TIGER WOODS has given golf’s radical schedule overhaul the big thumbs up.
The US PGA Championship has been moved to a new date in May – meaning The Open will now be the final Major of the golfing season.
And 14-time Major champion Woods said: “Really like and support decision by PGA and the Tour. A big event every month and flexibility with schedule including the FedEx Cup.”
Traditionally, the US PGA has always been the fourth and final Major of the year, contested every August.
But in a huge overhaul of the sport’s calendar it is being brought forward by two months.
The event will now be staged a month after the first major in April – The Masters in Augusta.
June will see the US Open contested before The Open ends the year’s majors every July.
The dates of two other big tournaments have also been moved, as The Players Championship switches to March, with the European Tour’s BMW PGA Championship moving from May to September.
One of the key reasons for the change in scheduling is to avoid a clash with the Olympic Games in Tokyo in 2020.
But PGA of America chief executive Pete Bevacqua also claims the new structure will also benefit golfing fans who will get to see a major a month for four months of the season.
Bevacqua said: “It provides our PGA Championship a strong landing spot on the calendar and a consistent major-championship rhythm that golf fans can embrace.
“For nearly 85% of our membership, May is also on the front-end of the golf season.”
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