Ranking all 11 LIV Golf entrants at 2026 PGA Championship

It has been nearly two years since a LIV Golf member last won a major championship, when Bryson DeChambeau captured the 2024 U.S. Open title.

Eleven LIV Golf players are set to compete at the 2026 PGA Championship at Aronimink Golf Club outside Philadelphia this week. A victory by any of them in the Wanamaker Trophy would provide a significant boost for the still-developing league. Notably, two LIV players enter the week among the top five betting favorites, adding intrigue to a field that blends established major winners with rising talent.

Below is a ranking of all 11 LIV Golf players in this week’s field, along with an analysis of their chances to end LIV’s ongoing major championship drought.

MARTIN KAYMER (+450000 at DraftKings)

Qualified By: Past Champion (2010)

Now ranked outside the top 1,100 in the Official World Golf Ranking, Martin Kaymer enters the PGA Championship with little momentum. He missed the cut at last year’s PGA and has struggled to find form globally in recent seasons. Across six LIV Golf appearances this year, his best finish is a tie for 25th in Mexico City. The Cleeks Golf Club captain has not been a factor on the world stage for several years and currently sits 52nd in the LIV individual standings.

ELVIS SMYLIE (+130000)

Qualified By: Special Invite

At just 24 years old, Elvis Smylie showed early promise by winning his LIV Golf debut in Riyadh. However, consistency has been an issue since then. His best recent result is a tie for eighth in Hong Kong, but he has not finished better than T28 in his last six worldwide starts. He enters the week off a T46 finish at LIV Golf Virginia. In three previous major appearances, Smylie has made only one cut, a T72 at last year’s PGA Championship.

DUSTIN JOHNSON (+23000)

Qualified By: Special Invite

Dustin Johnson narrowly extended his streak of major championship eligibility to 69 consecutive starts after receiving a special invitation. The two-time major champion and two-time PGA runner-up has six top-10 finishes in this event historically. However, recent form does not suggest a strong contention this week. He posted a T33 at the Masters after missing the cut in three of four 2025 majors. Across seven LIV events this season, he has recorded just one top-10 finish.

CAMERON SMITH (+35000)

Qualified By: The Open Champion (2022)

Cameron Smith continues to insist his competitive drive remains strong, but results in elite fields tell a different story. He has missed the cut in six consecutive majors. On LIV Golf, he has produced two top-10 finishes this year, including a runner-up at the Australian Open to close 2025. However, his recent LIV finishes of T39 and T26, along with a missed cut at the Masters, highlight ongoing inconsistency.

TOM McKIBBIN (+34000)

Qualified By: Special Invite

The 23-year-old makes his sixth major appearance and his second straight PGA Championship start. Once mentored by Rory McIlroy, McKibbin is regarded as one of LIV’s most promising young players. Still, his major championship experience remains limited. He missed the cut at Augusta last month but rebounded with a T5 at LIV Golf Mexico City. However, inconsistency remains an issue, including a recent missed cut on the DP World Tour and a T21 finish in Virginia.

DAVID PUIG (+12000)

Qualified By: Special Invite

David Puig, 24, earned attention with a runner-up finish behind Jon Rahm at LIV Golf Mexico City, marking his best result in the league. At last year’s PGA Championship, he finished T60, one of only three major weekends he has completed. Puig has shown steady improvement with four LIV top-10 finishes this season and captured the 2025 BMW Australian PGA Championship, the biggest win of his career to date.

THOMAS DETRY (+14500)

Qualified By: Special Invite

Thomas Detry has emerged as one of the breakout performers in his debut LIV season, currently sitting fourth in the individual standings. The 33-year-old’s best major finish came at the PGA Championship at Valhalla two years ago, where he tied for fourth. Ranked 61st in the world, Detry also won the 2025 WM Phoenix Open by seven strokes, proving his ability to separate from elite fields when in form.

JOAQUIN NIEMANN (+10000)

Qualified By: Top 15 at 2025 PGA Championship

Joaquin Niemann has struggled to replicate the form that produced five LIV individual wins last season. In 2026, his results include a solo fourth in Singapore and a tie for eighth in Virginia. He tied for eighth at last year’s PGA Championship but has since missed the cut in two of the following majors. That top-10 finish remains his only one in a major to date.

TYRRELL HATTON (+5900)

Qualified By: Ryder Cup Participant (2025)

Tyrrell Hatton delivered one of the standout final rounds at the Masters, shooting a 66 to finish tied for third. That performance offset an otherwise disappointing LIV showing at Augusta. The 34-year-old remains 26th in the world rankings and has three LIV top-10 finishes in 2025. Known for excelling on demanding courses, Hatton has recorded at least one top-10 in all four majors, including a T4 at last year’s U.S. Open.

BRYSON DeCHAMBEAU (+1850)

Qualified By: U.S. Open Winner (2020), Top 15 at 2024 PGA Championship, Top 70 PGA Championship points

Bryson DeChambeau appears to be rounding into form at the right time. He finished third in Virginia despite being 12 shots off the lead entering the weekend. After withdrawing from Mexico City due to a wrist injury and missing the cut at the Masters, his recent performances suggest improvement. DeChambeau has been a consistent contender at the PGA Championship, finishing runner-up in both 2023 and 2024.

JON RAHM (+1375)

Qualified By: U.S. Open Winner (2021), Masters Champion (2023), Ryder Cup Participant (2023, ‘25)

Jon Rahm enters as one of the strongest favorites in the field. After a T38 at the Masters, he adjusted his swing and quickly responded with a win at LIV Golf Mexico City and a T8 finish in Virginia. He also tied for eighth at the 2025 PGA Championship and finished T7 at the U.S. Open, maintaining steady major championship relevance.

The 31-year-old Spaniard leads the LIV individual standings by a significant margin. While his PGA Championship record is mixed, with a best finish of T4 in 2018, his recent form suggests he remains one of the most complete players in the world entering the week.

— Derek Harper, Field Level Media/Reuters