INDIANAPOLIS – The PGA of America is still looking into the possibility of taking its major championship overseas, just don’t expect it to happen any time soon.
PGA CEO Pete Bevacqua began Thursday’s annual meeting with a “state of the association” address and explained to his membership that while the concept of sending the PGA Championship on the road is still being vetted there are currently no plans do so.
“Part of our strategic plan is developing a global footprint,” said Bevacqua, pointing out the PGA Championship venues are booked through 2022 although there has been no host announced for 2021.
“It might not be something that we do right away, but it is absolutely something we continue to consider.”
Bevacqua and Kerry Haigh, the association’s chief championships officer, also addressed this year’s PGA Championship, which ended in near darkness in a surreal moment when the final two groups essentially played the last hole as a foursome to avoid a Monday finish.
Bevacqua told GolfChannel.com that it would have cost an estimated $750,000 had the championship spilled over into Monday, but that didn’t factor into the decision to have eventual champion Rory McIlroy hit his second shot into the final hole with Phil Mickelson and Rickie Fowler still making their way the green.
“It’s all about the competition first and foremost. If it goes into Monday, so be it,” Bevacqua said. “There’s always a possibility you are going to be playing into Monday. Was it rushed? Certainly. [But] we were happy with the ending.”
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