Kentucky lawmakers support PGA Championship return at Valhalla as soon as 2036

Could the PGA Championship be headed back to Valhalla as soon as 2036?

That would be the next available date for the men’s major, which will be held for the 108th time next week at Aronomink Golf Club outside of Philadelphia, and supporters of a return to Louisville have upped the ante thanks to the passing of House Bill 757.

A PGA of America flag during a practice round for the PGA Championship golf tournament at Valhalla Golf Club.

In April, Kentucky state lawmakers passed that bill as part of a state revenue budget that created a sales tax exemption for on-site purchases at Valhalla during major golf tournaments designed to "attract high-profile events that drive tourism and local economic activity."

The owners of Valhalla Golf Club, led by Jimmy Kirchdorfer, are trying to lure the PGA back to Louisville, and they believe new incentives passed in the 2026 legislative session will help them do that. Kentucky Senate President Robert Stivers (R-Manchester) share this vision to WHAS11, Louisville’s ABC affiliate, on Thursday.

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"We're not thinking in two-year increments. Sometimes we have to think in 5-, 10-, 15-, and 20-year increments. But for him to make that pitch, he needed certain incentives," Stivers said. "You have to be competitive with other states and other places that are promoting to get events like that."

In a statement sent to WHAS, Kirchdorfer, a co-owner of Valhalla, confirmed that they are in the running for a future PGA. "One of the reasons Junior Bridgeman, David Novak, Ches Musselman and I bought Valhalla four years ago was to continue bringing major golf events to the community. The Solheim Cup is the biggest event in women’s golf, and we are excited to host it in 2028. We are also working on bringing more major championships to Valhalla and would like to thank Senate President Stivers, Senator Julie Adams, Speaker Osborne and Representative Nemes for leading this effort through the legislature."