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Friday, August 9, 2013

An Idea for the PGA Championship

It's no secret that the PGA is the least prestigious of the majors.  It's important, but winning a PGA just doesn't have the same oomph as winning a Masters, or either of the Opens.  It just seems like the sort of major anybody can win.  I know that happens all the time, and that all of the majors get fluke winners, but the PGA seems especially prone to it.  Part of the problem is that the PGA doesn't really have its own distinct identity.  The Masters has Augusta, it doesn't move from Augusta, instead, they change the golf course.  You'd think that for all the talk of hallowed ground they'd pause for a moment before ruining one of the greatest, boldest courses ever designed, but this isn't about the Masters.  The U.S Open plays tough courses with even tougher setups, and any scores significantly under par is bad.  Doesn't exactly make for exciting play, but it's their thing, and they've stuck with it for a very long time.  The British Open has links courses, and golf how it was meant to be played.  It also provides a refreshing alternative to the power game that dominates the tour and the other majors.  The past three British Open winners have been over 40, and just look at what Tom Watson did back in 2009.  A 59 year old should have won, I'm still bitter about that one.  Then you've got the PGA, which doesn't have anything to stand out.  It's a slightly easier U.S Open which plays worse golf courses.  Valhalla?  Come on.  It's going there next year, so that should be a real winner.  There are lots of ideas for invigorating the PGA, and I don't know if this particular idea has come up, but I'll throw it out anyway.  The PGA should be much, much more experimental with their course choices.  They should take it to an entirely new course every year, one that isn't on any regular rotation.  No more Oak Hills, Medinahs, or Baltusrols.  I want to see the PGA at places like the National, Bandon Dunes, Yale, places like that.  Courses with classic architecture that are off the beaten path.  The professionals might tear them up, but it would be nice to get a bit more exposure to some golf courses that deserve a bit more attention.  And it might be a good way to boost the PGA Championship's profile a bit.

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