European Tour faces shake-up

European golf faces a major shake up if the US changes the date of their PGA Championship, according to chief Keith Pelley.

US officials are considering moving what is traditionally the final major of the season in order for the PGA to concentrate on the FedEx Cup play-offs.

They are normally in September but US officials are keen to move them back a month to avoid clashing with the opening rounds of the NFL which dominates American sports viewing from September onwards.

May is being considered which would clash with the European Tour’s BMW PGA Championship, which starts at Wentworth on Thursday, and that could have implications for the quality of the field, and Pelley says they may have to change the calander.

“Right now we are looking at our 2018 schedule but at the same time 2019 and 2020 are in our discussions daily as well,” he told BBC Sport.

“If there are changes that happen in the US with the majors then we are going to have to adjust and adapt.

“It will depend on what they do in 2019. The PGA of America says they’re going to determine whether the PGA Championship is moved to May by the end of August this year.

“If that’s the case we are going to have to look at everything. We have plans right now but there is no doubt that if those changes happen, the 2019 and 2020 schedule will be considerably different to 2018.”

Tagged European Tour, Keith Pelley