How do players qualify for the PGA Championship?

There are 14 ways for players to qualify for the PGA Championship, the second major championship of the season.

In 2024, a field of 156 players will take to Valhalla Golf Club in Louisville, Kentucky for a chance at the Wanamaker Trophy.

Read below for all the ways players can qualify for the PGA Championship.

PGA Champions

All past winners of the PGA Championship are granted automatic qualification.

U.S. Open champions (last five years)

Winners of the last five U.S. Open tournaments, golf’s third major championship of the year, are granted automatic qualification.

Masters champions (last five years)

Winners of the last five Masters, golf’s first major championship of the year, are granted automatic qualification.

Open Championship winners (last five years)

Winners of the last five Open Championships, golf’s final major championship of the year, are granted automatic qualification.

PLAYERS Championship winners (last three years)

Winners of the last three PLAYERS Championships, one of the PGA Tour’s signature events, are granted automatic qualification.

Top-3 in OWGR International Federation List

The top three ranked players in the Official World Golf Ranking International Federation List automatically qualify for the PGA Championship. This includes players competing on international tours such as the Asian Tour, Japan Golf Tour, PGA Tour of Australasia, and the Sunshine Tour.  

Current Senior PGA Champion

The current Senior PGA champion, one of senior golf’s five major championships, automatically qualifies for the PGA Championship.

Top-15 finishers in previous PGA Championship

The top 15 finishers plus ties in the previous year’s PGA Championship automatically qualify for the tournament the following year.

Top-20 finishers in PGA Professional Championship

The top 20 finishers in the most recent PGA Professional Championship qualify for the PGA Championship. The Professional Championship includes golf club professionals and teachers around the United States.

Top-70 in PGA Championship points list

The top 70 leaders on the PGA Championship points list automatically qualify for the tournament. This is determined by official money earned on the PGA Tour since the previous year’s edition of the tournament.

Ryder Cup participants

Members of the most recent United States and European Ryder Cup teams automatically qualify for the PGA Championship, as long as they are ranked in the top 100 of the OWGR a week ahead of the tournament.

PGA Tour winners

Winners of PGA Tour co-sponsored or approved tournaments since the previous year’s PGA Championship receive automatic qualification.

Top-3 finishers on DP World Tour Asian Swing rankings

The top-three finishers in the DP World Tour Asian Swing rankings receive automatic qualification.

PGA of America invitation

The PGA of America has the right to invite additional players that do not fit the above criteria.

PGA Championship points ranking

If necessary to complete the 156-player field, players ranked beyond the top 70 on the PGA Championship points list (see above) are invited to play.

Read more about PGA Championship dates, schedule, course, TV, streaming, payout, and odds on site.