PGA Championship: World’s best in major challenge at Aronimink as questions linger over future of men’s golf | Golf News

The men’s major season has already opened with another compelling chapter, with Rory McIlroy’s win adding to the Augusta National history books.

The world No. 1 and world No. 2 hold the top two spots on the leaderboard, with McIlroy’s back-to-back wins matching the two Green Jackets hanging on Scottie Scheffler’s coat rack.

Five of the top six were in the top 10 in the world that week and I believe we are in for another exciting big tournament, with many in-form players heading to Pennsylvania.

The PGA Championship returns to Aronimink Golf Course, where Gary Player won the last time it was held some 64 years ago. This beautiful course was designed and created by the legendary Scotsman, Donald Ross, and is celebrating its centenary in two years’ time.

Many of you have watched Sky Sports throughout the years you will remember Aronimink for Justin Rose’s win at the 2010 AT&T National and Keegan Bradley’s overtime win over Rose at the 2018 BMW Championship.

Aronimink traditionally has open fairways, so it will be interesting to see how the PGA of America sets up the course this week. The course has produced low scores in the past, with Tiger Woods and McIlroy both recording 62s.

Woods finished back 9 in 29 here in 2018 and McIlroy’s 62 included two bogeys. I suspect and hope that they will shorten the fairways a bit, as I think we all like to see accuracy – and distance – rewarded.

Like most courses over the years, it has undergone changes. Ron Pritchard, a well-known Philadelphia architect, was hired in 2003 to ‘re-capture’ the old Ross design that had faded over time.

In 2017, the excellent Gil Hanse completed another modification during the BMW Championship a year later. Now that these upgrades are in, this beautiful property is ready for another great week.

Big week ahead in Pennsylvania?

The top five in the world rankings are all enjoying good seasons, each entering the majors with at least one victory in the first four months of the calendar year.

Scheffler continues to produce remarkable compromises. McIlroy has his sixth major and should rest and rejuvenate before what could be a third PGA Championship title.

Cameron Young has grown since last summer and the resurgence of Matt Fitzpatrick has been exciting. He was outside the world’s top 80 last year, was 22nd at the start of the year and now sits comfortably in the world’s top five.

Behind him is Rose, who will be happy to return to a course in which he feels comfortable and which matches his eye. I think it’s fair to say that one of the top five will hold the Wanamaker Trophy aloft on Sunday. However, we know that predictions are sometimes foolish!

It’s fair to say that Jordan Spieth’s form has been better of late and a win would make him the seventh member of the Grand Slam club, so there’s a lot to look forward to. You will all have your own preferences and choices and there will be a good number of items going down the list.

After his – in many ways – disappointing Masters, this is a course that will suit Robert MacIntyre. I’m sure that after his antics in Augusta, MacIntyre will focus on performing well to get back into the top 10 and open his big account.

Tyrrell Hatton continues to knock on the big door and many feel it will open soon. His accuracy on the fairway is up there with the best in the game and if the fairways are generous, that hole could be the key to success.

Golf is back together in the game of broken men

The headlines in the last few weeks have been about LIV Golf and the announcement that Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund financing will end early. I don’t believe this comes as a shock, as LIV has arguably not been ahead since its inception four years ago.

It is widely reported that it has invested around $5bn and has been losing hundreds of millions of dollars a month. $400m bought Newcastle United who, despite a middling season, have been very successful since the Saudis took over.

Newcastle secured participation in the Champions League and their first trophy in over a century, the partnership produced great results on the pitch and financially.

The Saudis have a lot of money, but they are also business people. Financially, LIV is struggling and the prospect of future profits is not encouraging. What happens to their players is now in the hands of other Tours.

Strong and clear sanctions were imposed on those who chose LIV Golf over their tour. Brooks Koepka received an olive branch on the PGA Tour, which he gladly accepted.

Last month, Jon Rahm turned down the DP World Tour’s request to continue as a member and thus be eligible to participate in the Ryder Cup. After LIV’s announcement, he quickly rejoined after paying his penniless fines for a reported $400m signing fee.

It is true that almost every golf fan, spectator and viewer wants to see the best players play against each other more often. That may be the outcome in the coming months, but the negotiations must be fair to those who stayed and supported their visit.

It’s hard to believe, let’s say, at The Players next year, McIlroy and Rahm are tied for the lead after 54 holes. One amassed huge sums of money by playing specials while supporting his tour, while another has $400m – plus winnings – for leaving to join another. I’m not sure that would be entirely correct.

Months of negotiations will follow, no doubt, and many meetings – some favorable and some adversarial. Let’s hope that the break that happened in the game will start to heal and the power can find a peaceful solution.

In the meantime, let’s enjoy the next important and two that follow the PGA Championship – the US Open from the fun, rugged Shinnecock Hills and The Open from Royal Birkdale, one of the best places in the world.

Who will win the PGA Championship? Watch all week live on Sky Sports. Live coverage of the opening round begins on Thursday from 12.30pm on Sky Sports Golf. Get Sky Sports or stream without a contract.