LIV Golfer Talor Gooch Receives Special Invitation to PGA Championship
In a significant development for the LIV Golf Tour, Talor Gooch has become the first LIV golfer to receive a special invitation to a major championship. Gooch, who joined the Saudi-backed tour in May 2022, announced on social media that the PGA of America has extended an invitation for him to compete in the upcoming PGA Championship at Valhalla Golf Club.
This invitation marks a notable departure from the traditional practice of inviting only the top 100 players in the Official World Golf Ranking (OWGR) to compete in the PGA Championship. Gooch is currently ranked 644th in the OWGR, while his fellow LIV golfer David Puig sits at 106th. LIV Golf tournaments are not recognized in the OWGR system, and Gooch has only participated in six OWGR-official events since joining LIV. However, his performance on the team-format tour, including three wins and being crowned the league’s 2023 individual champion, has caught the attention of the PGA Championship organizers.
It’s worth noting that this is not the first time a LIV golfer has received a special invitation to a major championship. Joaquin Niemann, another LIV player, received a special invitation to the Masters last month. However, Niemann earned his place in the majors by intentionally competing in tournaments outside of LIV Golf and achieving impressive results. He won the Australian Open in December and finished in the top five in three DP World Tour events. In contrast, Gooch has primarily focused on LIV Golf events, with only two starts outside of the tour.
Gooch’s inclusion in the PGA Championship field is significant because it highlights the recognition of his performance on the Saudi-backed tour. His outspokenness about being excluded from major championships has been well-documented. Last season, Gooch was eligible to compete in the Masters, the PGA Championship, and the Open Championship due to his performance on the PGA Tour. However, the USGA changed its eligibility rules, preventing Gooch from participating in the U.S. Open.
In a recent news conference in Singapore, Gooch announced that he would not attempt to qualify for the 2024 U.S. Open, despite 35 LIV players vying for spots in the coming weeks. While he did not offer further explanation for his decision, it underscores his frustration with the current state of major championship eligibility.
Gooch’s comments regarding Rory McIlroy’s potential career grand slam at the Masters also attracted attention. He suggested that if McIlroy had achieved this milestone, it would have warranted an “asterisk” due to the absence of LIV players in the field. However, it should be noted that 13 LIV golfers did participate in this year’s Masters.
As we await the release of the full PGA Championship field list, it’s worth mentioning that defending champion Brooks Koepka is also a LIV member. Koepka recently secured victory at the LIV Singapore event, solidifying his position as a top contender heading into the PGA Championship.
Overall, Gooch’s special invitation to the PGA Championship marks a significant moment for LIV Golf and highlights the growing recognition of performances on the Saudi-backed tour. It will be fascinating to see how Gooch and other LIV golfers fare in major championships moving forward and how their inclusion impacts future tournament eligibility criteria.