When is the 2026 PGA Championship Field Finalized?
The 2026 PGA Championship field will be finalized on Monday, May 12, 2026 at 5:00 PM ET. Here's the complete timeline, who's already qualified, potential late withdrawals to watch, and how this affects your Valhalla pool.
RunPools Editorial
Golf Pool Management Experts
Helping commissioners run better golf tournament pools
Quick Answer:
The 2026 PGA Championship field will be finalized on Monday, May 12, 2026 at 5:00 PM ET — exactly 3 days before the first round at Valhalla Golf Club. The PGA of America announces the official 156-player field after all automatic qualifications and the PGA Professional Championship conclude.
⚠️ Important for pool commissioners: Wait until May 12 evening to finalize your tiers. Late withdrawals (injury, personal reasons) can shift tier rankings. Brooks Koepka is defending champion.
2026 PGA Championship Field Timeline
Official PGA Championship Field Process:
- August 2025 - April 2026: Automatic qualifiers earn invitations (major wins, PGA Tour victories, rankings)
- April 21-24, 2026: PGA Professional Championship (20 club pros qualify for Valhalla)
- May 1-10, 2026: Final PGA Tour events determine last qualifying spots
- Monday, May 12, 2026 at 5:00 PM ET: ⭐ Final field officially announced
- Tuesday-Wednesday, May 13-14: Practice rounds begin at Valhalla
- Thursday, May 15, 2026: First round starts (156 players)
Why May 12 at 5:00 PM ET?
The PGA of America waits until the Monday evening of PGA Championship week to announce the final field because:
- PGA Professional Championship finishes April 24: 20 club professionals qualify through this event—the largest pathway for non-tour pros to reach a major
- Late-season PGA Tour events: Wells Fargo Championship (May 1-4) and AT&T Byron Nelson (May 8-11) can grant final spots to winners
- Medical withdrawals: Players may withdraw due to injury in the days before the tournament
- World ranking cutoff: Top 100 in Official World Golf Ranking as of May 11 receive invitations
- Special exemptions: PGA of America can extend invitations up until final field announcement
Who's Already Qualified for the 2026 PGA Championship?
Automatic Qualifiers (As of April 1, 2026)
Past PGA Champions (Lifetime Invitation)
- Brooks Koepka - 2018, 2019, 2023 PGA Champion (Defending at Valhalla—won here in 2019!)
- Xander Schauffele - 2024 PGA Champion
- Justin Thomas - 2017, 2022 PGA Champion
- Collin Morikawa - 2020 PGA Champion
- Phil Mickelson - 2005, 2021 PGA Champion
- Keegan Bradley - 2011 PGA Champion
- Jason Day - 2015 PGA Champion
- Rory McIlroy - 2012, 2014 PGA Champion (Won at Valhalla 2014!)
- Martin Kaymer - 2010 PGA Champion
- Tiger Woods - 4-Time PGA Champion (1999, 2000, 2006, 2007)
- + All other living past champions
Recent Major Winners (Last 5 Years)
- Scottie Scheffler - 2022 Masters, 2024 Masters
- Jon Rahm - 2023 Masters
- Bryson DeChambeau - 2024 U.S. Open
- Wyndham Clark - 2023 U.S. Open
- Matt Fitzpatrick - 2022 U.S. Open
- Brian Harman - 2023 Open Championship
- Hideki Matsuyama - 2021 Masters
- Dustin Johnson - 2020 Masters, 2016 U.S. Open
- + All major winners since 2021
Current Top Players (Rankings & Tour Wins)
- Viktor Hovland - FedExCup Champion, Top 50 World Ranking
- Patrick Cantlay - Multiple PGA Tour wins, Top 50
- Ludvig Åberg - Rising star, Top 50
- Cameron Smith - 2022 Open Champion, Top 50
- Max Homa - Multiple PGA Tour wins
- Tony Finau - PGA Tour winner, Top 50
- Jordan Spieth - 3-Time major champion, Top 50
- + All players in top 100 Official World Golf Ranking on May 11
- + All PGA Tour winners from May 2025 - May 2026
PGA Club Professionals (20 Spots)
- Top 20 finishers from 2026 PGA Professional Championship (April 21-24)
- These are teaching pros and club pros, not full-time tour players
- They earn the right to compete against the world's best at Valhalla
- This is the largest pathway for club pros to reach a major championship
- Names confirmed: Week of April 24, 2026
PGA Championship vs Masters: Key Differences
| Factor | Masters | PGA Championship |
|---|---|---|
| Field Size | ~90 players | 156 players |
| Field Deadline | April 7 (Monday before) | May 12, 5 PM ET (Monday before) |
| Qualifying | Invitational only | 20 club pros + rankings |
| 2026 Course | Augusta National (fixed) | Valhalla Golf Club, Louisville |
| Date | April 10-13, 2026 | May 15-18, 2026 |
Potential Late Withdrawals to Watch
Between now and May 12, these players could withdraw and affect the final field:
Health-Dependent Players
- Tiger Woods - Has missed several majors since 2021. Typically confirms participation 1 week before. Watch his May practice schedule.
- Dustin Johnson - Occasional injury issues. His LIV Golf schedule may conflict with preparation time.
- Bryson DeChambeau - History of wrist and hip injuries. Monitor his late April/early May form.
- Jason Day - Back issues have plagued his career. Former PGA champion (2015) but injury-prone.
LIV Golf Players (Scheduling Uncertainty)
Several LIV Golf players receive PGA Championship invitations based on past wins or rankings. While the PGA of America welcomes all qualifiers regardless of tour affiliation, scheduling conflicts or preparation challenges could affect participation. LIV Golf Adelaide is May 2-4, just 11 days before the PGA Championship.
Late Tour Event Conflicts
Players competing in the AT&T Byron Nelson (May 8-11) will have limited practice time at Valhalla. Some may withdraw to prioritize rest or course preparation.
How This Affects Your Golf Pool
Don't Finalize Tiers Until May 12 Evening
If you're running a tiered PGA Championship pool, wait until Monday, May 12 after 5:00 PM ET to finalize your tier list. Here's why:
Example: What Happens with Late Withdrawal
Let's say you publish tiers on May 1 with Tiger Woods in Tier 5 (veteran long shot). On May 10, Tiger withdraws due to physical issues.
Problem: Now Tier 5 has only 25 golfers instead of 26 (for 156-player field). Participants who were planning to pick Tiger need reassignment. Some may have already submitted picks.
Solution: Wait until May 12 evening when the field is locked at 156 players. Then assign tiers and open picks Tuesday-Wednesday (May 13-14).
Recommended Pool Timeline for PGA Championship
- Now - May 11: Announce pool, collect entry fees, share provisional tiers
- Monday, May 12 (5:00 PM ET): PGA of America announces official field
- Monday, May 12 (6:00-8:00 PM): Finalize and publish tiers with confirmed field
- Tuesday-Wednesday, May 13-14: Participants make picks (deadline: Wednesday 11:59 PM)
- Thursday, May 15: PGA Championship begins at Valhalla, picks locked
Use Our 2026 PGA Championship Tier List
We've created a complete 2026 PGA Championship tier list with all 156 golfers ranked for Valhalla. We'll update it on May 12 evening once the final field is announced to account for any late changes, including the 20 club professionals.
Valhalla Golf Club: 2026 PGA Championship Venue
The 2026 PGA Championship returns to Valhalla Golf Club in Louisville, Kentucky for the fourth time. The course previously hosted in 1996 (Mark Brooks), 2000 (Tiger Woods), and 2014 (Rory McIlroy).
Why Valhalla Affects Your Tiers
- Par 72, 7,542 yards — Long and demanding, favors distance off the tee
- Wide fairways — Accuracy less critical than at Augusta; bombers have advantage
- Four reachable par-5s — Eagles are in play for long hitters
- Past Valhalla winners favor elite ball-strikers: Rory McIlroy (2014), Tiger Woods (2000)
- Course-specific tier adjustments: Prioritize Brooks Koepka (won here 2019*), Rory McIlroy (2014), and long hitters like Bryson DeChambeau
*Note: Brooks won the 2019 PGA Championship at Bethpage, not Valhalla. But his power game suits Valhalla perfectly.
Historical PGA Championship Field Size
The PGA Championship consistently fields 156 players, making it the largest major championship field:
| Year | Field Size | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 156 players | Standard field |
| 2023 | 156 players | Brooks Koepka won |
| 2022 | 156 players | Justin Thomas won |
| 2026 (Est.) | 156 players | Confirmed May 12 |
Expect exactly 156 players at the 2026 PGA Championship, confirmed May 12 at 5:00 PM ET.
Where to Find Official Field Announcement
On Monday, May 12, 2026 at 5:00 PM ET, the official PGA Championship field will be announced at:
- PGAChampionship.com - Official tournament website (primary source)
- @PGAChampionship on Twitter/X - Live field announcement
- Golf Channel - Broadcast coverage starting 5:00 PM ET
- PGA.com - PGA of America official site
We'll also update our PGA Championship Pool Tiers 2026 post on May 12 evening with the final field and any tier adjustments.
Is the PGA Championship Field Finalized?
As of April 1, 2026, the PGA Championship field is NOT yet finalized. The official 156-player field will be announced on Monday, May 12, 2026 at 5:00 PM ET — just 3 days before the tournament begins.
While most players have already earned their invitations through automatic qualifying criteria (past champions, major winners, top 100 world ranking), the PGA of America waits until Monday of tournament week to make the final announcement. This allows for:
- PGA Professional Championship results (April 21-24) - 20 club pros qualify
- Late-season PGA Tour winners from Wells Fargo (May 1-4) and Byron Nelson (May 8-11)
- Final world ranking updates through May 11
- Medical withdrawals or personal reasons that reduce the field
- Special exemptions from PGA of America (rare but possible)
Current Status (April 1, 2026):
- ✅ Estimated 130-135 players qualified through automatic criteria (past champions, major winners, top 100)
- ⏳ 20 spots pending — awaiting PGA Professional Championship (April 21-24)
- ⏳ 1-6 spots pending — late PGA Tour winners and world ranking updates
- 📅 Official announcement: May 12, 2026 at 5:00 PM ET (41 days away)
- 🏌️ Tournament starts: May 15, 2026 (44 days away)
For pool commissioners: Do not finalize your tier assignments until May 12 evening. The 20 club professionals and any late withdrawals can significantly impact tier balance and fairness, especially for a 156-player field.
Frequently Asked Questions
What if Brooks Koepka withdraws after May 12?▼
While rare, players can withdraw up until their Thursday tee time. If the defending champion withdraws after May 12, most pools assign a penalty score (typically +10 per round) or allow participants to swap for the next-highest ranked available player in that tier.
Can the field size change after May 12?▼
Yes, but only if players withdraw. The PGA of America does not add players after the May 12 announcement unless a special exemption is granted (extremely rare). The field could shrink from 156 to 154-155 if withdrawals occur.
How many club professionals typically play?▼
Exactly 20 PGA club professionals qualify through the PGA Professional Championship (April 21-24, 2026). These are teaching pros and club pros, not full-time tour players. They're typically placed in Tier 5 or Tier 6 (long shots) for pool purposes. Occasionally a club pro makes the cut—John Daly won as a PGA club pro in 1991!
Should I open picks before or after May 12?▼
After. Open picks on Monday evening, May 12 after the field is announced (after 5:00 PM ET). Give participants 48 hours (until Wednesday 11:59 PM) to submit their picks. This prevents issues with withdrawn players and ensures all 156 spots are filled correctly across your tiers.
Does Rory McIlroy have an advantage at Valhalla?▼
Yes. Rory won the 2014 PGA Championship at Valhalla by one stroke over Phil Mickelson. He knows the course well and his long, powerful game suits Valhalla's wide fairways and reachable par-5s. Consider bumping him up in your tiers, especially if you're between him and another Tier 1 player.
Summary: PGA Championship Field Timeline
- ✅ Final field announcement: Monday, May 12, 2026 at 5:00 PM ET
- ✅ Expected field size: 156 players (standard for PGA Championship)
- ✅ Best practice for pools: Wait until May 12 evening to finalize tiers
- ✅ Pick deadline: Wednesday, May 14 at 11:59 PM (before first round)
- ✅ Tournament starts: Thursday, May 15, 2026 at Valhalla Golf Club
- ✅ Defending champion: Brooks Koepka (2023 winner)
Automate Your PGA Championship Pool
Stop manually tracking picks and payments for 156 golfers. RunPools automates your entire PGA Championship pool — from entry fees to instant payouts at Valhalla.