Sign up for our daily newsletter
Latest news, reviews, analysis and opinion, plus unmissable deals for bunkered subscriptions, events, and our commercial partners.
Could this prove a timely boost for Sergio Garcia’s Ryder Cup comeback hopes?
Garcia, the event’s points scorer, has been handed a special invitation to play in this year’s PGA Championship at Quail Hollow.
It means the Spaniard will now compete in the first two majors of the season following his return to Augusta National as a past champion in April.
“It’s a great honour to be invited to play in the 107th @PGAChampionship,” the Spaniard wrote on Instagram. “Vamos!”
• Two LIV golfers commit to prestigious tour event
• Former LIV star sets out PGA Tour plan after slamming league
The PGA of America prides itself as running the major with the ‘best field in golf’ and set a precedent for welcoming LIV Golf stars who hadn’t qualified with six invites to the league’s players last season.
Garcia, who is now 461st in the Official World Golf Ranking, could only have realistically secured entry into the PGA Championship by winning the Masters as LIV events do not carry ranking points.
But this appearance in Charlotte will now offer him a key opportunity to impress European captain Luke Donald on the big stage as he plots a stunning return at Bethpage Black.
Garcia has made it abundantly clear he wants to make a record-equalling 11th appearance in European colours and knows he will be relying on strong major showings with opportunities to acquire Ryder Cup points at a premium on the LIV circuit.
“Hopefully I play so well in the majors and in the European Tour events that I don’t need a pick,” he told bunkered.co.uk back in December.
• Greg Norman lands new role after LIV CEO exit
• PGA Tour pro names 8 ways to tackle slow play
Indeed, Garcia has now renewed his DP World Tour membership and he had hoped he’d be making his return to his former domain at the Bahrain Championship this week. But that has not transpired as he continues to serve suspensions he accrued playing in LIV events whilst he was a DP World Tour member.
Despite regaining eligibility to play in the Ryder Cup, the LIV schedule will only afford him a handful of chances to play on the DP World Tour – which is why his major results are so important.
Should Garcia not secure his entry already, he will likely return to Final Qualifying for the US Open and The Open – the summer majors which don’t offer discretionary invites.
But before then, he will return to Augusta and now Quail Hollow for his first PGA Championship start since 2022.
Garcia will be joined in the field by fellow LIV Golf star Joaquin Niemann, who has also received an early invitation to the second major of the season.
It is Niemann’s second major invite this year after he was named as a special discretionary pick for April’s Masters.
The Chilean star won twice on the LIV circuit last season and ended his year with victory at the Asian Tour’s showpiece finale, the PIF Saudi International.
ALL ABOUT THE OPEN
More Reads

The bunkered Golf Course Guide - Scotland
Now, with bunkered, you can discover the golf courses Scotland has to offer. Trust us, you will not be disappointed.
Find Courses