Should club pros still get spots in the PGA Championship?

Each week, we ask our panel of writers, PGA members and golf industry experts to weigh in with their views on the hot topics of the day.

The PGA Championship has always reserved about 20 spots for club pros who go through their own qualifying process. It’s a nice concession to the PGA of America members but apart from a rare Cinderella story like Michael Block (pictured above), club pros rarely even make the cut. Is it time to discontinue this practice?

Jim Deeks, Fairways Magazine (@jimdeeks): No, I wouldn’t discontinue it.  Frankly, 99% of golf fans (including me) couldn’t care less if the last 20 finishers include Joe Bleau the Club Pro or Joe Bleau the Tour Pro, but it’s nice that 20 spots are reserved for deserving Club Pro’s.  And yes, occasionally you’ll have a Cinderella story that warms everyone’s heart.  Leave it the way it is.

Craig Loughry, Golf Ontario (@craigloughry): This is one way they differentiate themselves with their Championship. If anything, I think they should reduce the number of spots from 20 to 8 or 10. This is a Major after all, and the spots should be earned or for the top players in the world, not a small handful of nice players in their own membership (closed entry).

Michael Schurman, Master Professional / Hall of Fame Member, PGA of Canada: Tradition always presents a dilemma. In the days of Yore, almost every tour professional held the position of HP at a club to help offset their income. Then came TV and Arnie. The tour changed to a place where players could earn a living playing the tour full-time. One of the remnants of the past is that the PGA of America owns the PGA Championship and wants to have some of its members play in the event. I view it similarly to the Masters, who feature several amateurs and a limited field.

TJ Rule, Golf Away Tours (@GolfAwayTJ): I like the idea of guys getting the opportunity to live their dream of playing a PGA Tour event, and a major at that, but I also felt like 20 was too many.  Perhaps it should be closer to 5-8 spots, leaving more spots for legit PGA Tour players that have a chance at real glory to play in the event.  The Michael Block’s of the world are few and far between, it was a great story, but it happens so rarely.  Just reduce the number and I’ll be happy, but I’m ok with having some PGA of America pros in the event, it is technically their event after all.

Hal Quinn, Freelance Writer, Vancouver: It is the PGA of America’s championship, and the members should, and must, be represented. It is one of the great traditions in a game that is after all, built on traditions. Here’s to some guys making the cut.

Peter Mumford, Fairways Magazine: It’s a quaint nod to the hard-working club pros and creates a minor storyline for fans who watch to see if any of them can make the cut, much as they watch the amateurs at Augusta. Time is probably up on this tradition but if they cancel it, the PGA Championship will look even more like a regular Tour stop.

Over the years, the PGA Championship has struggled with its image and is usually considered the fourth most important major, and sometimes even the fifth, for a number of reasons. What can the PGA of America do to raise the standing of their flagship event?

Deeks: It’s been the fifth major for me, for several years, behind the Tournament Players Championship. Maybe it could spruce up its image and prestige by choosing an indisputably renowned course and making it the permanent venue for the event… as TPC did in 1982.  A privately-owned, public course where there wouldn’t be members complaining about giving up their tee times… somewhere like Kohler or Torrey Pines… maybe even an American links course.

Loughry: This is a tough question to answer. The other three majors have definitely separated themselves as a unique brand and flavour, much different than a regular old PGA Tour stop. The PGA Championship has not, it looks, feels and smells like any other week on the PGA Tour. They do a descent job on venue selection, TV broadcast is meh, course setup is usually not talked about, which means they do a great job here if you go by the list of past Champions. The only thing I can think of, is trying to do a better job showcasing those past Champions and the history of the Championship. They talk about it during the week, but they don’t seem to drip in it or totally immerse in it. I’m not sure they can ever dethrone the other majors in popularity, but they need to separate themselves from regular PGA Tour stops.

Schurman: Probably nothing! They play the best courses, offer a competitive purse, have a very strong field, are a major with an excellent list of winners, and are very well organized, but until a highly regarded winner states, “Winning this championship has been my dream since I was a small boy putting under the parking lot lights,” nothing will change.

Rule: It’ll never reach the status of the other 3 and shouldn’t try to in my mind.  Having it earlier in the year certainly helps, it was a bit lost when played in August as the golf season was winding down and there was no real excitement leading into the event.  It would be best as the first major, but it can’t really be played before April, so next best thing is where it’s at.  And playing it at iconic courses helps as well.  Not sure Quail Hollow fits that description, but when it’s at a great course, I tend to tune in a bit more.

Quinn: Have always loved the PGA Championship for its quirkiness, occasionally inspired course selections and layouts and pin placements, and unlikely winners. Don’t like that it’s been moved to May taking a lot of the fun out of the Majors finale but will watch anyway. Aside from getting back to the traditional date, the PGA shouldn’t change a thing.

Mumford: These days, tournaments stand out based on strength of field, course quality and legacy. So, shrink the field to 120, select a permanent rota of five or six great courses, quit pandering to the club pros and highlight traditions and past champions. The Championship has a rich history, which needs to be told better and more often.

Every professional golfer wants to win a major, but some actually need one to put a cap on an otherwise good but not great career. In your opinion, which veteran player needs a major victory?

Deeks: Tommy Fleetwood immediately springs to mind, but he needs a PGA Tour victory of ANY kind. Rickie Fowler has never lived up to his early promise, but a major for him would be very popular. Brandt Snedeker is only 44, but apparently past his prime; a major, unlikely as it may be, would certainly give his (9-win) career more lustre.  Matt Kuchar and Lee Westwood, too, but I’m afraid the ship has left port for those two.

Loughry: I’m not sure we can call him a veteran yet, but Victor Hovland needs a Major, and the sooner the better. A pure respected veteran who could use a Major though is Tommy Fleetwood. That would be a popular win as he’s so well liked and respected by many players.

Schurman: Several could use a win to validate their career, like Rickie Fowler, Tommy Fleetwood and Cory Conners. Two who could send their career off the charts are Rory and Keegan Bradley.

Rule: Rickie Fowler is the first name that comes to mind, although he’s been inconsistent to say the least over the past few years, so he’s not always top of mind.  But he does have 8 PGA Tour victories including a Players, and 13 career top 10’s in majors, so adding a major victory to his resume would be the cherry on top of a great career.  Other names that also come to mind are Tony Finau and Viktor Hovland, although the latter has lots of time to check that box.

Quinn: Tired of hearing golf’s talking heads waxing pseudo-eloquent about what a great ball striker Corey Connors is and has been etc etc. This guy needs to change the prescription on the sunglasses and finish a tournament. Time waits for no golfer, and the days are getting shorter for Connors.

Mumford: Is Colin Montgomerie too old? Rickie Fowler is the first name that comes to mind but I’m not sure even a major would turn his mediocre record into a great one. Patrick Cantlay has taken up residence in the World Top 10 for several years now and winning a major would be a worthy reward. Justin Rose already has one major and a second would likely guarantee a spot in the World Golf Hall of Fame along with his Olympic Gold Medal. And Jordan Spieth. He just happens to need this one in particular.