PGA Championship could head abroad starting in 2020
PGA Championship Ryder Cup

PGA Championship could head abroad starting in 2020

FOLLOW: iHEART | TUNEIN


The PGA of America's signature championship could be heading outside of the United States for the first time in the 2020s.

According to a Golf World report, the PGA of America is considering moving the PGA Championship outside of the U.S. borders at least once after the current television contract with CBS and Turner Sports expires in 2019.

"This is an exercise we are going through, an analysis. It is far from a fait accompli that we are going to take the PGA Championship international," PGA of America CEO Pete Bevacqua said to Golf World. "When we sat down to map our strategic plan to service our members and grow the game the question arose as to what impact it would have to take the PGA Championship to an international location once or twice a decade."

The PGA Championship, approaching its 100th playing, has never been played outside of the United States.

A deal to move the PGA Championship abroad would require the support of a number of parties, including the PGA of America's television partner in 2020 and beyond, the national PGA that would host the championship, the PGA Tour and its players, as well potential presenting and local sponsors.

A prerequisite of any deal would also be the inclusion of 20 American PGA professionals in the field of 156 that earn their way in from the PGA of America's Professional Championship.

RELATED: 5 ways to make the PGA Championship better

For years, we've been suggesting here at Golf News Net (and Waggle Room before that) that the PGA of America be open to multiple ideas to improve the PGA Championship brand. Those ideas including taking the PGA Championship beyond the United States and Great Britain, making it the world's major with the cooperation of the global PGAs. A change in the locale of the PGA Championship might also mean a change in date, as well, particularly if the championship were to move temporarily to the Southern hemisphere.

About the author

Ryan Ballengee

Ryan Ballengee is founder and editor of Golf News Net. He has been writing and broadcasting about golf for nearly 20 years. Ballengee lives in the Washington, D.C. area with his family. He is a scratch golfer...sometimes.

Ballengee can be reached by email at ryan[at]thegolfnewsnet.com

Ryan occasionally links to merchants of his choosing, and GNN may earn a commission from sales generated by those links. See more in GNN's affiliate disclosure.

Add Comment

Click here to post a comment