The first few days of the PGA Championship have focused mostly on the World No. 1 separating himself from the field and becoming a father, the World No. 2’s hot streak (and personal life), and a surprising shake-up on the PGA Tour Policy Board.
But come Thursday, the golf actually starts, and one player who has flown slightly under the radar just so happens to be the defending champion.
Brooks Koepka tees off at 8:47 a.m. ET on the 10th tee in the opening round alongside Max Homa and Jordan Spieth. Koepka enters the week coming off a win at LIV Golf Singapore two weeks ago, and he was confident in his Wednesday press conference at Valhalla Golf Club in Louisville, Ky.
Koepka spoke about how sometimes during the season it can be difficult to focus on the tournament at hand — like if Augusta National is looming, for example — but in a follow up he was asked if that problem ever happens during major weeks.
“No,” he said. “I’m pretty locked in once I get here.”
We’d agree. Regardless of what Tour he’s on, Koepka still has been his world-beater-self come major weeks. After he struggled with injuries and form in 2022, his T2 at the 2023 Masters was following by his third PGA Championship victory.
Koepka is just one of 16 LIV players in the PGA Championship field. He’s joined by major-winners Jon Rahm, Cameron Smith, Dustin Johnson, Patrick Reed, Bryson DeChambeau, Phil Mickelson and Martin Kaymer. Last week, the PGA of America invited even more LIV players who weren’t already qualified. All of them accepted except for Louis Oosthuizen, who declined due to personal reasons.
Below is a list of the LIV players in the field, plus how each qualified.
The 16 LIV players in the PGA Championship
Dean Burmester, Special exemption
Bryson DeChambeau, 2020 U.S. Open winner
Talor Gooch, Special exemption
Tyrrell Hatton, T15 in 2023 PGA
Lucas Herbert, Special exemption
Dustin Johnson, 2020 Masters winner
Martin Kaymer, 2010 PGA winner
Brooks Koepka, 2023 PGA winner
Adrian Meronk, Special exemption
Phil Mickelson, 2021 PGA winner
Joaquin Niemann, Special exemption
Andy Ogletree, Top 3, International Federation OWGR
David Puig, Special exemption
Jon Rahm, 2023 Masters winner
Patrick Reed, Special exemption
Cameron Smith, 2022 Open Championship winner