The 2025 PGA Championship will be a heavyweight showcase at Quail Hollow from May 15 to 18. But one subplot is already generating major backlash: Why does the PGA of America continue to reserve 20 spots for club professionals in a modern major? You see, this week, 20 PGA of America members earned their place in the field through the PGA Professional Championship in Port St. Lucie, Florida. Tyler Collet claimed medalist honors by 10 strokes, followed by familiar name Michael Block, who tied for third to qualify for his fourth consecutive PGA Championship start. Block is joined by 18 other names. Not this inclusion, but the size of that contingent is now raising eyebrows.

On the Fried Egg Golf podcast, Joseph LaMagna said what many were thinking: “I think it’s a cool perk—lot of respect for what they do—but there are some very good professional golfers who are not going to make it to Quail Hollow this year. Twenty feels like an insane number of spots to give them. If you told me it was 10, I’d still think that’s a lot.” Brendan Porath added context, noting, “Half the U.S. Open field is sectional qualifiers,” many of whom are rising stars or global talents. In contrast, the PGA Championship locks in 20 spots for club pros,  many have been known to miss the cut, but not all. Over the years, some club professionals have showcased good performances.

The best performance since 1970 by a club professional playing in the PGA Championship was a third-place finish in 1971 by Tommy Bolt, a former Tour pro who had retired from the Tour. The last top-10 also came from a former Tour pro—Sam Snead in 1973. Before the 2023 PGA, where Block changed everything, only one club professional had finished inside the top 20 in the last 30 years—Jay Overton in 1988 at Oak Tree.

Michael Block’s magical run at Oak Hill in 2023—where he finished T15 and aced the 15th hole alongside Rory McIlroy—remains an etched memory. He also earned a tidy $288,333 that year. He missed the cut at Valhalla in 2024 and hasn’t made a PGA TOUR cut since. Still, his star power lingers, with a return to the spotlight in Charlotte now confirmed. The hosts also had some fun with lesser-known names. Porath pointed out that “Phil’s kid, Andy Mickelson, works at Kelpy’s Corner”—one of golf architecture’s running jokes—and fell just short of qualifying after a rough final round.

Tradition matters. But so does merit. And as major championships grow more competitive, the question looms larger each year: Should 20 club pros still get a seat at the table?

2025 PGA Championship picks

As the PGA Tour’s best prepare for Quail Hollow, SportsLine’s data-driven model has shaken up the 2025 PGA Championship outlook with some eye-opening projections. After simulating the tournament 10,000 times, the model, which has correctly picked 14 majors, including this year’s Masters, has revealed two surprising storylines that bettors should know before placing picks.

The biggest shock? Two-time major winner and 2020 major winner Collin Morikawa is projected to finish outside the top 10, despite 14-1 odds. Morikawa has struggled in recent majors, failing to crack the top 10 in his last three, and Quail Hollow’s massive 7,500-yard layout could expose his weakest link: distance. Ranked just 163rd in driving distance and 128th in total putting, Morikawa hasn’t won on any tour in 18 months. The model sees that the drought is continuing.

On the flip side, Patrick Cantlay, a 28-1 longshot, is pegged as a dark horse contender. Though winless this season, Cantlay has finished no worse than 36th and owns top-13 finishes in three of his last six starts. The 33-year-old’s elite ball-striking—ranking fourth in greens in regulation and 18th in strokes gained: approach—gives him a strong foundation to contend. Throw in top-20 rankings in birdie average and total strokes gained, and Cantlay becomes a value-packed play for savvy bettors.

As hype builds toward the May 15 tee-off, remember: the model that called last year’s PGA winner is fading a top favorite and flagging an undervalued vet. In a stacked field led by co-favorites Scottie Scheffler and Rory McIlroy at 5-1, the 2025 PGA Championship is wide open—and full of betting intrigue.