The PGA's Roving Identity: How Course Variety Became The Championship's Greatest Strength
· Major Golf Hub
Long considered the "fourth major," the PGA Championship has forged a unique and compelling identity not through a single course, but through its diverse rota.
Often saddled with the label of the "fourth major," the PGA Championship has spent decades carving out a distinct identity. While The Masters has Augusta, and The Open has its coastal links rota, the PGA’s character is not rooted in one place or even one type of course. Instead, its defining feature has become its eclectic, roving nature. The championship moves across the United States, testing the world's best on a dizzying variety of architectural styles, from Golden Age classics to modern behemoths and, most importantly, to the people's courses. This diversity is not a weakness; it is the tournament’s core strength, demanding a more complete and adaptable champion than perhaps any other major.
The Classic, Penal Test
The foundation of the PGA Championship’s prestige lies in its history at America's most revered and challenging traditional courses. These are the Golden Age designs that have hosted multiple majors and are synonymous with punishing, over-par golf. When the PGA visits venues like Southern Hills in Tulsa, Oklahoma, or Oak Hill in Rochester, New York, it is making a clear statement about its commitment to a classic, penal examination of skill.
Southern Hills, a 1936 Perry Maxwell design, tested players in 2022 with its famously contoured green complexes and brutal, wind-swept routing. Justin Thomas won that championship with a score of five-under-par, but only after a dramatic three-hole playoff. A year later, in 2023, the championship moved to Oak Hill, a Donald Ross masterpiece famous for its severity. Brooks Koepka’s victory at nine-under-par was a masterclass in navigating a course where par is a celebrated score. These championships reinforce the PGA’s bona fides as a true major, one that is not afraid to see the world’s best players struggle against historic, architectural genius. They connect the event to a century of golf history and prove that scoring isn’t always the only measure of excitement.
Modern Monsters and Manufactured Drama
Contrasting with its Golden Age rota, the PGA has also embraced a second identity: the purveyor of the modern "stadium" championship. These are courses, often built in the last few decades, designed to be long, visually intimidating, and capable of handling massive crowds. They are built for the modern power game and for television drama. There are no better examples than the creations of Pete Dye, such as Whistling Straits on the coast of Lake Michigan and the Ocean Course at Kiawah Island.
Kiawah, which hosted in 2012 and 2021, is arguably the most formidable course in the American major championship rotation. In 2021, it was stretched to a staggering 7,876 yards. That year, 50-year-old Phil Mickelson’s victory at six-under-par was not just a triumph of longevity but a testament to navigating the relentless sea winds and psychological pressure of the Ocean Course. Similarly, Whistling Straits, host in 2004, 2010, and 2015, presented a surreal, manufactured links-style test with over 1,000 listed bunkers. These courses are audacious, sometimes controversial, but they provide a spectacular and unforgettable stage. They represent the PGA of America’s willingness to push the boundaries of scale and difficulty in the modern era.
The Public Course Masterstroke
Perhaps the most significant move in shaping the PGA Championship's modern identity has been its embrace of publicly accessible golf courses. While some critics suggest the tournament should *only* be played at public venues to truly differentiate itself, the PGA of America’s decision to regularly incorporate these courses into its rota has been a strategic triumph. It powerfully reinforces the "PGA" part of its name—an organization of club and teaching professionals—by bringing its premier event to courses the average fan can dream of playing.
Bethpage Black and Harding Park
The prime example is Bethpage State Park's Black Course on Long Island, New York. Host in 2019, "The Black" is famous for its sign on the first tee: "WARNING: The Black Course is an extremely difficult course which we recommend only for highly skilled golfers." It is a brutal, unapologetic, publicly-owned beast. When Brooks Koepka dominated it for his 2019 victory, he didn’t just beat the field; he conquered a course revered by the golfing public. A year later, in 2020, the championship went to another municipal gem, TPC Harding Park in San Francisco. Though the COVID-19 pandemic meant no fans were present, Collin Morikawa’s spectacular win was a showcase for a beautifully restored public facility. By visiting these venues, the PGA Championship does more than just contest a major; it makes a powerful statement about the accessibility of great golf and strengthens its connection with the everyday player.
This variety in venue naturally leads to a variety in scoring. One year, a player can win at five-under-par, and the next, a score of twenty-under is required, as seen at Valhalla in 2024. This isn’t an inconsistency; it’s a feature. The shifting demands from year to year are a direct result of the PGA’s diverse portfolio of courses.
- Kiawah Island (2021): Length (7,876 yards), Winning Score (-6, Phil Mickelson), Key Feature (Wind, coastal exposure, Paspalum greens).
- Southern Hills (2022): Length (7,556 yards), Winning Score (-5, Justin Thomas), Key Feature (Perry Maxwell's complex green contours, wind).
- Oak Hill (2023): Length (7,394 yards), Winning Score (-9, Brooks Koepka), Key Feature (Penal Donald Ross design, deep bunkering, creek).
- Valhalla (2024): Length (7,609 yards), Winning Score (-21, Xander Schauffele), Key Feature (Modern Jack Nicklaus design, water hazards, softer conditions).
Key takeaways
- The PGA Championship has established a strong identity through its use of a diverse and eclectic rotation of courses.
- The schedule strategically balances historic Golden Age layouts with massive, modern "stadium" courses.
- Including premier public and municipal courses like Bethpage Black and Harding Park has been a brilliant move to connect with the wider golf community.
- This course variety demands a uniquely adaptable skill set, forcing champions to conquer vastly different architectural and strategic tests each year.