The countdown is on for the 2026 PGA Championship, and the field at Aronimink Golf Club is starting to take shape. With less than two weeks until the second major of the year tees off in Newtown Square, Pennsylvania, 156 players will vie for the Wanamaker Trophy. Here's a look at who's already punched their ticket—and who might still join the party.
Past PGA champions are automatically in for life, but don't expect every legend to show. Tiger Woods and Phil Mickelson are both eligible, though both skipped the Masters this year for personal reasons. Their presence at Aronimink remains a big question mark. Meanwhile, major winners from the last five years and Players Championship champions from the past three years have secured their spots, along with any player who's won an official PGA Tour event since last year's PGA. That includes winners from this week and next, who can still earn a last-minute invitation.
The 20 club professional spots are already locked in after the PGA Professional Championship at Bandon Dunes, where Jesse Droemer claimed the title. These local heroes always add a layer of excitement to the championship.
For the rest of the field, 70 players will earn exemptions through the PGA Championship points list, which tracks official money earned from last year's PGA through this week's Cadillac Championship. That's why big names like Hideki Matsuyama and Jordan Spieth aren't listed yet—they're safely inside this category, but it won't become official until next week's announcement.
The wildcard? Eligibility criteria No. 14, which gives the PGA of America the discretion to extend invites. Traditionally, this means players inside the top 100 of the Official World Golf Ranking who haven't already qualified. But the PGA has been flexible: last year, Rickie Fowler got in while ranked 125th, and LIV Golf players have received invites despite being well outside the top 100. How far down the rankings will they go this time? That's the buzz heading into the big reveal.
Whether every player on this preliminary list actually tees it up remains to be seen—injuries, personal decisions, and last-minute changes always shake things up. But one thing's for sure: Aronimink is set to host a major with serious star power. Stay tuned for the official field next week, and get ready for a championship that promises drama from the first tee to the final putt.