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How (and why) to add a fifth major to the golf schedule
Remember that old saw about the only two things that are certain in life? Death and taxes, right? Add this third one: upon conclusion of the PGA Championship each year, journalists, influencers, and colleagues will begin everything from a kvetch to a tirade about what is wrong with the tournament. “It’s not a major championship,” they will belch, and that’s where this manifesto begins.
There are four major championships in men’s professional golf. They haven’t always been the same ones, and there are former ones whose winners are not credited with a major win. The Western Open is the shining example of that oversight. This, however, is not the place nor the time for that debate. Imagine being a professional prior to 1915, when there were only two professional majors (U.S. Open and Open Championship). The amateurs could play in all four (U.S. Amateur and British Amateur, plus Opens) but not the pros. Again, not the time nor the place…
All major championships are made up of invitees and qualifiers. At the Masters, five amateurs minimum make the scene. At the Opens, there is usually more, as open qualifying exists, whereas it does not for Augusta. The PGA Championship is the only one of the four where zero amateurs compete. Back in halcyon days, all touring professionals were members of the PGA of America. Even Jack Nicklaus had to serve a period of apprenticeship, during which he could not compete in major events as a professional. In the late 1960s, the tour became renegade, splitting from the PGA of America. Since then, two sets of rules have been the norm. PGA Professionals continue to serve apprenticeships and work long hours in shops, while touring professionals ply their trade as sojourners around the green-grass world.
At the PGA Championship, in place of the amateurs, twenty club professionals qualify each year to compete at the association’s pre-eminent tournament. Over the years, a number of them have represented the PGA with great distinction, even challenging for the title. The list below shows the decorated few that have finished inside the top forty since 1971. It is not a long list, nor should it be.
4: Jimmy Wright, 1971 (NCR)
T-11: Don Bies, 1973 (Cantebury); Tommy Aycock, 1974 (Tanglewood Park); Lonnie Nielsen, 1986 (Inverness Club)
T-12: Denny Lyons, 1983 (Cantebury)
T-15: Michael Block, 2023 (Oak Hill)
T-17: Jay Overton, 1988 (Oak Tree)
T-19: Bob Boyd, 1990 (Shoal Creek)
T-27: Buddy Whitten, 1983 (Riviera)
T-28: Tom Wargo, 1992 (Bellerive)
T-30: Bob Boyd, 1994 (Southern Hills)
T-31: Chip Sullivan, 2004 (Whistling Straits)
T-31: Stu Ingraham, 1993 (Inverness Club)
T-40: Steve Schneiter, 2005 (Baltusrol)
Like all major titles, the PGA Championship is conducted at 72 holes of stroke play. It has been that way since 1958, when the event changed from match play to medal. There are many who pine for a time that they never knew, a halcyon era of great difference. The competitive world moved away from match play at the professional level some seven decades ago. For a time, there was a match play event on the men’s tour, and there continues to be one on the LPGA.
The men’s tours reserve their love of match play for team events, and college golf has followed suit. There is something connected between hole-by-hole competition with teammates. Whether contested at singles, foursomes, or four-ball, match play is a wondrous team competition.
What it is not is a viable method for determining a major champion. Match play is unpredictable. Match play allows concessions. Match play suggests that the best player in the field may run up against a hot streak over four, six, or eight holes, and be eliminated with no appeal to the court. Match play is volatile, fickle, unpredictable, and capricious. It is a marvelous way to keep people in the game for a club or friendly match, but such uncertainty should not be leveraged to determine a major titleist.
We all have opinions, and we are entitled to them. When Ben Hogan spoke of his major championship record, he spoke of the 1942 Hale America Open, an event that he won. It was conducted by the USGA, identical to a U.S. Open, but was not considered a U.S. Open. Hogan considered it a major, but the world does not. I consider the Olympics to be a major. They bring some (but not all) of the world’s great golfers to one of the most nerve-wracking venues of sport. They take place once every four years, something of a unicorn, but not quite a brigadoon. They’ve only been played three times (2016, 2o2o/2o21, 2o24) in the modern era.
These are opinions. Others are of the notion that the Players Championship is a major, and should join the other four, or replace the PGA. The Players Championship is identical in nearly every way to the Masters: spring, same southeast USA course every year. It cannot be included. It is a spectacular event, and is valued by the professionals, but it cannot ever be considered a major, while the Masters still lives on.
My suggestion for a fifth major is an interesting one, that perhaps soothes and ameliorates all egos. Its working title is the Lord I Was Born A Traveling Major. Perhaps Floating Major is a bit less wieldy. The International Golf Foundation and the major tours and associations can work together to establish a rotation throughout Central/South America, Canada, continental Europe, Africa, Middle East, Asia, and Oceania. Every four years, the floating major would be the Olympic Games. The other years would sequence in the fashion elaborated below, presuming a 2030 start:
2030-Match play @ Canada
2031-72 holes medal play @ Africa
2032-Olympic Games 72 holes medal play @ Australia/Oceania
2033-72 holes medal play @ South America
2034-match play @ Middle East
2035-72 holes medal play @ Continental Europe
2036-Olympic Games 72 holes medal play @ TBD (Turkey/Chile/Indonesia in running)
2037-match play @ TBD
In this way, every eight years would see three major events played at match play. It would be unique and should travel across the globe. As there are seven underrepresented regions, the Traveling Major would make a stop there every seven years.
GolfWRX is on site this week at the Memorial Tournament, with both Alistair Cameron and Tour Photographer Greg Moore on the ground in Dublin, Ohio, where a strong field is assembled to pay homage to the Golden Bear.
In addition to WITB galleries, we’ve already been treated to an in-hand look at Tommy Fleetwood’s new TaylorMade Spider putters.
Check out links to all our photos below.
General Albums
WITB Albums
- Jason Day – WITB – 2026 The Memorial
- Chris Gotterup – WITB – 2026 The Memorial
- SungJae Im – WITB – 2026 The Memorial
Pullout Albums
- Jason Day’s 1off Payntr golf shoes – 2026 The Memorial
- JT Poston’s TaylorMade Spider – 2026 The Memorial
- Cameron putter – 2026 The Memorial
- Tommy Fleetwood’s TM Spider putters – 2026 The Memorial
- New Mitsubishi Chemical 1K Pro Orange shaft – 2026 The Memorial
Around the world, the golf wheel spun this final week in May of 2026. From New Jersey to Austria, with stops in Korea, Texas, and North Carolina (don’t let me route your next trip) the world’s finest put their golf games on display. There were three playoffs, some known commodities and some new talent. It was the sort of week that we hope to have at this point in the seasons. June and July afford double-digit major events, and perhaps, one of this week’s champions will use this success as a springboard to new heights. Time to run it all down, tech style, in this week’s Tour Tech Rundown.
Thanks to WITBHub, Today’s Golfer, GolfWRX, and Inside Tour Golf for initial research into equipment.
PGA Tour @ Charles Schwab Challenge: Heroic Henley denies Cole
Eric Cole did nearly everything that a fellow can do, to secure a first PGA Tour title. He stayed one shot clear of Ryder Cup player Ben Griffin. He kept US Open champion Gary Woodland and wunderkind Michael Brennan two shots distant. He posted 70 on day four to reach twelve under par. And then, Russell Henley revealed his Dr. Strange cloak. Henley made 47 feet of birdie putts on holes 16, 17, and 18, to jump from minus-nine to twelve-deep, and secured a spot in a playoff with Cole. The duo returned to the final tee, and put on a stripe show.
Both golfers found the fairway off the tee, and Henley improved on his regulation play with an approach to four feet. Cole did himself proud, tucking an iron to a dozen feet, but he was unable to convert the putt for three. Henley is one of the best putters on tour, and he proved it once more by draining a putt for a fourth consecutive birdie, and a sixth PGA Tour title. For Eric Cole, that first victory should come, and soon. He has done everything necessary to earn the chalice lift.
Henley’s Suitcase
- Driver: Titleist TSi3 at 10 degrees. Shaft: Project X HZRDUS Smoke Black 70g 6.5 TX
- Metal: Titleist TS3 at 16.5 degrees. Shaft: Project X HZRDUS Smoke Black 80 TX
- Hybrid: Titleist TSi2 at 21 degrees. Shaft: Mitsubishi MMT hybrid 100 TX
- Iron: Titleist T250 4-iron. Shaft: True Temper Dynamic Golf AMT Tour White X100
- Irons: Titleist T100 5-6 irons. Shaft: True Temper Dynamic Golf AMT Tour White X100
- Irons: Titleist T100 7-9 irons. Shaft: True Temper Dynamic Gold Tour Issue X100
- Wedges: Titleist Vokey Design SM11 at 48 and 50 degrees. Shaft: True Temper Dynamic Golf Tour Issue X100
- Wedges: Titleist Vokey Design SM11 at 54 and 60 degrees. Shaft: rue Temper Dynamic Golf Tour Issue S400
- Putter: Titleist Scotty Cameron T5 Tour Prototype
LPGA @ Shoprite LPGA: Welcome back, Celine!
Soo Bin Joo had her eyes on a maiden LPGA title. She held the lead after two rounds, then hit a red light at the intersection of can-I and how-To. Joo posted plus-two on day three in New Jersey, and dropped to a T4 finish, which was still a career-best for the young Korean golfer. Instead of a new face, a familiar face returned to the top of the podium.
Celine Boutier was the It Girl in 2023. She collected four victories, including a major title at Evian. Boutier reached world number one status, then simply faded into the background. No wins came her way over the next 30 months. On Sunday, she collected LPGA victory number seven, at the same trace as LPGA victory number two.
Day three saw Boutier manage the windswept Seaview Bay course with six birdies and a bogey. She was challenged in the end by Thailand’s Arpichaya Yubol, who signed for a 66 of her own. Yubol came up one shot shy of the top ladder rung. Finishing in third place at -7, two back of the winner, was Ireland’s Lauren Walsh.
Celine’s Suitcase
- Driver: PXG 0311 Black Ops Tour-1 at 9 degrees. Shaft: Graphite Design AD IZ-5
- Hybrid: PXG 0311 Black Ops at 19 and 22 degrees. Shaft: KBS Hybrid Prototype
- Hybrid: PXG 0311 Gen5.
- Iron: PXG 0311 P Gen 4 5-9 irons
- Wedge: PXG 0311 T Gen 4 PW
- Wedges: PXG 0311 Sugar Daddy II at 50, 54, 58 degrees
- Putter: Bettinardi Studio Stock 3 DASS
DP World Tour @ Austrian Alpine: KK? KK!
Kota Kaneko has a rhythmic name. It has strong vowels and a run of voiceless stops in its crunchy K sounds. On Sunday in Austria, Kaneko put a stop to a challenge from Portugal’s Ricardo Gouveia and everyone else, and claimed a first-ever title on the DP World Tour. Gouveia did well to reach 16-under par over four days, but Kaneko held firm, two shots in the clear.
Davis Bryant of the USA also forged a strong challenge for the win. He ended in a tie with Gouveia for second place. Kaneko began and finished his final round in a bit of a malaise, but he caught fire midway through. Birdies at 10, 12, and 13 provided the necessary cushion to cruise to the finish line without breaking a serious sweat.
Kaneko’s Suitcase
- Driver: Ping Max G440
- Metals: TaylorMade Qi4D at 15, 16.5, 21, and 24 degrees
- Irons: TaylorMade P760 5 and 6 irons
- Irons: TaylorMade P7TW 7-9 irons
- Wedges: Titleist Vokey Design at 46, 52, 56, and 60 degrees
- Putter: Odyssey Ai-One Cruiser Arm Lock #7
Korn Ferry Tour @ UNC Health Championship: Improbably Alvaro
Alvaro Ortiz may have had a bit of scare on the outward nine on Sunday, but he came through in clutch fashion in the end. Ortiz began the day bogey-double, and added another double bogey at the 11th hole. He was mired in a downward trend, spiraling away from the top of the leader’s board. Ortiz found hope at the 14th, where his first birdie of the day tumbled home. Inspired, he closed with birdies and 17 and 18 to catch Ross Steelman at 10-under par, and the duo returned to the 18th deck for overtime.
The extra session concluded in brief time. Ortiz, buoyed by his newly-retrieved confidence, hit the fairway with driver, then approached to six feet and drained the putt. Gobsmacked, Steelman could do little more than smile and applaud, as his run at the top came to a close. The victory was the first for Ortiz on the KFT, and will implant him squarely in the chase for a PGA Tour promotion.
Alvaro’s Suitcase
- Driver: Ping G430 MAX driver at 9 degrees loft
- Metal: Ping G430 MAX 3W
- Iron: Ping iDi Driving Iron
- Irons: Ping Blueprint S irons
- Wedges
- Putter: Scottsdale TR Piper C
A party on the green!
Alvaro’s time comes in Raleigh with his first win @UNCHealthChamp ? pic.twitter.com/2dmtZdbSzk
— Korn Ferry Tour (@KornFerryTour) May 31, 2026
LIV @ Korea: Me llamo Joaquin
Chile’s Joaquin Niemann had been away from the LIV winner’s circle throughout all of 2026. This week in Korea, he reminded us that he is still a force to consider. Niemann chased down Taylor Gooch over the closing holes at Asiad Country Club, then claimed victory with a hole-one birdie in extra time. Bryson DeChambeau claimed solo third, one shot in arrears at minus-eleven. Dustin Johnson finished on fourth, one putt farther back.
Niemann’s Suitcase
- Driver: Ping 440 LST
- Metal: Ping G440 Max at 15 degrees
- Metal: Ping G425 Max at 21 degrees
- Hybrid: Ping G430 at 25 degrees
- Irons: Ping Blueprint S 5 through PW
- Wedges: Ping S159 at 52, 56, and 60 degrees
- Putter: Ping PLD Anser
Driver: Titleist TSi3 (10 degrees)
Shaft: Project X HZRDUS Smoke Black 70 6.5 TX
3-wood: Titleist TS3 (16.5 degrees)
Shaft: Project X HZRDUS Smoke Black 80 TX
7-wood: Titleist GTS3 (21 degrees)
Shaft: Project X Denali Black 80 TX
Irons: Titleist T250 (4), Titleist T100 (5-9)
Shafts: True Temper Dynamic Gold AMT (4-6), True Temper Dynamic Gold Tour Issue S400 (7-9)
Wedges: Titleist Vokey Design SM11 (48-10F @47, 50-08F @51, 54-10S @55, 60-04T)
Shafts: True Temper Dynamic Gold Tour Issue X100 (48), S400 (47)
Putter: Scotty Cameron Phantom X5 Tour Prototype
Grips: Golf Pride Tour Velvet
Ball: Titleist Pro V1x
Aaron Rai’s winning WITB: 2026 PGA Championship
Russell Henley’s winning WITB: 2026 Charles Schwab Challenge
Photos from the 2026 CJ Cup Byron Nelson
CJ Cup Byron Nelson Tour Report: Koepka and Kim’s newest putters finally get hot
Charles Schwab Challenge Tour Report: MacIntyre, Åberg and Spaun all switch putters, TaylorMade launches new Spider
Details on J.J. Spaun’s surprise putter switch
GolfWRX Launch Report: 2026 Titleist GTS drivers
Photos from the 2026 Charles Schwab Challenge
PGA Championship Tour Report: Fitzpatrick, Koepka among big-name putter switches for Aronimink
Photos from the ShopRite LPGA
Maria Torres WITB 2026 (June)
Driver: Ping G440 LST (9 degrees) Shaft: Accra TourZ Green 5-M4 3-wood: Ping G440 Max (15 degrees) Shaft: Accra TourZ Green 6-M4 5-wood: Ping G440...
Eric Cole WITB 2026 (June)
Driver: PXG Lightning Tour Max (9 degrees) Shaft: Project X Titan Yellow 70 TX 3-wood: TaylorMade Qi4D (15 degrees) Shaft:...
Si Woo Kim WITB 2026 (May)
Driver: Callaway Quantum Triple Diamond (8.5 degrees) Shaft: Fujikura Ventus Black 6 X Mini driver: Callaway Paradym Ai Smoke Mini...
Wyndham Clark’s winning WITB: 2026 CJ Cup Byron Nelson
Driver: TaylorMade Qi4D (10.5 degrees) Shaft: Project X Titan Yellow 60 TX 3-wood: TaylorMade Qi4D Tour (15 degrees) Shaft: Project...
Fred Bear
May 31, 2025 at 6:15 pm
Why this quest for a fifth major when the fourth major is barely watchable?? The PGA offers nothing special when compared to other ‘elevated’ events and even playing similar/same courses, conditions and format.
Fix the PGA by making it something other than just another week on the calendar.
Ryan
May 31, 2025 at 10:02 am
This is the same type of logic that has plagued/killed the tour championship. K.I.S.S.