Tiger Woods returns to Valhalla, site of his 2000 PGA Championship victory, while LIV Golfers will be a notable presence among the top 100 players in the world.
Tiger Woods will make his second major appearance of the season at the 2024 PGA Championship at Valhalla, the PGA of America announced. The news follows Woods' acceptance of a special exemption to play in the upcoming U.S. Open tournament in June.
Woods, who has won the PGA Championship three times, is returning to Louisville, Kentucky, where he famously won his second-straight PGA Championship and fifth major in 2000 after defeating Bob May in a playoff.
Joining Woods at Valhalla will be Rory McIlroy, who won his second PGA Championship at the same course in 2014. This year will mark the golf course’s fourth time hosting the major.
Brooks Koepka will also be there looking to defend his title after winning the major for the third time at Oak Hill last year.
Koepka will be joined by 16 other LIV Golf players, down from last year’s 18 who entered the field. The inclusion of LIV Golfers in the PGA Championship has been a topic of debate, with concerns that they should not be eligible for major championships.
However, the PGA Championship, at least for this year, will maintain its reputation for having the strongest field of the four majors. Seven of the LIV players invited means this year’s field will have the entire top 100 in the world ranking at Valhalla Golf Club from May 16-19.
Phil Mickelson, who has been a vocal critic of the PGA Tour and a supporter of LIV Golf, expressed his concerns about the future of golf if LIV Golf players are not allowed to compete in major championships.
In a since-deleted social media post, Mickelson warned that if LIV players are not allowed to participate, sponsors and television networks will eventually care and will have to answer.
Despite Mickelson's concerns, the PGA Championship has made it clear that LIV Golfers are welcome to compete in the tournament. This year’s field will be one of the strongest in recent memory, with Tiger Woods, Rory McIlroy, Brooks Koepka, and many other top players competing for the Wanamaker Trophy.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
