Adios August can Mayday save PGA?
by M. James Ward
The late comedian Rodney Dangerfield was famous in using the reference during performances that "I don't get any respect." While Dangerfield's utterance drew raucous laughter the tagline has become a heavy anchor fitted around the neck of the PGA of America for one of its two flagship events – the PGA Championship.
This week marks the playing of the 100th championship with as the host site. The event comes just outside one of America's grand sports heartland cities, St. Louis.
The PGA Championship started in 1916 at Siwanoy in New York and was played in October. For nearly the first half of its existence the PGA was a match play event. That ended in 1957 and every event since has been a standard 72-hole stroke play tournament. The PGA was slow to stage its event at clear-cut notable sites and the traditional August time frame did not help matters as overall television ratings were considerably behind that of the two other American majors, The Masters and US Open.
In 1971 a brief, but failed experiment, had the event played in Florida in February. The hope was that the new date would spur interest given the early time frame in front of The Masters. The event did produce a notable winner in Jack Nicklaus but the event languished with limited gallery attendance and even less television interest.
Since that effort, the PGA was moved back to the August time frame. The 100th event marks the final time the PGA Championship will be played in August. What had been golf's final major now switches to a May time frame in 2019 at Bethpage's Black Course on Long Island, NY. The movement was done via a fascinating trade with the PGA TOUR. The TOUR wanted to move its beloved FedEx Cup Playoffs away from the television ratings monster National Football League (NFL) – in order to do that the PGA of America has to agree to move the PGA Championship to a May time slot. The TOUR went further in consolidating its overall schedule by moving The Players Championship from May back to March where it originated. All of this was done so that the marquee event – The Tour Championship – would finish on Labor Day weekend during the first few days in September.
The PGA Championship will now follow The Masters and marks the reality that from April through July there will be one major event played over that time frame. Moving the event also presents some serious logistical issues. Courses in the Northern areas in America will face a shorter time frame for grass growing. This might prove especially vexing when the event heads to Rochester, NY at Oak Hill in 2023. The flipside of the coin also means that other locations – most notably those in the Sunbelt areas – with Texas and other such States now having a better opportunity to showcase themselves with a more ideal time frame in May rather than August.
Complicating matters for the PGA of America is a search for a new CEO as Pete Bevacqua leaves at the conclusion of the event at Bellerive. Guiding an organization with a membership of 29,000 is no small feat and the clamoring for someone to fill Bevacqua's position from the rank and file golf professionals is growing.
Over the last 30 plus years the PGA of America has sought to elevate the stature of the event. Jim Awtrey, the association's first CEO served from 1993 to 2005 and it was through his efforts that the PGA Championship moved up the ladder in terms of recognition. Matters were helped considerably when Tiger Woods entered the scene and his classic battle with journey professional Bob May at the 2000 PGA Championship helped raise the profile of the event.
The May time frame demonstrates a bold move. Interestingly, the BMW PGA Championship, played at Wentworth, is also in May and it will be interesting to see how the top European professionals sort out their respective schedules and commitments to sponsors.
Past marketing attempts by the PGA of America in positioning the event as "Glory's Last Shot," failed because it clearly showed a desperate ploy for attention. The mayday attempt on paper bodes well for all involved. The issue will be how successful the 2019 event at Bethpage can be in giving a meaningful lift-off to an event that has been trying for quite some time to establish a meaningful orbit with its three better-known rivals.
We shall see.
Photo credit – The Wanamaker Trophy at Bellerive Country Club, courtesy of The PGA of America
Koepka wins 100th PGA for second major in 2018 by M. James Ward ST. LOUIS, MO. Missouri is known as the "show me" State and Brooks Koepka, the man who successfully defended his US Open title this past June at Shinnecock Hills, followed up with a vintage performance in winning the 100th PGA Championship at Bellerive Country Club in St. Louis and showed the golfing world he is primed to add even more key events in the years ahead. The 28-year-old was chased throughout the final round by a horde of golfers, most notably Tiger Woods who shot a final round 64, finishing second two shots back in his best performance in a major event since returning to action this year from surgery. How good was Koepka's performance? Consider his 72-hole score of 264 becomes the lowest in PGA Championship history. In addition, the Floridian joins an elite grouping of four other players who have won both the US Open and PGA Championship in the same year. Ironically, the last golfer to do so was Woods. The win at Bellerive marks his 3rd major victory – the other two coming at the US Open in 2017 and 2018. After a shaky first six holes Koepka righted the ship by closing out the front side with three consecutive birdies. The inward half provided top tier golfing theater as a host of players – including defending champion Justin Thomas and Belgium's Thomas Pieters – attempted to enter the mix. Only Woods and Australian Adam Scott remained in the hunt during the final few holes. Woods, who has never won a major when trailing after 54 holes, recorded his best score on the back nine during the event with a stellar three-under-par 32. Tiger was looking for his first major in ten plus year and his first PGA TOUR win in over five years. On the back nine Woods stiffed a 9-iron approach at the 15th for a kick-in birdie getting to within two shots of the lead. At the long par-3 16th his 4-iron found the putting surface with just 20 feet to negotiate for birdie. The putt failed and after Woods blocked his tee shot right into the water hazard at the par-5 17th he fought back gamely with a 5-iron approach and ten feet for birdie. Again, his putter failed to produce. At the final hole Woods ended the day in solid fashion, holing an 18-foot putt for a final round 64 – the lowest final round Tiger has ever shot in a major championship. The poise Koepka displayed when winning at Shinnecock was in ample evidence during the final round. With the crowds pulling for Tiger to win and with Scott making a back nine move which eventually had him tie for the lead after the 13th hole, it was Koepka who answered the call in a big time way with a towering drive followed by a quality wedge to the 15th hole. Koepka sunk the 10-foot putt to secure the lead he would never relinquish. At the par-3 16th, Koepka hit the shot that clinched the event – a laser-like 4-iron that settled no more than 7 feet away on the 248-yard par-3 hole. Once again, Koepka displayed total focus draining the putt and pushing the lead to two. At the par-5 17th he missed a short birdie putt and when Scott failed to birdie from 7 feet away the lead was two with just one to play. Koepka blistered a tee shot at the par-4 18th to no more than 110 yards away. He calmly played his pitch to the green and two-putt from 18 feet to nail down the victory. It is hard to conceive Koepka has won three of the last six majors he has played – missing the 2018 Master because of injury. However, his total wins on the PGA TOUR is a meager one title – claiming the 2015 Waste Management Phoenix Open. At Shinnecock, Koepka had to play the bulk of his round after Tommy Fleetwood had posted a final round 63 and leaving him little margin for error. During the final nine holes on the Long Island layout Koepka repeatedly rose to the occasion with par saving putts and a superb wedge leading to birdie at the par-5 16th nailing down the win. At Bellerive, Koepka had to beat back the massive gallery pulling for Woods. The resolve and determination Koepka displayed was nothing short of impressive given how the likes of other golf stars have faded when Woods has been pushing hard for victory. Koepka's ripped physique and deft touch around the greens shows how professional golf at the highest of levels is now the domain of the athletic golfer. Where many had questioned Koepka's initial major triumph at Erin Hills claiming it was faulty course set-up that produced the win. There's no question now that the name Brooks Koepka is a player fully capable in handling just about any situation that comes his way. His win at Bellerive in overcoming Woods, Scott and all the rest was simply brilliant. At Bellerive, Koepka clearly laid down the gauntlet – if he's in the hunt during major events then all other competitors should be ready to raise their games to an even higher level. Brooks "show me" Koepka is now a powerful locomotive barreling down the tracks. It's either keep up or get run over.
Koepka win 100th PGA for second major in 2018 by M. James Ward ST. LOUIS, MO. Missouri is known as the "show me" State and Brooks Koepka, the man who successfully defended his US Open title this past June at Shinnecock Hills, followed up with a vintage performance in winning the 100th PGA Championship at Bellerive Country Club in St. Louis and showed the golfing world he is primed to add even more key events in the years ahead. The 28-year-old was chased throughout the final round by a horde of golfers, most notably Tiger Woods who shot a final round 64, finishing second two shots back in his best performance in a major event since returning to action this year from surgery. How good was Koepka's performance? Consider his 72-hole score of 264 becomes the lowest in PGA Championship history. In addition, the Floridian joins an elite grouping of four other players who have won both the US Open and PGA Championship in the same year. Ironically, the last golfer to do so was Woods. The win at Bellerive marks his 3rd major victory – the other two coming at the US Open in 2017 and 2018. After a shaky first six holes Koepka righted the ship by closing out the front side with three consecutive birdies. The inward half provided top tier golfing theater as a host of players – including defending champion Justin Thomas and Belgium's Thomas Pieters – attempted to enter the mix. Only Woods and Australian Adam Scott remained in the hunt during the final few holes. Woods, who has never won a major when trailing after 54 holes, recorded his best score on the back nine during the event with a stellar three-under-par 32. Tiger was looking for his first major in ten plus year and his first PGA TOUR win in over five years. On the back nine Woods stiffed a 9-iron approach at the 15th for a kick-in birdie getting to within two shots of the lead. At the long par-3 16th his 4-iron found the putting surface with just 20 feet to negotiate for birdie. The putt failed and after Woods blocked his tee shot right into the water hazard at the par-5 17th he fought back gamely with a 5-iron approach and ten feet for birdie. Again, his putter failed to produce. At the final hole Woods ended the day in solid fashion, holing an 18-foot putt for a final round 64 – the lowest final round Tiger has ever shot in a major championship. The poise Koepka displayed when winning at Shinnecock was in ample evidence during the final round. With the crowds pulling for Tiger to win and with Scott making a back nine move which eventually had him tie for the lead after the 13th hole, it was Koepka who answered the call in a big time way with a towering drive followed by a quality wedge to the 15th hole. Koepka sunk the 10-foot putt to secure the lead he would never relinquish. At the par-3 16th, Koepka hit the shot that clinched the event – a laser-like 4-iron that settled no more than 7 feet away on the 248-yard par-3 hole. Once again, Koepka displayed total focus draining the putt and pushing the lead to two. At the par-5 17th he missed a short birdie putt and when Scott failed to birdie from 7 feet away the lead was two with just one to play. Koepka blistered a tee shot at the par-4 18th to no more than 110 yards away. He calmly played his pitch to the green and two-putt from 18 feet to nail down the victory. It is hard to conceive Koepka has won three of the last six majors he has played – missing the 2018 Master because of injury. However, his total wins on the PGA TOUR is a meager one title – claiming the 2015 Waste Management Phoenix Open. At Shinnecock, Koepka had to play the bulk of his round after Tommy Fleetwood had posted a final round 63 and leaving him little margin for error. During the final nine holes on the Long Island layout Koepka repeatedly rose to the occasion with par saving putts and a superb wedge leading to birdie at the par-5 16th nailing down the win. At Bellerive, Koepka had to beat back the massive gallery pulling for Woods. The resolve and determination Koepka displayed was nothing short of impressive given how the likes of other golf stars have faded when Woods has been pushing hard for victory. Koepka's ripped physique and deft touch around the greens shows how professional golf at the highest of levels is now the domain of the athletic golfer. Where many had questioned Koepka's initial major triumph at Erin Hills claiming it was faulty course set-up that produced the win. There's no question now that the name Brooks Koepka is a player fully capable in handling just about any situation that comes his way. His win at Bellerive in overcoming Woods, Scott and all the rest was simply brilliant. At Bellerive, Koepka clearly laid down the gauntlet – if he's in the hunt during major events then all other competitors should be ready to raise their games to an even higher level. Brooks "show me" Koepka is now a powerful locomotive barreling down the tracks. It's either keep up or get run over.
The 100th PGA Championship Four holes to watch at Bellerive Country Club by M. James Ward When the 100th PGA Championship commences on Thursday the field of 156 players will be battling on a course few have ever played. Only three players are in the field (John Daly, Davis Love III and Vijay Singh) who played in the 1992 PGA contested on the St. Louis based course. Bellerive first burst on the public scene when hosting the 1965 US Open, won by Gary Player. The course was the youngest in the modern era to have ever hosted the championship of American golf. Yet, the history of the club goes much further back. Bellerive Country Club began in 1897 in north St. Louis as a nine-hole course with 166 members. In 1910, the membership incorporated as Bellerive Country Club, naming the club after Louis St. Ange De Bellerive, the last French commander in North America. That same year, Scotsman Robert Foulis designed the “new Bellerive” in Normandy where the club remained for 50 years. Led by Hord Hardin and Clark Gamble, the membership decided to move west in 1955, and allowed renowned architect Robert Trent Jones, Sr. to pick a prime farm location for the new site. The “Green Monster of Ladue” opened on Memorial Day, 1960. The re-emergence of the club for the final major championship of the 2018 season provides plenty of questions that need to be answered. Updated by Rees Jones, how will the course fare? Bellerive has clearly been ramped up to deal with the deeper talent base of players today. But after more than an inch of rainfall on Tuesday the overall turf surfaces will clearly be impacted, especially in the early rounds – it's likely a birdie fest will be in full swing. Bryce Swanson, vice president and senior designer with the Rees Jones architectural firm, is totally familiar with Bellerive and he has selected four specific holes meriting special attention. How the players handle these holes could very well determine if they will be hoisting the famed Wannamaker Trophy upon completion of the championship. 6th hole / 213 Yards / Par-3 The par-3 6th hole promises some drama. A long and narrow green guarded by a pond and two bunkers. At the 1965 U.S. Open, it proved to be the most difficult hole in tournament history with a stroke average over four. No other par-3 in recent major championship golf history ever played that far over par. The green has even shrunk a bit since the renovation, making the front just as tough as the back-right shelf. At the 1992 PGA the hole played as the 3rd most difficult – a stroke average of 3.34. Nerves will certainly be tested early on for those in contention. 10th hole / 513 Yards / Par-4 The members at Bellerive play the 10th as a short par-5. For the PGA, it will be played as a par-4 at 513 yards. It will require a solid tee shot and a very good approach for a player to walk away with par. Failure to hit the fairway will likely mean a missed approach to the putting surface. The 10th also features a wide, but shallow green that will prove hard to overcome. Keeping positive momentum going into the back nine will be severely tested at the 10th. 11th hole / 355 Yards / Par-4 On the par-4 11th hole, a pond lies alongside the green which previously sat in front of the green. Depending on where they place the hole location and which tee they use, it could give players the opportunity to make a number of birdies. Or maybe even the boldest of plays resulting in eagle. How Kerry Haigh, the PGA of America's chief set-up person, decides to play the 11th, each day could result in a wide array of options and scoring outcomes. 17th hole / 597 Yards / Par-5 Back in 2005-2006 during the renovation the green complex was reworked and a small blind pond short of the green was removed. The green complex was shifted to the right towards the creek to create a stronger connection. Players will have a very good chance to make birdie or eagle, as long as they can avoid the creek that protects the entire right side of this golf hole. There are two potential teeing grounds to make the penultimate hole interesting. Most will be laying up to the cross bunker that splits the fairway in two, leaving a wedge to a green sharply divided into three sections. Photos courtesy of Bellerive Country Club
