In a surprising turn of events, Louis Oosthuizen, a member of LIV Golf and currently ranked 125th in the world, has decided to turn down an invitation to compete in the upcoming PGA Championship at Valhalla. The PGA of America announced on Tuesday that Oosthuizen was offered an invitation, but he cited personal commitments as the reason for declining.

Oosthuizen, who has been in impressive form recently with first, first, and second-place finishes in his last three non-LIV, world-ranked starts, including a victory at the Alfred Dunhill Championship, finds himself absent from the prestigious tournament. The specifics of Oosthuizen's personal commitments remain unknown.

Although Oosthuizen's absence is notable, the PGA Championship field will still be incredibly strong, with each of the top 103 players in the Official World Golf Ranking set to compete. LIV Golf, a rival golf organization, will also have 16 players, including Talor Gooch, ranked 644th in the world, who received an invitation.

Oosthuizen, known for his impressive performances in major championships, has one major victory to his name, the 2010 Open Championship, and has finished as a runner-up in majors on six occasions. His decision to decline the invitation comes after playing only two majors last year following his signing with LIV Golf in June 2022; he withdrew from the Masters and tied for 23rd at the Open Championship.

According to AP reporter Doug Ferguson, Doug Ghim is currently the first alternate for the PGA Championship. In addition, two spots in the tournament are reserved for the winners of this week's Wells Fargo Championship and Myrtle Beach Classic on the PGA Tour, provided they are not already exempt. Given that only four players in the Wells Fargo field are not currently in the PGA Championship, Ghim's chances of qualifying off the alternate list look promising.

As golf fans eagerly await the start of the PGA Championship, attention will now turn to the remaining open spots and the potential for surprises in the field. Oosthuizen's absence may be a disappointment, but it opens up an opportunity for other talented players to make their mark on the tournament.