The 2016 PGA: Baltusrol In July, Major And Olympic Preview!
So soon after The Open--particularly one we'll never forget--and at a parkland course short on memorable holes, and played in July to accommodate America's obsession with football, all adds up to make it hard for many including the SI/golf.com gang to get excited about the 2016 PGA Championship.
From the roundtable:
Bamberger: Yes, the PGA risks getting overlooked. But this year less than others. It's the lead up to the Olympics!
Shipnuck: You jest, Michael, but it will add a little extra juice and another needed talking point. We all know the PGA is the least prestigious of the majors, and as long as it’s going to boring tracks like Baltusrol, that won’t change. But the Olympics are the de facto 5th major this year—Sorry Players—and will continue the mojo for this blockbuster summer.
Bamberger: I don't jest. Not about this!
Shipnuck: Good, because these Olympics are life and death. Perhaps literally!
Ritter: Only if you drink the water in Rio, Alan! (Or, leave your hotel.) As for the PGA, Balty has produced some great winners, including Phil in ‘05 and Jack twice. If it gets a few high-wattage names in the mix on Sunday, it'll draw its share of eyeballs, even in a busy summer.
Probably more than had the event been moved to the early fall to help with the congested schedule. But football won that match before it even teed off.
David Fay filed some terrific Golf Digest thoughts on the history of Baltusrol and what makes it such a great club, even if you find the course a little uninspired on TV. And he addresses that silly wall installed by Robert Trent Jones at No. 4. **See Rick Wolffe's much appreciated clarification on the wall in comments below.
Alan Pittman offers this black and white photo tour of the club.
Sunday, July 24, 2016 at 11:23 PM
Reader Comments (59)
Golf was not created in Florida. 7 out of 10 of the top ranked golfers in the world are from outside of the U.S. And have a good Sunday evening when a non-American is lifting the USPGA trophy.
None of which has one iota of relevance to the PGA Championship, which is being conducted this week by the PGA, in America. As a complete aside, the fact that you can't count to 10 really is quite humorous.
The Masters
The US Open
The British Open
The PGA Championship
Double Eagle
Outside North America:
The US Masters
The US Open
The Open Championship
The US PGA
Albatross
Best seats IMO are behind 17 green. The 17th hole is an awesome par 5 (might be best architectural hole on course), from there, you can watch the tee shots on 18 as well and you can even see down to 5th green.
All the jingoists should note that Geoff was in favor of moving the tournament overseas, many in the golf media including Gary Van Sickle, and some officials in the PGA of America were also considering it. It would be a smart decision from a financial standpoint.
There is no way the taking the PGA Championship overseas would be financially accretive for the PGA, complete balderdash.
I think an overseas tournament would make a huge amount imagine how much China would pay!
Moving the PGA (of America!)'s event out of the US reminds me of the interleague play thing in baseball. 20 years ago media were pushing for it because "it would be cool, etc.", and would pimp "attendance is so much higher at interleague games" while completely glossing over the small sample size, not to mention the fact they were only on prime weekends. It was the cool thing. Now, 20 years later, you're starting to hear that it isn't such a great thing, you're seeing that a national league team does not draw a big crowd on a cold weeknight in April in Cleveland, and you're also hearing how the All Star game, and moreso the World Series, have lost something because all these guys play against each other in the regular season. Which many of us said at the time, but we were called luddites, etc.
It's simply a "decision by wetting your finger and seeing which way the wind blows" type of thing, with little to no forethought. Heck, might as well have the US, Brazil and Argentina compete at Euro 2020 while we're at it. Wouldn't that be cool?
The last thing golf needs is for a top organization like the PGA to whore itself out to China, terrible idea, moronic in fact. There is already too much whoring for cash going on in golf, we don't need more and especially the PGA doesn't because they are already awash in cash. Any more brilliant ideas or observations?
Thank you for your thoughtful post and not just knee jerk jingoism. I know nothing about baseball so can't comment on that.
As it stands the tournament is by far the weakest of the four majors. It's defining feature is that it has 20 club professionals in the field. Moving it overseas occasionally would be the factor that would distinguish it from the other Majors and add to its prestige. The Olympic year be a perfect because you could have the tournament in February or March and move it to Australia. The T.V times would be good as well it would be in prime time for much of the U.S.
The other reasons I think it would work would be the president cups that are overseas are much bigger events than the ones in the U.S. And a major hosted in Asia would draw huge viewership in Asia and enormous sponsorship.
Ironically the football analogy you gave had a perfect example that happened this very year. The championship of South America was staged in North America this year and included the USA. It was a huge success.
You assertions about the PGA Championship being weak, are false. A great story came out today illustrating just how strong it is, in fact, like most years it's the strongest tournament of the year. Furthermore, this weeks' event is the strongest field in golf in the 20 year history of the OWGR -- 923 points, the most ever.
PGA Tour events, ranked from strongest to weakest field:
1. PGA Championship
2. U.S. Open
3. Open Championship
4. The Players
5. Barclays
6. Deutsche Bank
7. The Masters
8. WGC–Bridgestone
9. BMW Championship
10. WGC–Cadillac
Stop with the false narrative man, it's unbecoming of you.
http://www.golf.com/tour-and-news/ranking-pga-tours-toughest-and-easiest-tournaments-win
http://www.cbssports.com/golf/news/pga-championship-2016-features-strongest-field-for-any-tournament-since-1986/
Obviously The Masters is the weakest field of the 4 majors. But would you rather have a Wanamaker or a Green Jacket?
Why are you getting so emotional? Are you a club professional? I have a lot of respect for those who teach the game. I just don't believe they should run a major or the Ryder Cup. That time is long past.
The only emotion here is one of complete humor -- you are an absolute joke! Clearly you don't have the intellect or credentials to render an opinion on the PGA's ability to run a major or the Ryder Cup, so shut your pie hole pal. So funny.
You must believe that Geoff or the SI writer Gary Van Sickle also don't have the intellect to comment on the USPGA as well. Because they agreed that it was a good idea to move the tournament overseas. The tournament lacks distinguishing features. And if you're worried about selling out from all reports of the telecast in recent years the PGA of America has stuck so many commercials in as to make it unwatchable without a DVR.
I can't speak for Bill but as for your question about Shackelford and Van Sickly -- hell no -- their opinions on taking the PGA Championship out of the United States have no merit whatsoever, they are clueless on the topic. One thing I will agree with Bill on, your distinguishing feature is you are a complete dickhead.
I'm not sure if you are the same person. But I have refrained from calling people names and instead tried to engage in a civil discussion about the Majors from a non American view point. The golf press outside of the U.S and The European tour call the tournament the USPGA. It is not a fringe view. Many individuals far more influential than me in the world of golf have called for some change to the USPGA to distinguish the tournament from a regular tour event. Evidently anyone who wants to do this is a "dickhead". Instead of arguments you insult people behind the anonymity of the internet. The most distinguishing feature that you share is you are unabashed cowards.