This article first appeared at www.smh.com.au Australia could potentially host a golfing major championship in the future if mooted plans to take the US PGA Championship global come to fruition. According to a Golf World report in the USA, the fourth major of every year, which will celebrate its 100th anniversary in 2016, may be played outside the United States sometime in the next decade. This would give Australia&aposs best courses, like Royal Melbourne who will host the World Cup in November, a chance to play host to one of the biggest events in the sport. According to the report a committee is already working out the pros and cons of such a move. “This is an exercise we are going through, an analysis. It is far from a fait accompli that we are going to take the PGA Championship international,” PGA of America chief executive Pete Bevacqua told Golf World. “When we sat down to map our strategic plan to service our members and grow the game the question arose as to what impact it would have to take the PGA Championship to an international location once or twice a decade. “It would be something we would only do if we had the cooperation of quite a few groups. “It would need to work for the PGA Tour, and it would need to work for the PGA tour players. “Another would be the PGA in the particular area we would consider. We would want the international PGAs to be a part of this and share in this. Many pieces would have to fall in place.” With venues and television commitments already secured through to 2019, the earliest an international venue could be considered is 2020. Bevacqua added there was no timetable for a decision and no specific part of the world under consideration. “We need to push ourselves to think outside the box,” he said. “What I have said internally is, &aposShame on us if we don&apost consider it and go through the exercise&apos.”
Author: Ben Everill / AAP