For professional golfers, the Official World Golf Ranking (OWGR) is more than just a ranking; it’s a lifeline. For athletes like Patrick Reed, it might make the difference between qualifying automatically and having to earn a spot through a qualifying process. Reed almost paid a heavy price for his poor performance at Quail Hollow in the 2025 PGA Championship.

In the meantime, LIV Golf star Joaquin Niemann took advantage of his most excellent major finish to earn a coveted berth in the 2026 PGA Championship. These accounts highlight the extremely narrow margins that distinguish success and failure in the sport once the dust settles. Let’s break down how Reed narrowly escaped falling into the same frustrating qualifying path now facing Sergio Garcia.

Patrick Reed skirts the edge: A close call at Quail Hollow

The 2025 PGA Championship wasn’t a simple ride for Patrick Reed. The 34-year-old struggled the entire tournament and ended up tied for 67th at 7-over-par, which did little to improve his ranking. He opened with a 1-under 69 in Round 1 and an even-par 70 in Round 2. In Round 3, he posted a 3-over 73 and concluded with a 2-over 72 in the final round, finishing the tournament at 4-over par, tied for 34th place. Despite the challenges, Reed’s consistent play secured his position within the top 60 of the Official World Golf Ranking. As of May 19, he was still in 56th place in the OWGR, barely outside the top 60 cutoff for automatic qualification to the U.S. Open at Oakmont. His participation is guaranteed without a qualifier owing to this narrow escape, a relief given the alternative. But so far as Sergio Garcia is concerned, things looked different, and not in a good way.

Sergio Garcia, had witnessed a more noticeable downturn. Garcia used to be a strong competitor at major events, but his current OWGR has fallen to 396, almost removing any possibility of automatic qualification. His Quail Hollow performance did little to change this pattern. He opened with a shaky 4-over-75, hitting four bogeys on the front nine, including three consecutively. Thanks to five birdies, round 2 showed promise with a 3-under 68, helping him barely make the 1-over cut. However, Round 3 turned disastrous as he struggled to a woeful 8-over 79, carding seven bogeys and two doubles. Garcia bounced back in the final round with a solid 2-under 69, featuring six birdies. Despite the rally, he finished the tournament at 7-over par, continuing his fight to regain competitive consistency. He must now endure the difficult qualifying rounds to secure a spot in the next majors.

Reed’s perilous position serves as a reminder of how a single tournament may greatly impact a player’s career path in professional golf. While Reed held on by a thread, Niemann surged ahead—here’s how his Quail Hollow performance marked a turning point.

Niemann’s breakthrough: Securing the 2026 PGA Championship spot

One of the major turning points in Joaquin Niemann’s career was his performance at the 2025 PGA Championship. Niemann not only had his greatest major finish, but he also guaranteed his place in the 2026 PGA Championship at Aronimink by finishing tied for eighth at 4-under-par. He is exempt from qualifying rounds due to his top-15 result, which demonstrates his increasing ability on the global scene.

Niemann’s move to LIV Golf has made his journey especially remarkable. He has tied Brooks Koepka for the most wins on the circuit with five LIV victories since 2024, despite the difficulties posed by the change. His steady performance and marketability have led to his career earnings skyrocketing to $63 million.

This victory at Quail Hollow not only solidifies Niemann’s position as a rising star but also highlights how LIV Golf players can have a big influence at important competitions. Niemann’s trajectory points to a bright future in the sport’s most important competitions as he anticipates the 2026 season. The tales of Niemann and Reed are gripping examples of opportunity and tenacity in professional golf as the 2025 season goes on.