Is the PGA Championship looking at moving back to August? Don't count on it

The move to May took numerous golf courses off the PGA rota, including Whistling Straits in Wisconsin and Hazeltine National in Minnesota, both in the northern part of the United States. The grasses may not be fully grown in yet, and even in the Northeast there are questions as to whether a golf course will be able to fully grow in to challenge the best players in the world.

"Golf course conditioning, while it's a little different and maybe a little stressful because, certainly, when we play in the Northeast, the grasses don't really get going until two or three weeks ago," Haigh added. "But I think this week speaks for itself, how incredibly good the golf course can be and how healthy the grass is at this time of year. It's certainly a lot more temperate, a lot more enjoyable for spectators and the experience for everyone involved."

Meanwhile, a negative of playing in August at courses like Southern Hills in Tulsa or Bellerive in St. Louis is the heat from the dog days of summer. From a spectator standpoint, May weather is a much better alternative.

Even with those situations, the large golf populous has clamored for the PGA to move back to August or even be flexible and play it in May only during Olympic years.

Those plans, however, aren't likely to come to fruition.

"I think we have a great slot," Clark said. "I think we can stand out in a window of it's nice when you get the monthlies around the majors. I really believe that there's a unique spot that we sit. I like that we don't have to think about changes for the Olympic years. So I don't see that as one I'm really pushing on a change right now."

Added Haigh: "May is a great date to launch the season. It's five weeks after Augusta. There's a nice pacing for the majors. In truth, there's maybe some other events around us that have also caused that compaction. But as Terry said, I think we're very, we like the May date, and it seems agronomically to be working very well."

This article originally appeared on Golfweek: Why the PGA Championship is unlikely to move back to August date