May move to boost PGA

ACCOMMODATING OLYMPIC GOLF REASON BEHIND SWITCH

Outgoing PGA of America chief executive Pete Bevacqua is confident switching the PGA Championship from August to May starting next year will provide the event with a new spark in a changing golf landscape.

The 100th edition of the tournament teed off at the Bellerive Country Club yesterday.

Bevacqua, who oversaw the date change and a revamp of the US Ryder Cup squad, becomes NBC Sports Group president next month. No replacement has yet been named.

Golf’s schedule will see dramatic restructuring next year with the return of golf to the Olympic sports line-up sparking a desire for the PGA to move rather than shift dates every four years to accommodate the Olympics.

“In terms of the move to May, I would say you can never be 100% confident in the decision, but we’re about as close to 100% percent confident in that decision as possible,” Bevacqua said.

“That doesn’t mean there’s not going to be difficult situations, but there are difficult situations whenever you conduct a Major championship.”

The move came after several future PGA sites had been named, leaving issues in northern climates such as weather worries for next year’s edition at Bethpage Black on Long Island and the 2023 staging at Oak Hill in upstate New York.

Bevacqua said he looks forward to next year at Bethpage Black when the PGA is staged from May 13 to 19. – AFP