Casualties and an exciting surprise
Tiger Woods will not be in the PGA Championship. Neither does Phil Mickelson. But the news that really moved the green is that Dustin Johnson received a special pass and is in. Just as you read it.
“Very excited. I want to play in all the majors,” Johnson said from the LIV Golf tournament in Virginia. “I feel like my game is still good enough to compete with everyone and I can still win.”
The former world No. 1, two-time major champion, earned an invitation when his eligibility had already expired. The PGA of the United States opened the door for him and he does not hesitate: he wants to show that he still has the wood.
What happened to Tiger and Phil?
Tiger Woods remains out of the majors since last year’s British Open. His legal situation following his arrest in February for driving under suspicion continues to complicate his return. There is no date, there is no clue.
Phil Mickelson, meanwhile, withdrew after the 154-player roster was announced. His only LIV Golf event was in South Africa in March. He has not said publicly what he faces at home, but it is clear that something weighs on him.
The complete list and the scenario
The tournament returns to Aronimink Golf Club for the first time since 1972, when Gary Player lifted the trophy. Scottie Scheffler is the defending champion. DJ already knows the course: he played there in the 2018 BMW Championship.
The PGA gave invitations to several names: Andy Sullivan, Ángel Ayora, Keith Mitchell, Chandler Blanchet and Billy Horschel. Luke Donald (captain of the European Ryder Cup) and the Japanese Kota Kaneko also entered.
Vijay Singh and the Argentine senior PGA champion decided not to play. Jim Furyk, American captain of the Ryder, will not be there either.
The message is clear: in golf, as in life, opportunities appear when you least expect them. DJ grabbed them on the fly. We’ll see if he can turn them into something big.
