SOMETHING NEW AT BETH PAGE

It might take a little getting used to, but this is the year that golf's major-championship schedule undergoes a significant change. As part of numerous modifications to the tour schedule, the PGA Championship moves from its traditional August dates with a visit to Bethpage State Park's Black Course in New York May 16–19, followed by conventional timing for the U.S. Open in June and the Open Championship in July. It's not like the PGA isn't used to change: Over the years, the championship has been played in every month but January, March and April.

Brooks Koepka, who held off Tiger Woods last year at Bellerive, is the defending champion, and Woods will be attempting to match Walter Hagen and Jack Nicklaus by taking the Wanamaker Trophy for the fifth time. Woods hasn't won the PGA since going back-to-back at Medinah and Southern Hills in 2006 and 2007, but he did win the 2002 U.S. Open at Bethpage Black. There's more to come at Bethpage: The Ryder Cup comes to the Black in 2024.