No one’s ever hoisted the Wanamaker Trophy and said, “as a kid playing junior golf it was my dream to win the PGA Championship!” Its greatest worth is helping a few get that “major championship gorilla” off their back; Jason Day, Paul Azinger, Davis Love III, Steve Elkington and Hal Sutton come to mind. Along with Dustin Johnson and Rory McIlroy, the PGA Championship took a beating this year. DJ and Rory couldn’t play and four inches of rain kept the field from playing.
To add insult to injury, the PGA Championship advanced its dates for seemingly meaningless Olympic golf.
Players not interested in the Olympics:
- Jason Day, Australia
- Dustin Johnson, United States
- Jordan Spieth, United States
- Rory McIlroy, Northern Ireland
- Adam Scott, Australia
And poor little Fiji… they’ve had athletes compete in judo, shooting, swimming and weightlifting, but have never won a medal. That winless streak will continue because Vijay isn’t interested in the Olympics either.
The USA has its squad: Bubba Watson, Rickie Fowler, Patrick Reed and Matt Kuchar will represent the men’s side, while Lexi Thompson, Stacy Lewis and Gerina Piller complete the women’s team. Men’s Olympic play happens August 11-14, the women are set for the following week, August 17-20 on the Gil Hanse-designed Olympic Golf Course in Rio de Janeiro.
Respect to the PGA for finishing the tournament on Sunday, but 2016 didn’t do much to help the reputation of the “major stepchild.”
Perhaps the Masters will adjust its 2017 schedule to accommodate the Augusta Car Show complete with fun zone, vendors and live entertainment.
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