As the golf world gathers in Philadelphia this week for the second men’s major championship of the year, a number of key topics will provide plenty of buzz off the course—from notable leadership changes to LIV Golf questions and more.
Aronimink Golf Club is hosting its second PGA Championship, which begins Thursday. The only other men’s major played at the course was the 1962 PGA Championship won by Gary Player. Since then, Aronimik has hosted some amateur championships, PGA Tour events, and the 2020 KPMG Women’s PGA Championship.
Over the next seven days the historic club, founded in 1896, will play host not just to the world’s best golfers, but also the next steps in the shifting landscape of the professional sport.
Meet PGA of America’s New Boss—Again
The PGA of America—which operates the PGA Championship, and the Ryder Cup when it’s played in the U.S. every four years— is entering its marquee annual event with a new CEO for a second consecutive year.
Former UnitedHealth Group CMO Terry Clark was named CEO in February after Derek Sprague stepped down in January after just one year on the job.
Clark, who had served as an independent director on the PGA of America Board since 2024, has taken over an organization that has faced plenty of recent criticism.
The PGA of America (a separate entity from the PGA Tour) was in charge of Ryder Cup operations last fall when fans’ behavior at Bethpage Black turned ugly against the dominating European team.
Since then, outspoken PGA of America president Don Rea Jr., who also came under fire at the Ryder Cup, has had his role reduced until his two-year stint in office concludes in November.
In March, the PGA of America extended its Ryder Cup media rights deals with NBC Sports and USA Sports from 2031 to 2033. Last month, the organization named Jim Furyk captain of the 2027 U.S. Ryder Cup team, which will face Europe in Ireland next fall.
A Smaller LIV Presence
As LIV Golf fights for survival amid the Saudi PIF’s funding exit, 11 players from the league will compete in the PGA Championship, which is a noticeable drop from last year’s contingent.
There were 15 full-time LIV members at the 2025 PGA Championship. Additionally, LIV reserve player John Catlin was in the field.
LIV players have never been banned from the PGA Championship, or the other three majors, like they have been from the PGA Tour. But the league did not receive Official World Golf Ranking points until this season, which made it harder for LIV players to qualify for the four majors.
Phil Mickelson, who is exempt into the PGA Championship for life as a former winner, would have marked a 12th LIV player in the field, but he’s been away from competitive golf this spring dealing with a personal family health matter.
At the Masters, 10 LIV players competed, which was down from 12 last April and marked the league’s smallest contingent at Augusta since launching in 2022.
Pay Day
The prize money ultimately up for grabs at the PGA Championship will be telling in many ways.
The PGA of America is expected to announce this year’s purse mid-tournament as usual. Last year, the PGA Championship raised its purse by $500,000 to an event record $19 million.
However, that ranked just third out of the 2025 major championships, behind the U.S. Open and Masters—and behind the PGA Tour’s eight $20 million signature events, $25 million Players Championship, and LIV’s $25 million purses (which increased to $33 million this year).
The Masters this year raised its purse by $1.5 million to $22.5 million, which was a million more than the U.S. Open’s $21.5 million—previously the record for a major. “It’s not a race,” USGA CEO Mike Whan told Front Office Sports last week when asked about the U.S. Open potentially increasing prize money this year.
