The PGA Championship is widely considered to be the fourth of the four men’s Majors, with many fans and commentators calling for changes to the grand old championship.
With The Masters, US Open, The Open and even The Players Championship all growing in stature, the PGA Championship appears to be losing ground at the top of the sport.
The PGA Championship actually started life with a match play format, before switching to stroke play in 1958.
While match play is arguably the most entertaining format to watch, as seen in the likes of the Ryder Cup and Solheim Cup, it has struggled in individual professional tournaments.
There are a number of reasons why match play is no longer on the schedule. Firstly, the final match can sometimes be underwhelming, especially if it is between two lesser names or one player has a big lead.
TV networks like to be able to show the big names like Rory McIlroy and Bryson DeChambeau on Sundays, and match play risks that not happening.
A tightly fought McIlroy vs DeChambeau final is the dream scenario but the chances of that happening are slim.
Then there’s the on-site experience. Tens of thousands of fans watching one group does not make for great viewing.
These are a couple of reasons that have led to match play essentially vanishing from the professional tours.
The WGC-Match Play ended in 2024, while the World Match Play Championship, founded in 1964 and played at Wentworth for 45 years, was last played in 2014. The DP World Tour also no longer hosts a match play tournament, while the LPGA is the only elite circuit still using the format.
The WGC-Match Play hasn’t taken place since 2024
(Image credit: Getty Images)
It clearly hasn’t worked in recent years, but is that really a reason to just completely abandon it? I don’t think so.
Match play is how the PGA Championship started and it is arguably the most-played format at grassroots and club level. What does the PGA of America stand for? Grassroots and club golf.
It would also be a genuine identity of the…
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