Why Keegan Bradley thinks the PGA Championship derserves more respect

The PGA Championship has an unfair reputation as the worst of the four major championships in golf. When you're competing against the Masters, the U.S. Open and the Open Championship, it's easy to fall by the wayside, but Keegan Bradley strongly believes the PGA Championship doesn't get the credit and admiration it deserves. 

"What I think separates the PGA from other majors is they have no agenda at this tournament," Bradley told reporters ahead of the Thursday-Sunday PGA Championship at Aronimink Golf Club in Newtown Square, Pennsylvania. "Kerry Haugh (Chief championship officer at the PGA of America) does an unbelievable job setting up major championship golf courses. You go to the U.S. Open, you know their agenda is they're gonna make this ridiculously hard to the point of being unfair. 

"At the British Open, it's going to be the weather, and the Masters is the Masters. It's just going to be tough and stressful. The PGA Championship could be 3-under could win. Could be 15-under. They just want to host a great tournament."

The latest results at the PGA Championship bear that out. Xander Schauffele needed to get to 21-under par to win at Valhalla Golf Club in 2024, but the winning scores from 2021-23 were all 9-under or lower. By comparison, the past six Masters winners finished between -10 and -12, and 17 of the past 22 U.S. Open champions were -6 or higher. 

The PGA Championship does the best job of testing different skill sets every year, whereas the other three majors have their own identities. The Masters is played on the same golf course every year. The U.S. Open tests your ability to hit it long and straight off the tee and avoid bogeys. As for the Open Championship, it demands creativity and shot-making through wind and rain no matter the venue. 

The PGA Championship, which is about to visit its ninth host course in as many years, doesn't favor specific players from year to year. 

What makes the PGA Championship special