The PGA Championship in Perspective

I realize the golf world is revolving around Baltusrol right now and we have all the speculation about who is going to win. Will Sergio finally breakthrough in a major? Can Phil and/or Henrik play that well again this week? Can Jason Day repeat? Can Rory or Jordan silence the critics by adding a major this year?

We will find out the answers to these questions and many others in the next few days and I am sure there will be a lot of excitement, but I always have mixed emotions about the PGA Championship.

I read a statement the other day that got me to thinking and that is almost always dangerous, but I agree with the statement.

“If the Fab Four majors were the Beatles, the US PGA Championship would be Ringo, the weird one that sits at the back out of the way that no one wants to be.”

If you are a golfer, and I’m not using the National Golf Foundation definition as a person that plays twice a year, I mean someone that loves and enjoys the game; you know the tournaments that are majors.

• The Masters
• The US Open
• The Open
• The PGA

In every survey and opinion poll I have ever read the order of favorites varies, but the PGA finishes 4th every time. I wonder why that is?

The Masters starts the season and has Augusta National going for it, plus the legendary Green Jacket and all the tradition.

The US Open is generally agreed upon as the toughest test and is open to any golfer that can score well enough to qualify.

The Open (or British Open) has tradition, the Claret Jug and links golf plus unpredictable weather.

What does the PGA Championship have? It has the biggest trophy and, if the truth be told, probably the weakest field because they hold twenty spots for club professionals.

I have often wondered what the answer would be if you asked players that have never won a major which they would most want to win if they could only have one.

Maybe I think this way because the PGA Championship is not what it started out to be. The PGA of America was formed by tour players and that was their championship. When they pulled out and formed the PGA TOUR the TPC became their championship. I’m not sure what that makes the PGA Championship now.

I guess that’s why I say to hell with tradition and lets have five majors including THE PLAYERS Championship.

Cover Photo via YouTube