Should the PGA Championship convert to a Match Play Format?
By Ed Travis
Brooks Koepka besting Tiger Woods, as well as, the rest of the field, to win the 100th PGA Championship provided great golf and wonderful competition on a demanding Bellerive golf course. It is increasingly apparent, however, that the fourth major needs something to distinguish it, not only from the other majors, but the weekly traveling circus, that is the PGA Tour.
Same Old…Same Old 
The Masters is steeped in tradition and played in early April, conveniently timed just as spring is descending over much of the country. The U.S. Open is our national championship and is typically played on courses so difficult, that it would bring tears to the eyes of most amateurs. The British Open is the oldest, most historic, theoretically open to anyone in the world and often held on links courses, which requires an entirely different style of golf, virtually unknown in this country.
The PGA Championship offers nothing to set it apart, other than the mythic determination that it has been designated a “major,” even though the field includes 20 club professionals.
With the other three majors, plus The Players, four World Golf Championships, the FedExCup Playoffs, the Olympics, and team events, like the Ryder and Presidents Cups, the PGA Championship gets lost in the crowd.
Next year, the schedule change moving the PGA Championship to May, between the Masters and the U.S. Open, could be a real shot in the arm. But truthfully, it still needs something to better establish its identity and push it towards the front of the pack.
Even though television executives may not like it, the time has come to return the PGA Championship to a match play format, as it was until 1958. Keep the PGA professionals, as part of the 156-man field and simply have a 36-hole qualifier on Wednesday and Thursday to select an elite 32, for match play.
One last thought on the PGA—the possible venues could be expanded by going outside of the states occasionally to gain not only the publicity but more international fans. Just a thought.
Photo Credit PGA of America
Tiger Woods:
A seeming lack of focus on the 14th hole of the final round and his wide-right tee shot into the hazard at the 17th hole sealed Woods’ chances for winning his fifth PGA and 15th major. However, his final round 64, was his lowest round ever in a major championship. Fans were glued to their big screens and smart devices around the world. I am not going out too far out on a limb to say, not only will he win again, but now at 11th in the Ryder Cup points list means, his role as a playing vice-captain, on the Ryder Cup team, is a given.
When Woods completes his comeback, as a tournament winner and major champion, it will be of the same magnitude as Ben Hogan’s return to championship form, after his 1949 collision with a bus.
Disappointments:
Play in the PGA by much of the U.S. Ryder Cup team was not inspiring, except for Justin Thomas, none were in contention on Sunday. Dustin Johnson finished T-27, Jordan Spieth and Rickie Fowler T-12, Webb Simpson T-19. Bubba Watson and Phil Mickelson both missed the cut.
TV Coverage:
TNT, which covered the first two days of the PGA Championship, in conjunction with CBS Sports for the weekend, could have done a better job, but it was refreshing to hear the critics going after someone other than Fox for their coverage of the USGA events.
