of finishing inside the top 15 in last year's tournament. 

2023 US PGA CHAMPIONSHIP ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS

The total field will be a maximum of 156 players.

The PGA of America has approved the following list of players who qualify for the 105th PGA Championship:

1. All former winners of the PGA Championship

2. Winners of the last five Masters (2019-23)

3. Winners of the last five U.S. Opens (2018-22)

4. Winners of the last five Open Championships (2017-22). [Note: Canceled in 2020]

5. Winners of the last three THE PLAYERS Championships (2021-23)

6. The top three on the OWGR’s International Federation Ranking List as of April 24, 2023.

7. Winner of 2022 KitchenAid Senior PGA Championship

8. The top 15 finishers and ties from the 2022 PGA Championship

9. The top 20 finishers from the 2023 PGA Professional Championship.

10. The top 70 players who are eligible and have earned the most PGA Championship points from the 2022 AT&T Byron Nelson through the 2023 Wells Fargo Championship (ending May 7, 2023).

11. Playing members of the last named U.S. and European Ryder Cup teams (2021), provided they remain in the top 100 on the Official World Golf Rankings as of May 7, 2023.

12. Winners of PGA TOUR co-sponsored or approved tournaments whose victories are considered official, from the 2022 Charles Schwab Challenge through the 2023 AT&T Byron Nelson.

13. If necessary to complete the field, those players beyond the top 70 players who are eligible and who have earned the most PGA Championship points from the 2022 AT&T Byron Nelson through the 2023 Wells Fargo Championship (ending May 7, 2023) in order of their position on such a list.

More: LIV Golf players were also awarded some form of world ranking points earlier this week, albeit not in the way they would wish.