Why the PGA Championship needs to move around the world
[I originally wrote this column in 2016 for a publication in Asia. It was written before the move to may was announced and before Pete Bevacqua announced his departure from the PGA. The move to May will definitely help but the PGA of America has made some really bold moves the past few years and the article below feels like it is still relevant in that regard]
I was there last July in the heat and humidity of a hot New Jersey summer to witness the best field in all of the 4 majors battle on one of the finest American courses, Baltusrol, in the outskirts of New York City. In the end, Jimmy Walker won, beating the defending champion Jason Day after a long struggle on a Sunday where 36 holes had to be played, the perfect ending to a great tournament.
I’ve covered every most majors since 2008, the PGA Championship is definitely the one where you feel the most welcome, the one where everybody in the organization will go the extra mile to enable you to provide the best coverage you can. Despite all those elements that could make it the perfect golf tournament, the PGA remains the 4th major because it lacks identity, not quality.
The Masters is infused with traditions and hosted on the iconic Augusta National Golf Club. The US Open is the American Championship played on the toughest course of the year while the Open Championship is the oldest golf tournament with the benefit of the best “Royal” links in Great Britain. The PGA Championship is not a national championship, nor is it the oldest, or even the toughest test for that matter. It’s the American Golf professionals’ championship even though only a selection of them do actually play in the tournament.
After discussing with the PGA Tour over a week off before the 2014 Ryder Cup, Tim Finchem asked the PGA of America to ditch the “Glory’s last shot” slogan. The thinking was that the FedExCup was truly glory’s last shot. The PGA came up with a new baseline “This is Major”. It’s like no matter what they do, they always have to prove themselves as being worthy of the major label. In many ways the PGA is the best major of the year and the PGA of America has proven more forward-thinking than the R&A or USGA, yet they still have to claim that “this is major”.
In 2013, Ted Bishop, then President of the PGA of America, tossed the possibility of bringing the PGA overseas, he even talked about doing it in Portrush (which will host the 2019 Open Championship) and revealed he had bounced the idea off several players who all seemed on board.
“I have spoken to Ted Bishop and spoken to Pete Bevacqua [the chief executive] about this," McIlroy declares. "They approached me about it a few months ago. I would be all for it. They said it is obviously quite a long way down the road, maybe 10 years or so. But I would love to be able to play a major championship at home. That would be nice" said the Northern Ireland native.
A year later however, Pete Bevacqua announced the concept had been shelved failing to rally the support of association members.
Gary Player immediately expressed his displeasure on Twitter: “What a shame. What a lack of vision. Golf has never been more global. Could have been a game changer for the PGA. Pity.”
If the PGA Championship wants to have that special place in golf, it needs to move around the world. Imagine a PGA played at the Royal Melbourne in Australia, in Fancourt in South Africa or at the Sentosa Golf Club in Singapore. The PGA pros might be against it now but get more of them in the field, pay for travel expenses (for them and a few of their family members) and they will probably rethink their position.
It has to happen because it’s good for golf, good for the PGA of America, and good the Grand Slam which cannot live much longer with 3 out of 4 played in the US in a market that is not growing any more. Pete Bevacqua is probably the most open-minded golf executive there is today, if anyone can make it happen, it’s him. That would leave the PGAChampionship with a new legacy, be the Major of the future.