A Bold Thought For Doral: Lose The WGC, Go For A PGA

The grand re-opening for Trump National Doral included the usual Trumpian hype and celebration of the developer's latest project, though as I noted after touring it, the design is certainly worthy.

Having more time to think about the re-do, I keep going back to how much more sophisticated, elegant and classic the course feels. A 1960s era design feels now like a 1920's classic in scale of features, interest and as Joe Passov noted in his review, no shortage of difficulty if necessary.

However, looking at the leaderboard in Pebble Beach today and bracing for diminished fields at Riviera and the match play (Tiger's officially out) the next two weeks, I was reminded yet again of the WGC's negative effect on PGA Tour field quality.

Some of them might need to go away. As exciting as some of the tournament improvements and innovations are that will be coming to Miami, this is probably the WGC with the least indentifiable reason to be played other than the tour loves coming to Miami.

A great first step in helping fields at non-WGC tour stops would be to say goodbye to the WGC Cadillac Championship at Doral. Now that the course is so good, I say Donald, go after a springtime PGA Championship. Every four years when the Summer Olympics comes along, the August event is going to need to move, so why not make a bid for an early March PGA in 2020?

Granted, the speculation about an international PGA Championship is exciting and the ideal way to enhance the fourth major, but Donald Trump has been around business long enough to know that anything can happen. Keeping the PGA Championship in America would be the safe option. The PGA of America may need that option before trying to work out the particulars of an international major in 2024. And the competition is weak. After all, we've got sons of architects pimping Spyglass these days and, well, that's not happening.

So Donald, I say give them the option and shoot for a March major at Doral. It'd be a win-win for all!

Regarding the redesign, I talked a bit more about the finishing stretch today with Tom Abbott in this clip. And after that, Gil Hanse's appearance on Morning Drive with Gary Williams and Charlie Rymer, talking about the new look Blue Monster.