Quick Answer:

The 2026 PGA Championship field will be finalized on Monday, May 12, 2026 at 5:00 PM ET — exactly 2 days before the first round at Aronimink 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. Scottie Scheffler 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 Aronimink)
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
Monday-Tuesday, May 12-13: Practice rounds begin at Aronimink
Thursday, May 14, 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)

Scottie Scheffler - 2025 PGA Champion (Defending champion, won 2025 at Quail Hollow)
Brooks Koepka - 2018, 2019, 2023 PGA Champion
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
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, 2025 PGA Champion
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 Aronimink
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)	Aronimink Golf Club, Newtown Square PA
Date	April 10-13, 2026	May 14-17, 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 Aronimink. 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 Monday-Tuesday (May 12-13).

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
Monday-Tuesday, May 12-13: Participants make picks (deadline: Tuesday 11:59 PM)
Thursday, May 14: PGA Championship begins at Aronimink, 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 Aronimink. 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.

Aronimink Golf Club: 2026 PGA Championship Venue

The 2026 PGA Championship heads to Aronimink Golf Club in Newtown Square, Pennsylvania, returning to this classic Donald Ross design (1928) for the first time since Gary Player won the PGA Championship there in 1962.

Why Aronimink Affects Your Tiers

Par 70, 7,237 yards — A classic Donald Ross layout that demands precision
Tree-lined fairways with 75 bunkers — Precision driving rewarded over raw distance
Deep flashed bunkers and undulating greens — Short game and iron play are critical
No player in the current field has competitive PGA Championship experience at Aronimink — The last PGA here was 1962 (Gary Player)
Course-specific tier adjustments: Prioritize elite iron players and short game specialists who thrive on precise, strategic courses

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 2 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 14, 2026 (43 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 Scottie Scheffler 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 24 hours (until Tuesday 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 course experience matter at Aronimink?▼

No player in the current field has competitive PGA Championship experience at Aronimink, since the last PGA there was in 1962 (Gary Player). This levels the playing field — focus your tier rankings on current form, iron play precision, and short game ability rather than course history. Donald Ross designs tend to reward strategic, accurate golfers over pure power hitters.

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: Tuesday, May 13 at 11:59 PM (before first round)
✅ Tournament starts: Thursday, May 14, 2026 at Aronimink Golf Club
✅ Defending champion: Scottie Scheffler (2025 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 Aronimink.