The PGA Championship - The Forgotten Major?

[JB]

The THP Tour Spot examines if the PGA Championship is the forgotten major and asks some questions about your thoughts on the matter.

http://www.thehackersparadise.com/?p=23505

 

[mikedean441]

Interesting article, never really thought much about this topic. For whatever the reason it just lacks the allure that these other events carry. And honestly it seems like the gap between this one and whatever you deem 3rd best is pretty large.


Not sure having it outside of the US does much for it honestly, but it just may always been a glorified tour stop for better or worse.

 

[Brianbigoats]

I does seem to lack the allure of the other 3

 

[Hawk]

I think timing plays a big part for sure. By the time we get to the PGA we've already likely seen the best that golf has to offer.

Really though - it has no identity. You went through the others and all of them invoke some sort of feeling or an image that pops into your head. The PGA really has nothing. The courses are nice, but there isn't that history or grandeur that the Open and Masters have. It's not known for being all that difficult either. So, you are left with the trophy, which is nice, but you need something else to capture people.

 

[flog2424]

I do agree that it just seems to be missing something even though it traditionally has the best ranked field in terms of the top 100 in the world every year. I think the fact it is so close to the British and some other events causes some of this. We wait so long for the Masters and then a decent amount of time passes before the US Open. Perhaps if they moved it to a diffferent time of year or some courses that have some more identity then it might grow allure some

 

[lilbilly]

It certainly doesn't have the buzz the others do, that being said it is a "major" so it certainly holds a lot of value.

I get excited about any major, but it doesn't really get me any more into it than other big tournaments like the WGC Bridgestone, or The Players.

I remember several years back my brother and I were talking - he's not a big golf fan, but he is a sports fan - and he asked about the majors and how they rank in terms of prominence and importance. When I mentioned the PGA Championship last, he agreed and said it's the one you hear the least about.

 

[Golf Ghost]

Interesting, yet I agree after seeing it written out.

Would bringing it to one course help or make it too much like the Masters?

 

[lilbilly]

Really though - it has no identity. You went through the others and all of them invoke some sort of feeling or an image that pops into your head. The PGA really has nothing. The courses are nice, but there isn't that history or grandeur that the Open and Masters have. It's not known for being all that difficult either. So, you are left with the trophy, which is nice, but you need something else to capture people.

I think you nailed it Hawk. Ask me about the Masters, US Open or British Open and I immediately have pictures in my head along with some special moments I've seen throughout the years. Ask me about the PGA Championship and I have nothing, no images, no special moments, nothing goes along with it in my mind to make it special.

 

[blugold]

I seem to be told how the PGA is "Glory's last shot."

Almost feels forced. With that said, this year excluded, I tend to enjoy the PGA more than the British. The British Open tends to bore me.

 

[gr8dryv]

I never gave it much thought either, but I will admit that the PGA is lowest on my radar of all the majors. I don't know why that is, but it is. It's always been that way for me though, even before the WCG format came out years ago. Regardless, I will watch just about every minute of it.

 

[captaincaution]

Interesting, yet I agree after seeing it written out.

Would bringing it to one course help or make it too much like the Masters?

I like that they have it at different courses every year, but it still holds the lowest place on the major totem pole in my opinion.

 

[O'Carroll]

Hawk nailed it. This tournament seems to lack an identity.

 

[#Cookie]

This was a good read, while it's still a major it's not one of those that I look forward to as much as I do the others.


I guess the "biggest" thing about is it that it simply counts towards the "majors" when looking at Jack's record, etc.

 

[Golf Ghost]

I like that they have it at different courses every year, but it still holds the lowest place on the major totem pole in my opinion.

I agree. Just wondering though if for the casual fan it wouldn't create a bit more of an build up.

 

[#troy]

The PGA Championship is by far the least prestigious of the 4 majors, but it is still a very big deal.

How do the pros feel about it, I think they view it as more than an ordinary tour stop?

I must add, I like watching The Players more than the PGA Championship, biased being a local tournament.

 

[tequila4kapp]

It lacks any identity. The Open - history and the courses. The Masters - Augusta and the traditions. US Open - brutal conditions / the crazy rough. PGA...nothing.

 

[Slider67]

im gonna go with course identity on this one, the two opens and the masters all have a huge course build up before the event

 

[INgolfer]

I think they need to make it play tougher, it seems to have the top names in golf but to me just seems to play like any other tournament throughout the year

 

[Martsy]

I definitely view it as the "lesser" major, and frankly, other than it officially being considered a major...i don't really view it any different than say the Bridgestone, Players, Deutche Bank, etc.

Infact, I woudl say as far as events go, I look forward to the Accenture (or whatever they'll call it next year) match play event much more...and would be hugely in favor of having a match play event like that be the "4th" major. the main problem as you address in the article, as the PGA championship has no identity in my opinion.

 

[cpljohnst]

I can't put a finger on why, but the PGA doesn't have the same level of meaning to me as the other 3 majors. Perhaps its the 20 PGA club pros in the field. Perhaps its timing. Perhaps its venues. Football is around the corner and I have an eye turned towards the upcoming season. It is a major and I watch it just as much as the other 3 but it is different somehow. I think Hawk summed it up....no identity. I don't think taking it overseas would really add anything.

The list of past winners is actually quite strong, except for YE Yang, Micheel, Beam, Brooks, and Grady.

2013	Jason Dufner	United States	Oak Hill Country Club, East Course	Rochester, New York[N 1]	68-63-71-68=270 (−10)	1,445,000
2012	Rory McIlroy	Northern Ireland	Kiawah Island Golf Resort, Ocean Course	Kiawah Island, South Carolina	67-75-67-66=275 (−13)	1,445,000
2011	Keegan Bradley[11]	United States	Atlanta Athletic Club, Highlands Course	Johns Creek, Georgia[N 2]	71-64-69-68=272 (−8)	1,445,000
2010	Martin Kaymer[12]	Germany	Whistling Straits, Straits Course	Kohler, Wisconsin[N 3]	72-68-67-70=277 (−11)	1,350,000
2009	Yang Yong-eun	South Korea	Hazeltine National Golf Club	Chaska, Minnesota	73-70-67-70=280 (−8)	1,350,000
2008	Pádraig Harrington	Ireland	Oakland Hills Country Club, South Course	Bloomfield Township, Michigan	71-74-66-66=277 (−3)	1,350,000
2007	Tiger Woods (4)	United States	Southern Hills Country Club	Tulsa, Oklahoma	71-63-69-69=272 (−8)	1,260,000
2006	Tiger Woods (3)	United States	Medinah Country Club, Course No. 3	Medinah, Illinois	69-68-65-68=270 (−18)	1,224,000
2005	Phil Mickelson	United States	Baltusrol Golf Club, Lower Course	Springfield, New Jersey	67-65-72-72=276 (−4)	1,170,000
2004	Vijay Singh (2)[13]	Fiji	Whistling Straits, Straits Course	Kohler, Wisconsin[N 3]	67-68-69-76=280 (−8)	1,125,000
2003	Shaun Micheel	United States	Oak Hill Country Club, East Course	Rochester, New York[N 1]	69-68-69-70=276 (−4)	1,080,000
2002	Rich Beem	United States	Hazeltine National Golf Club	Chaska, Minnesota	72-66-72-68=278 (−10)	990,000
2001	David Toms	United States	Atlanta Athletic Club, Highlands Course	Duluth, Georgia[N 2]	66-65-65-69=265 (−15)	936,000
2000	Tiger Woods (2)[14]	United States	Valhalla Golf Club	Louisville, Kentucky[N 4]	66-67-70-67=270 (−18)	900,000
1999	Tiger Woods	United States	Medinah Country Club, Course No. 3	Medinah, Illinois	70-67-68-72=277 (−11)	630,000
1998	Vijay Singh	Fiji	Sahalee Country Club	Sammamish, Washington	70-66-67-68=271 (−9)	540,000
1997	Davis Love III	United States	Winged Foot Golf Club, West Course	Mamaroneck, New York	66-71-66-66=269 (−11)	470,000
1996	Mark Brooks[15]	United States	Valhalla Golf Club	Louisville, Kentucky[N 4]	68-70-69-70=277 (−11)	430,000
1995	Steve Elkington[16]	Australia	Riviera Country Club	Pacific Palisades, California[N 5]	68-67-68-64=267 (−17)	360,000
1994	Nick Price (2)	Zimbabwe	Southern Hills Country Club	Tulsa, Oklahoma	67-65-70-67=269 (−11)	310,000
1993	Paul Azinger[17]	United States	Inverness Club	Toledo, Ohio	69-66-69-68=272 (−12)	300,000
1992	Nick Price	Zimbabwe	Bellerive Country Club	St. Louis, Missouri[N 6]	70-70-68-70=278 (−6)	280,000
1991	John Daly	United States	Crooked Stick Golf Club	Carmel, Indiana	69-67-69-71=276 (−12)	230,000
1990	Wayne Grady	Australia	Shoal Creek Golf and Country Club	Birmingham, Alabama	72-67-72-71=282 (−6)	225,000
1989	Payne Stewart	United States	Kemper Lakes Golf Club	Long Grove, Illinois	74-66-69-67=276 (−12)	200,000

 

[CAA_Beat]

I have lots of thoughts on this Championship, but I'll try to keep it brief (hard for me..I know).

I think the lack of buzz so to speak is for two reasons, not just two but two me they are two of the biggest.

1) The string of winner in the early 2000's David Toms, Rich Beem and Shaun Micheel seemed to diminish it in my eyes for a while as these guys seemed to be just a PGA Tour anybody. No Majors before or since for any of them.

2) The venues. There doesn't seem to be anything that you can coun ton with the Venue, as Josh touched on each of the other majors have something unique with the venues. Augusta National, enough said, US Open as mentioned always set up as the toughest test of gofl at some of the most historic courses in the US. The Open Championship, the Links style golf and the nasty weather...until this year when they seemingly moved it to San Diego

it has changed a bit for me over the past several years, and I think has gone up several notches on the list, still not the buzz of the others. But the run of Phil, Tiger, Tiger and Padriq Harrington (when he was hot) several years ago definitely reversed the trend I mentioned in point 1. Of course that was followed by 3 more years of somewhat unknown winners (YE Yang, Kaymer and Bradley).

2) The venues, it's hard to get excited about some of the venues they have had, and being in the middle of August in the US often times becomes a test of just staying on your feet, versus a test of golf. Kiawah and Whistling Straits are really the only two in the past 10 years or so that I can say stand out to me as a unique venue. I'm looking forward to seeing it back at Whistling Straits next year and Bethpage in a few years.

All that said, I am really looking forward to it. One becasue I'm a golf nerd, and two because I want to see if Rory can accomplish something special with a win.

 

[Trout Bum]

I do view it a little less than, the PGA is old, tired, and I think their thinking is beyond antiquated. I don't know what they could do to spice it up a bit but for me it's the least exciting out of the majors, snob conventional .

 

[ddec]

Honestly, I think the fact that it's at the end of the season hurts it a bit. It doesn't have the same history or clout as the other 3. It's still a really big deal though. Arguably the strongest field and if I remember right the winner gets more money in this than any other major.

I like that it jumps around from course to course. I just wish there was a little more buildup to it. I know that is hard with the way the FedEx cup is scheduled these days. But I feel like you get done with the Open Championship and then the PGA is right here.

 

[Nebgolfer]

Great read, and I agree that it is lesser than the other three. Like you pointed out, each of the others have a clear identity for the tournament but the PGA doesn't do anything special. Not as hard as a us open, not as ceremonious as the masters, and not as historically significant as the open. Turning it international may help, but I don't think it helps in the US at all.

 

[CAA_Beat]

I can't put a finger on why, but the PGA doesn't have the same level of meaning to me as the other 3 majors. Perhaps its the 20 PGA club pros in the field. Perhaps its timing. Perhaps its venues. Football is around the corner and I have an eye turned towards the upcoming season. It is a major and I watch it just as much as the other 3 but it is different somehow. I think Hawk summed it up....no identity. I don't think taking it overseas would really add anything.

The list of past winners is actually quite strong, except for YE Yang, Micheel, Beam, Brooks, and Grady.

2013	Jason Dufner	United States	Oak Hill Country Club, East Course	Rochester, New York[N 1]	68-63-71-68=270 (−10)	1,445,000
2012	Rory McIlroy	Northern Ireland	Kiawah Island Golf Resort, Ocean Course	Kiawah Island, South Carolina	67-75-67-66=275 (−13)	1,445,000
2011	Keegan Bradley[11]	United States	Atlanta Athletic Club, Highlands Course	Johns Creek, Georgia[N 2]	71-64-69-68=272 (−8)	1,445,000
2010	Martin Kaymer[12]	Germany	Whistling Straits, Straits Course	Kohler, Wisconsin[N 3]	72-68-67-70=277 (−11)	1,350,000
2009	Yang Yong-eun	South Korea	Hazeltine National Golf Club	Chaska, Minnesota	73-70-67-70=280 (−8)	1,350,000
2008	Pádraig Harrington	Ireland	Oakland Hills Country Club, South Course	Bloomfield Township, Michigan	71-74-66-66=277 (−3)	1,350,000
2007	Tiger Woods (4)	United States	Southern Hills Country Club	Tulsa, Oklahoma	71-63-69-69=272 (−8)	1,260,000
2006	Tiger Woods (3)	United States	Medinah Country Club, Course No. 3	Medinah, Illinois	69-68-65-68=270 (−18)	1,224,000
2005	Phil Mickelson	United States	Baltusrol Golf Club, Lower Course	Springfield, New Jersey	67-65-72-72=276 (−4)	1,170,000
2004	Vijay Singh (2)[13]	Fiji	Whistling Straits, Straits Course	Kohler, Wisconsin[N 3]	67-68-69-76=280 (−8)	1,125,000
2003	Shaun Micheel	United States	Oak Hill Country Club, East Course	Rochester, New York[N 1]	69-68-69-70=276 (−4)	1,080,000
2002	Rich Beem	United States	Hazeltine National Golf Club	Chaska, Minnesota	72-66-72-68=278 (−10)	990,000
2001	David Toms	United States	Atlanta Athletic Club, Highlands Course	Duluth, Georgia[N 2]	66-65-65-69=265 (−15)	936,000
2000	Tiger Woods (2)[14]	United States	Valhalla Golf Club	Louisville, Kentucky[N 4]	66-67-70-67=270 (−18)	900,000
1999	Tiger Woods	United States	Medinah Country Club, Course No. 3	Medinah, Illinois	70-67-68-72=277 (−11)	630,000
1998	Vijay Singh	Fiji	Sahalee Country Club	Sammamish, Washington	70-66-67-68=271 (−9)	540,000
1997	Davis Love III	United States	Winged Foot Golf Club, West Course	Mamaroneck, New York	66-71-66-66=269 (−11)	470,000
1996	Mark Brooks[15]	United States	Valhalla Golf Club	Louisville, Kentucky[N 4]	68-70-69-70=277 (−11)	430,000
1995	Steve Elkington[16]	Australia	Riviera Country Club	Pacific Palisades, California[N 5]	68-67-68-64=267 (−17)	360,000
1994	Nick Price (2)	Zimbabwe	Southern Hills Country Club	Tulsa, Oklahoma	67-65-70-67=269 (−11)	310,000
1993	Paul Azinger[17]	United States	Inverness Club	Toledo, Ohio	69-66-69-68=272 (−12)	300,000
1992	Nick Price	Zimbabwe	Bellerive Country Club	St. Louis, Missouri[N 6]	70-70-68-70=278 (−6)	280,000
1991	John Daly	United States	Crooked Stick Golf Club	Carmel, Indiana	69-67-69-71=276 (−12)	230,000
1990	Wayne Grady	Australia	Shoal Creek Golf and Country Club	Birmingham, Alabama	72-67-72-71=282 (−6)	225,000
1989	Payne Stewart	United States	Kemper Lakes Golf Club	Long Grove, Illinois	74-66-69-67=276 (−12)	200,000

Barry, I was typing a very similar post to yours as you were putting this up. I agree wholeheartedly, that it does have a great list of winners except for the odd ones sprinkled in. Plus it almost always is a compelling finish (well except for Rory's route a couple years ago).