The second men’s Major of the year is upon us, as the best golfers in the world prepare to battle it out at the 2023 PGA Championship.
Oak Hill is the venue for this year’s showdown, meaning it’s likely players are going to have to overcome more than just the golf course if they want to get their hands on the beast that is the Wanamaker Trophy.
Located in America’s cold north-east, weather tends to wreak havoc on any great championship held over Oak Hill’s East Course in Rochester, New York, and there’s no reason to expect that trend to be bucked this week.
But it’s not just the temperature outside that is likely to be frosty. The times they have a changed and Majors now hold extra significance as the only occasions when golf’s warring tribes – LIV Golf and the PGA/DP World Tours – come together. And for all the players remain respectful to each other, further up the command chain, the same cannot be said.
We delve into all that plus more in six of the biggest storylines ahead of the 2023 PGA Championship…
(Image credit: Getty Images)
LIV Golf vs The PGA
Most of the Major organisations have maintained a fairly neutral stance on LIV Golf. None have lauded it with any hint of praise but neither have they aimed what could be considered strong disdain in its direction. That is until PGA of America CEO Seth Waugh spoke to The Times (opens in new tab) last week.
According to Waugh, who also sits on the OWGR board, LIV’s entire business model is “flawed.” He also said the only way the Greg Norman-fronted enterprise will survive is if it agrees a settlement with the PGA Tour.
“I don’t think people really care about it,” Waugh added. “And I don’t see how it’s a survivable business model. They can fund it for as long as they want to, but no matter how much money you have, at some point burning it doesn’t feel very good. I don’t see they are accomplishing much.”
Eighteen LIV golfers were eligible for this year’s PGA, with 17 set to feature following Martin Kaymer’s withdrawal. Among them, two-time PGA champion Phil Mickelson wasn’t best pleased that some of his colleagues didn’t receive an invite, and let his feelings be known in a now deleted tweet.
Could be an awkward presentation ceremony should one of the LIV contingent emerge victorious…
Love me a good deleted tweet pic.twitter.com/X4fAztYWWWMay 11, 2023
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