The 2025 BMW PGA Championship at Wentworth has always been one of the biggest weeks on the DP World Tour calendar, but this year the spotlight shines even brighter. That’s because nine players from LIV Golf are in the field, bringing fresh intrigue, divided loyalties, and plenty of debate about the evolving landscape of the sport.
Among the most high-profile names is Jon Rahm, who arrives as one of LIV’s standout performers and a Ryder Cup stalwart. His presence alone carries weight, with many eager to see how his form translates back into a flagship DP World Tour event. Alongside him is Tyrrell Hatton, the fiery Englishman who lifted this trophy in 2020 and knows Wentworth as well as anyone in the field. For Hatton, it’s a chance to remind fans that despite the LIV shift, his roots remain firmly in European golf.
Patrick Reed is another LIV figure who tends to stir attention. The former Masters champion remains a polarizing presence, but when his game clicks he’s a dangerous competitor capable of pushing deep into leaderboards. Joaquin Niemann also adds intrigue. The Chilean has enjoyed strong form in LIV tournaments and now has an opportunity to showcase his game against a broader international field.
Brooks Koepka, a multiple major champion, is perhaps the most decorated of the group, though his recent results have been uneven. Wentworth offers him the chance to reassert himself, while Thomas Pieters, Adrian Meronk, and Dean Burmester bring both experience and recent LIV success to the mix. Completing the LIV contingent is young Northern Irishman Tom McKibbin, who has chosen an ambitious path in LIV but remains eager to test himself on the DP World Tour’s biggest stage.
Their inclusion raises important questions. Eligibility battles between LIV players and the DP World Tour are ongoing, with fines and appeals still unresolved. Yet, as long as membership and legal processes remain in play, these players are able to compete — and the BMW PGA Championship, offering significant ranking points and prize money, is too important for them to ignore. For those with Ryder Cup aspirations, such as Rahm, Hatton, and Pieters, performance here could influence future selections as well.
The early rounds at Wentworth have already delivered mixed fortunes. Patrick Reed leads the LIV charge, sitting inside the top 15 after two days, while Hatton and McKibbin are within striking distance further down the board. Rahm remains a factor too, although he has ground to make up. Meanwhile, Koepka, Burmester, and Meronk failed to make the cut, highlighting just how unforgiving Wentworth can be.
Beyond scores and leaderboards, the bigger picture is clear: LIV players are not content to exist in a bubble. They want to prove their worth on traditional tours, chase world ranking points, and keep themselves in the conversation for golf’s biggest stages. Their participation at Wentworth underscores that, for all the rivalry and tension between LIV and the established tours, the two sides are becoming increasingly intertwined.
For fans, the presence of nine LIV golfers at one of Europe’s premier events ensures extra drama, new storylines, and heightened intensity. Whether they contend or fall short, their performance will be seen as a barometer of how LIV talent stacks up against the broader golfing world. And in the long run, this BMW PGA Championship could mark another small but significant step in golf’s slow journey toward a new balance of power.
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