Is it time to give the PGA Championship a break?

Ok, I’m going to start by saying - it's time to cut this major some slack!

Yes, I get it, if you lined up the four majors in order of the ones that 'you like' or 'are the best', 99 times out of 100 (maybe 999 times out of 1,000) it would come fourth out of the four. I get that. I don’t have an issue with it being the 'fourth best major' but why oh why do golf fans and media seem to want to drag it through the mud and demand some change?

I’ve listened to various podcasts this week, which I do most weeks. I’ve heard the 'let’s take it around the world' argument, the 'it should be a match play event' argument and I’ve heard one or two others, too - but the general consensus seems to be that it 'needs to change'. 

But I’m here, flying the flag for the US PGA Championship and I want to defend it and try to add some rationale on why it’s absolutely fine as it is - and also counter argue some of the suggested changes. 

The PGA Championship Has Incredible History

First and foremost is the simple fact that this event already boasts so much history. The names of the golfers that have already won this trophy and some of the moments it has thrown up should not be overlooked. 

The US PGA has thrown up some incredible storylines over the years. John Daly won as he entered the week as ninth alternate in 1991. 

Phil Mickelson defying the odds at a ripe old age of 50 triumphing in 2021. The Tiger Woods/Jack Nicklaus pairing in 2000. Y.E. Yang shocked the world by defeating the seemingly undefeatable Tiger Woods back in 2009. If you dig through the history books you will find story after story after story that this 'most boring major' has given the world of golf. Then the trophy itself - the Wanamaker - is one of the most recognisable trophies in sport, let alone golf.

Should it Become a Match Play Event?

Next, I will address the idea of making it a match play event - which, to be honest, already feels like a non-starter for me. 

I do agree, it would be great to see more match play events in professional golf. But let’s not forget we had them and lost them and this happens for a reason. 

The issue with professional match play events is that the majority of viewers switch off once their three or four favourite players get knocked out. We saw it often with the old WGC Match Play event. If you could guarantee a Scottie vs Rory final, for example, then yes, it would be great for all involved. But you get a Bubba Watson vs Kevin Kisner final (I mean that with no disrespect to those two guys) as we did in 2019, then viewers turn off, spectators turn off and ultimately sponsors turn off - and without sponsors, we don’t have an event. 

I do, however, think there may be scope to put a match play element in. Maybe a cut after three days with the top 16 or eight going into a match play format, but then you have the issue with scheduling and the extra day needed to conclude. 

Could it Be Taken Around The World?

'The US PGA should be taken around the world' is an argument I also hear a lot this time of year. Great idea perhaps. But as soon as you take it to somewhere like South Korea or Australia many of the top players will not be enthused to travel. Not because they don’t want to go. But it’s a long way to go and travel just for one event. 

A good comparison here is the DP World Tour 'Swings' we see. For example, when the DP World Tour heads to South Africa or Dubai, it does so for two, maybe three weeks at a time and with several events. That makes travel, accommodation and the time worthwhile. I’m absolutely convinced that if those events were standalone, then the fields would be much weaker, and many players just wouldn’t bother. Adjusting to different time zones, the cost of the travel (granted for those at the very top of the game this is irrelevant) but don’t forget the US PGA Championships is exactly that. Look at the trophy. It says 'Annual Championship of the Professional Golfers Association of America'. 

The PGA Championship Does Some Things Right

On this exact point. The US PGA offers 20 spots to US professionals in its flagship event in a 156-man field. Your pro shop guys for want of a better term, to qualify and play in. For them, a prestigious event. For another comparison, the PGA in the UK now only offers one spot to similar professionals in its flagship event, the BMW PGA Championships at Wentworth - which to be honest, is a crying shame. 

So, when we take all the above points into consideration, I ask myself, why does the US PGA get such a hard deal from so many people?

Personally, I will be glued to the coverage this week. I am excited to see how the best players in the game take on the course at Aronimink for a chance to either pick up their first major or indeed add to their current collection.