Amid Ongoing Controversy, Is Sergio Garcia Playing At the 2023 PGA Championship?

After a successful Masters with Jon Rahm clinching his first major, the second major of the season is fast approaching. The best players of the sport will be headed to New York in the coming days to compete in the PGA Championship 2023. The second major event of the season will be held at Oak Hill Country Club’s East Course in Rochester, New York. from May 18 to May 21, 2023. Sergio Garcia is in between a controversy.

He is the only LIV golfer who has defected by paying a $125,000 fine by the deadline that was set by the court. Amidst the controversy, will Sergio Garcia get the chance too?

Will Sergio Garcia be playing at the PGA Championship 2023?

Despite LIV golfers being banned from the PGA Tour, they will still be able to play in all the major tournaments this season, depending on their qualifications. If LIV Golf defectors satisfy the eligibility criteria for the tournament, they will be permitted to participate at Oak Hill in the PGA Championship.

Read More: Days After Taking Home $2,625,000, Sergio Garcia Embroiled in Deep Turmoil For Ignoring His LIV Colleagues

Many LIV Golf defectors such as Brooks Koepka, Phil Mickelson, and Martin Kaymer have become eligible for the PGA Championship 2023 as they are past winners. LIV players, Mito Periera and Brendan Steele will also be seen in Oak Hill Country Club as they finished in the top 15 in the 2022 PGA Championship. Talor Gooch and Anirban Lahiri also received an invitation to tee it up at PGA Championship 2023. 

But the question remains: will the Spanish golfer qualify to play in the second major of the season? Garcia won at the Masters back in 2017. He is indeed eligible to play in the Masters tournament for the rest of his career. But for PGA Championship, it’s still uncertain! 

The Spaniard golfer could qualify for the upcoming 2023 PGA Championship if he manages to be in the top 100 in OWGR by 7th May 2023. He is currently ranked at position 184. 

As per the PGA Tour, Garcia could be seen teeing it up at Oak Hill Country Club on May 18th.

Exemption points to qualify for the 2023 PGA Championship

Some rules and regulations for the upcoming 105th PGA Championship were altered by the PGA of America. A few exemption points for players were laid down. According to Golf Digest, the exemption points are as follows: 

i) All the former winners of the PGA Championship will be qualified to compete.

ii) Winners of 5 Masters from 2019-2023 will qualify for PGA Championship 2023.

iii) US Open winners from 2018-2022 will be eligible. 

iv) Winners of the Open Championship from 2017-2022 will also qualify.

v) Victors of the last 3 Players Championship, 2021-2023 will be eligible to compete in PGA Championship 2023.

vi) Top 3 players on the OWGR’s International Federation Ranking List as of April 24, 2023.

vii) Player who won the 2022 KitchenAid Senior PGA Championship.

viii) Top 15 finishers and ties from the 2022 PGA Championship

xi) Top 20 finishers from the 2023 PGA Professional Championship.

x) The 70 highest-ranking players, who are eligible and have accumulated the most PGA Championship points from the 2022 AT&T Byron Nelson to the 2023 Wells Fargo Championship, will qualify

xi) Provided they maintain a spot in the top 100 of the Official World Golf Rankings as of May 7, 2023, playing members of the most recent U.S. and European Ryder Cup teams from 2021 will be eligible.

xii) The victors of PGA TOUR tournaments co-sponsored or approved, and whose wins are considered official, from the 2022 Charles Schwab Challenge to the 2023 AT&T Byron Nelson, will qualify.

xiii) In the event that it is necessary to complete the field, players beyond the top 70 eligible players who have earned the most PGA Championship points from the 2022 AT&T Byron Nelson to the 2023 Wells Fargo Championship will qualify based on their position on said list.

Do you think we will get to see Sergio Garcia at Oak Hill Country Club in New York? Let us know what you think in the comments below.

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