Time to Think About a Fifth International Major

Post by Sports Writer Derek Clements

THERE is growing speculation that the US PGA Championship is to be moved to May, meaning that golf's four majors would be played in successive months and would be done and dusted after The Open Championship in July.

A decision is expected soon. If the move is approved, it would also see the Players Championship reverting to its March slot. It means that the PGA Tour would be able to complete the FedEx Playoffs before the start of the NFL and college football seasons.

PGA of America president Paul Levy said: “It’s something we’ve been studying for 18 months, we’ve looked at it from every angle and it’s not something we’re committed to saying ‘Hey, we’re ready to move’. We want to do what’s best for our championship and what’s best for the game and what’s best for the players. Obviously we’re very sensitive that the Tour’s looking to get away from football in the fall and they’re trying to do what’s best for their Tour and we do have a great partnership with them.”

The smart money is on the PGA Championship being moved. The first thing that needs to be said is that they would have to find a new tag for the tournament, traditionally known as 'Glory's Last Shot' because it has always been the season's final major. If it is played in May, 'Glory's Second Shot' doesn't really have quite the same ring about it, does it?

Tennis also has four majors - the Australian Open, played in January, French Open in May, Wimbledon at the end of June and the US Open at the end of August. Tennis doesn't concern itself with competing again other major sports. And nor should it.

The same applies to golf. There has long been talk of a fifth golf major, and this may well be the time to properly address the issue. Just because there have been four majors since The Masters was launched by Bobby Jones, it doesn't mean that it should be ever thus. We live in an ever-changing world. If the PGA Tour is really so concerned about clashing with the NFL, perhaps the time has come to think about either taking the PGA Championship out of America or, more realistically, launching a fifth major and playing it somewhere else.

Golf has become an increasingly global game - if you doubt it, take a look at the world rankings. So what about a fifth major played in January or February in either South Africa or Australia? Both countries boast some fabulous golf courses, links and inland. They also have passionate golf fans who are starved of world-class tournament golf.

Surely nobody really wants all four majors over and done with over four months. Let's see some imagination. And here's another suggestion - hand the project to European Tour Chief Executive Keith Pelley. He is an innovator, a man who spends his life thinking about how the game can grow and then does something about it.

Surely, golf is big enough in its own right not to have to worry about whether it can compete against the NFL. The Americans may be insular and inward thinking - the rest of us are not.