Photo by Benny Hassum on Unsplash The PGA Championship is the second major of the calendar year, typically played in May. Organized by the PGA of America (distinct from the PGA Tour), it carries full major championship weight and a rich history that includes some of the sport's most dramatic finishes. Here's a complete guide to what the PGA Championship rewards, who historically performs best, and what to expect in upcoming editions. The PGA Championship's Unique Identity Among the four major championships, the PGA Championship is sometimes unfairly dismissed as the "fourth" major — the one that follows the Masters, US Open, and Open Championship in prestige. This is an undeserved reputation. The PGA Championship has produced some of the sport's greatest moments and is played at world-class venues on a rotating basis. What makes it distinct is its field composition: unlike the other majors, the PGA Championship traditionally includes the top 20 players from t...
The US Open is the only major championship that conducts a genuine open qualifying process — any professional golfer or amateur with a Handicap Index of 0.4 or lower can enter and potentially earn their way into the field. The 2026 US Open received 10,201 entries, one short of the all-time record set at the 2025 US Open at Oakmont. Here is how the qualifying process works.
The Two-Stage Qualifying Process
Players who are not fully exempt from qualifying must navigate a two-stage process to earn a spot at Shinnecock Hills. Stage one is Local Qualifying — 18-hole events held at over 100 courses across the United States. Local qualifying is open to any professional or amateur with a Handicap Index of 0.4 or lower who submits an application and entry fee before the USGA's deadline. Approximately 10,000 golfers enter local qualifying each year.
Players who advance from local qualifying proceed to Final Sectional Qualifying — 36-hole events held at multiple sites across the US and internationally. Final qualifying sites include courses in England and Japan in addition to US venues, allowing international players to qualify without travelling to America. Successful qualifiers from sectional events earn spots in the 156-player championship field.
Exempt Categories
Approximately half of the 156-player field is composed of fully exempt players — golfers who have earned their spots through specific exemption categories. These include past US Open champions (five-year exemption), top-50 world-ranked players, winners of major championships and significant PGA Tour events, and top finishers on the prior year's tour standings. The 2026 PGA Championship winner Aaron Rai earned a five-year US Open exemption as part of his Aronimink victory.
The Club Professional Tradition
Unlike the PGA Championship, the US Open does not automatically include club professionals in the field. Club professionals can earn their way into the US Open through the qualifying process — but they must navigate the same two-stage system as any other player. A handful of club professionals qualify for the US Open each year, and their performances are among the most compelling stories of championship week.
Why the Open Qualifier Matters
The genuinely open qualification process is one of the most meaningful distinctions of the US Open. The idea that a club pro teaching lessons at a local course could theoretically qualify and compete against the world's best players at Shinnecock Hills is fundamental to what the USGA believes the national championship should represent. Most years, one or two qualifiers produce performances that capture the imagination of golf fans — reminders that the game's meritocratic ladder, when properly constructed, can produce extraordinary stories.
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