When the Masters was over, we compared the LIV players to the PGA Tour players. There were 14 LIV golfers in the field at the 2025 PGA Championship but, just like Augusta, their performance was not dominating.
The PGA Championship was the Scottie Scheffler show.
Scheffler collected his third career major with another clinical performance, leaving everyone (LIV or PGA Tour) chasing. Still, the head-to-head numbers are worth a closer look.
| Group | Players in Field | Made Cut | % Made Cut | Total Winnings | Best Finish |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| LIV Golf | 14 | 8 | 57.1 % | $2,523,278 | Bryson DeChambeau – T2 (-6) |
| PGA Tour / Other | 142 | 66 | 46.5 % | $16,229,251 | Scottie Scheffler – 1st (-11) |
What stood out
Scheffler’s win and DeChambeau’s runner-up finish dominate the headlines but a closer look at the full data tells a far more nuanced story.
Scheffler’s check dwarfed the entire LIV haul
Scheffler’s $3.42-million winner’s share topped the combined payout for every LIV golfer who cashed a check at Quail Hollow. LIV guys are used to bringing home big paychecks but that wasn’t the case at the PGA.
Top-10 presence favored the Tour but LIV showed up
Seventeen players (because of ties) finished inside the top 10. Fourteen were PGA Tour regulars. LIV placed three—Bryson DeChambeau (T2), Jon Rahm (T8) and Joaquin Niemann (T8).
More than half the LIV field made the weekend
Eight of 14 LIV entrants played all four rounds, actually a higher percentage of golfers to make the cut than the PGA Tour.
However, some big names went home early and didn’t get the chance to play weekend golf. Those included Dustin Johnson (+12), Brooks Koepka (+9), Cameron Smith (+7), Patrick Reed (+4) and Phil Mickelson (+9).
Bryson and Rahm gave it a go
Bryson DeChambeau has had a strong run at the majors. While it’s been a while for Rahm, he came close on Sunday before falling apart. Seeing what they do as we move towards the U.S. Open next month will be interesting.
Final thoughts
We don’t get LIV and PGA Tour head-to-head showdowns often which makes majors even more exciting to watch. At the 2025 PGA Championship, PGA Tour loyalists took home the winner’s trophy, the lion’s share of the purse and 14 of the 17 top-10 spots. LIV’s brightest moment was Bryson’s runner-up finish. While it was impressive, it’s not enough to dim Scheffler’s spotlight.
The scorecard for Quail Hollow? PGA Tour 1, LIV 0.
Top Photo Caption: Jon Rahm was among the contenders at the PGA Championship. (Courtesy LIV Golf)
Jeremy
1 year ago
With the exception of the Champion, Scheffler, LIV did lead with everything else. Do I think their % making the cut would go down if they had more in the field? I do. The PGA Tour actually had 54% make the cut. The PGA of America had zero. If it’s based on winner, then yes, PGA Tour wins. Otherwise, no.