It's always a question after Rory McIlroy won an epic victory in the Masters!
After moving from its August slot machine to May, the burden fell on the PGA Championship, which many consider to be the lowest key major.
But with so many good storylines entering the second Grand Slam of the year – can Rory win again? Will Jordan Spieth match McIlroy's Grand Slam? Can Scottie Scheffler show why he ranks first? – Maybe it will make its own classic.
Golf365 writers Mark Townsend and Dave Tindall sat down to express their thoughts about PGA. Is there love for it or does it need to change?
Where do you rank PGAs in the four majors and why?
Mark Townsend: One quarter, one quarter. Unless you are a former winner or a member of the PGA, it's hard to say for anyone. That said, I will have it before the players and any other events because it does have a special feel.
Dave Tindall: Actually, I do have a few of the best companions who love this one. I think, like Mark, it's obviously the fourth mile of paper. That said, it may trigger some special editions.
What is your favorite PGA?
mt: Historically, in 1991, I had to be John Daly, and then I went around the Greek Islands, defaulted on newspapers every day, then fell on newspapers, and finally looked when I got home. Recently, Phil Mickelson's victory at Kiawah is fascinating and definitely worthy of attention. It's not his age, but how he did it.
DT: Valhalla's 2014 was great. McIlroy (-16) won, but Phil Mickelson (-15), Rickie Fowler (-14) and Henrik Stenson (-14) all competed. It was held in August of that year and nodded because it was considered the worst professional idea in Fab Four, and I remember writing something about it on Twitter, like the Beatles in the mid-60s were told to leave and write a new song, and Ringo somehow came up with the best songs. Actually, I went to the 2001 PGA at the Atlanta Sports Club, so I stood out. Another DT (David Toms) won 100/1 and even had a hole. When I was in my 20s, supporting then-nameless Phil Mickelson, he lost one. Toms was actually the first golfer I saw when I arrived on the scene, so it was still a tradition: make money on the first golfer I saw. It never worked since then, but I will keep trying.
David Toms celebrates victory in 2001 PGA
How do you make it better?
mt: The easiest way to fix it is a course. I looked at too many golf balls and it was still hard for me to piece together courses like the Southern Hills and places like Bellerive that mean little to me. It would be great to move around the world, the dream is to play it on the sand strip course in Australia, but that won't happen. Personally, despite being professional for back-to-back men and women, I have a poor interest in the competition major for a variety of reasons. Pinehurst US Open is spectacular and I never understand why there is no duplication in the right process.
DT: Simple. Mobile around the world – Japan, Australia, South Korea, Canada. Any good golf field. When it was “the last slot of glory”, I moved it to August, too. Tennis did a better job of the year-round Grand Slam sweep. The Grand Slam season was a month on the golf course and it was too concentrated.
How many LIV players do you want?
mt: There are 20 players in the PGA Professional Championship, so it's hard to suggest several LIV players don't guarantee a place. This week, 15 LIV players played in Sergio Garcia (including Sergio Garcia) who received the invitation. We need a path, maybe three players are entering the championship from their merit orders to strengthen the field. It's going to be stupid when Liv claims that someone like Dean Burmester (yes, I know he's in) should be part of this week.
DT: This is a tricky question, and it has to do with the next question on the list about PGA professionals. I like Mark's merit command, probably 15 or 20.
Do you like that PGA professionals are part of the field?
mt: Not really, definitely not as many. You get an occasional great storyline like Michael Block, but it's so rare. This is a major that always claims to have the most powerful field, and it wouldn't be possible if there were 20 PGA professionals there. Five seem to be a lot.
DT: five? I think three majors! I put them on three balls behind the field. Be sure to make a fuss in the media, but, seriously, this is outdated.
When do you want to see PGA playback?
mt: I don't mind May, but it's too early to open the main season in July. I understand the arguments when competing with other sports, but if the PGA is far from the Open, then it will have more opportunities. I'm not a fan of players whipping themselves in 100° heat, so September's professional, purely wise of timing, would be adorable.
DT: I love September, too, but it may even be later than it was in the Southern Hemisphere. The gap between the opening end of July and the start of April Masters is very long. Obviously, you can't do the Augusta date – those azaleas must be displayed in the spring – so the American PGA is the main range for changing the golf calendar.
How did Rory play in his first professional game after securing a career grand slam?
mt: On paper everything seemed perfect, but I was still exhausted by what happened in Augusta so I didn't know how he stood up again. There must be some kind of thorn in the whole thing or he won six.
DT: He is the four-time winner of Quail Hollow, and in his own words he deleted “player money” after being asked whether to win the professional burden again. But my intuition says it seems too obvious and he will almost be too relaxed. The best guess is that he was in the top 10 here and at the U.S. Open before he won a victory in front of his home, winning fans this summer at the Open Championships at Royal Portrait.
Who do you want to see the most and why?
mt: Answers to every profession – Tommy Fleetwood. Failed, Shane Lowry. This is just Ludvig Aberg's sixth major and it's amazing to see him stand out. Traditionally, this may be a match for American dominance, but this year is another champion in terms of European wins, and the Swedes may be the best choice for the Wanamaker trophy.
DT: I like Fleetwood yelling, but hope he wins the other one. So are Laurie, Hatton and Rose. It felt like a very American professional (American players won the last nine games), so I'd go with Tony Finau. A lovely person who will surely become one of the most popular champions in history. He will also have a good winner speech in him.
Who actually wants to win?
mt: Again, every profession's answer – Scottie Scheffler. I still think none of us mastered his performance, and I can easily see him in two of the three remaining majors this year.
DT: Bryson Devanmo. The rain is longer. Bryson already has two majors and I can see him adding faster speeds.
Read more: In the Life of PGA Hero Michael Block: Net Worth, Wife, Equipment, etc.
