PGA Grand Slam Goes By the Wayside
Published on March 17 2016 6:38 am
Last Updated on March 17 2016 6:39 am
The PGA Grand Slam of Golf, canceled last year because it was on a Donald Trump golf course, ended for good on Wednesday when the PGA of America decided it no longer fit in the changing landscape of golf.
The Grand Slam was a 36-hole exhibition for the four major champions of the year that dates to 1979 and had been played continuously since 1986 in Chicago, the California desert, Hawaii and Bermuda. It took place after the final stop on the PGA Tour.
It was to be played at Trump National in Los Angeles last year until the PGA of America decided to move it because of all the attention on Trump's remarks about Mexican immigrants when he announced he was running for president. It never found another golf course and canceled the event for the year.
Now, the PGA says it no longer makes sense to play.
"After carefully evaluating the PGA Grand Slam of Golf over the past few years and studying how this event fits with today's golf landscape and the PGA of America's long term strategic plan, the PGA has decided to discontinue the event," it said in a statement.
The PGA cited the PGA Tour wraparound schedule, which starts in October; the European Tour having its lucrative final series ending in November; and other international events (such as the Olympics this year) making it hectic for major champions to attend.
It also said the Grand Slam struggled to attract fans, TV viewers and media interest.
Martin Kaymer won the last Grand Slam in 2014 in Bermuda.
