Rory McIlroy prodigy and two others handed late invites into PGA but in-form LIV Golf pro shunned

Rory McIlroy prodigy Tom McKibbin, David Puig and Elvis Smylie have received late invites into golf's second major of the season at the PGA Championship.

McKibbin, 22, and Smylie and Puig, both 23, have all been playing some solid golf of late and their recent good work has not gone unnoticed by those at the PGA of America. 

The US PGA takes place at Quail Hollow Club in Charlotte from 15-18 May. 

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Northern Ireland's McKibbin made something of a controversial decision to turn down a PGA Tour card for the first time earlier this season, in favour of joining Jon Rahm's Legion XIII on the LIV Golf League.

It was a controversial move given McKibbin has been mentored by PGA Tour superstar McIlroy for much of his early golf career. 

The decision did not sit well with McIlroy, who had urged his compatriot to strongly consider taking up his PGA Tour card that he had worked hard to earn via the DP World Tour Rankings at the end of 2024. 

But McKibbin went against McIlroy's urgings and joined Rahm's LIV Golf team, which also comprises Tyrrell Hatton and Caleb Surratt. 

McKibbin, who his first DP World Tour title at the European Open in 2023, has been playing some steady golf so far this season with three top-10 finishes.

Puig, who plays for Sergio Garcia's Fireballs GC, has been playing even steadier in 2025 with seven consecutive top-20 finishes on LIV Golf including two top-fives. 

The Spaniard is being tipped by many analysts, including his captain Garcia, for a very big golf career. 

Left-handed Smylie won his maiden DP World Tour title on home turf at the BMW Australian PGA in November 2024.

Smylie has since followed that up with five more top-20 finishes on the DP World Tour.

Puig will be making his fifth major start at the PGA, McKibbin a third and Smylie a second. 

There was no late invite for in-form LIV Golf pro Lucas Herbert, something that has irritated a number of ardent LIV Golf fans.

Herbert, who has chalked up four top-10s so far this season, currently ranks fifth in the individual standings on LIV Golf League for 2025.

But the PGA of America has shunned him an invite in the PGA Championship field. 

It has not sat well with popular golf social media account, Flushing It. 

"Lucas Herbert, who is 5th on the LIV Golf League Standings, did not receive an invite to the PGA Championship," tweeted Flushing It.

"That’s surprised me, as he definitely deserves one. I can only assume it’s because he is not as close to the top 100 on the OWGR as David Puig and Tom McKibbin?!"