Hazeltine National Golf Club President Bob Fafinski said that the PGA Championship’s move to May starting in '19 makes it "'more difficult' for Hazeltine National to host the major golf tournament," according to Chad Graff of the ST. PAUL PIONEER PRESS. Fafinski said that Hazeltine would "consider hosting the event on the third weekend of May under the right circumstances." Fafinski: "It certainly would make it more challenging to host one in May, but we haven’t been flat-out told that we’re not a host site going forward." Hazeltine hosted "wildly successful PGA Championships" in '02 and '09. Fafinski said that the biggest challenge to hosting a major golf tournament in May "would not be the golf course’s condition or the grass’ ability to grow." It would be "setting up the many grandstands and spectator tents in advance, during cold-weather months." Fafinski said that he "doesn’t expect the decision to impact the PGA’s relationship with Hazeltine even if it makes hosting the PGA Championship more difficult for the club" (ST. PAUL PIONEER PRESS, 8/10).
QUEEN'S FEAST: PGA of America CEO Pete Bevacqua said that the PGA Championship, which began today at Quail Hollow Club, is "likely coming back" to the Charlotte golf course. In Charlotte, Katherine Peralta in a front-page piece notes the "earliest the championship could come back" would be '24. Bevacqua said, "Of course we have to get through this week, but I would say that we can’t wait to get back here. It’s 100 percent in our plans to bring the PGA Championship back to Quail Hollow" (CHARLOTTE OBSERVER, 8/10). Bevacqua said that the PGA of America and Quail Hollow execs will "meet 'at the appropriate time' after the tournament to determine next steps." Bevacqua: "It’s very safe to say that we very much want to come back." In Charlotte, Erik Spanberg noted before the PGA Championship arrived on Monday, Quail Hollow had already "broken sales records for tickets and corporate hospitality, meaning the bottom-line success of the event was already assured months ago." The sanctioning body "doesn’t release specific attendance figures, but it has estimated crowds will total a combined 200,000 for the week" (BIZJOURNALS.com, 8/9).
