FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Tuesday, August 8th, 2017

NOTABLE QUOTES: GOLF CENTRAL LIVE FROM THE PGA CHAMPIONSHIP (TUESDAY AFTERNOON)

Notable Quotes – 99th PGA Championship
Golf Central Live From the PGA Championship (Tuesday, Afternoon)
August 8, 2017
Quail Hollow Club, Charlotte, N.C.

**Golf Central Live From the PGA Championship continues tonight at 7 p.m. ET on Golf Channel.**

On the announcement of the schedule changes to the PGA TOUR and PGA Championship
Mark Rolfing – “I don’t see any reason why the Ryder Cup would stay in its date as late in the year as it is if all this happens… The best part about this announcement is that we’re seeing the different governing bodies in golf working together to come up with a solution for a very complicated problem, the world golf schedule.”

Rolfing – “It’s an incredibly difficult set of dominos that are going to fall. The biggest issue in what they have to figure out now is March. With THE PLAYERS moving from May to March, that would currently put into that month, a PLAYERS, two World Golf Championships, Honda, Tampa, Arnold Palmer Invitational and the Houston Open the week before the Masters. What’s going to give here? There’s still a lot to figure out, but I do like that the governing bodies are working together.”

Notah Begay – “A healthy game is better for the entire business of golf. The viewing window starting the big tournaments in March all the way through July and then you throw the Olympics and the FedExCup Playoffs… It’s a tighter window. It’s better for viewers. They can rely on this drama that major championships produce month-over-month. And I think it’s going to be much more enjoyable for those that follow [it].”

Justin Rose speaking with Golf Channel’s Steve Burkowski on the schedule changes
Justin Rose – “I’m a big fan of it to be honest with you… I’m all for it. Obviously it’s going to free up the end of the year quite a bit. And for a guy like me that plays the European Tour as well as the PGA TOUR, finishing the PGA TOUR a touch sooner which may be the case given that schedule, is beneficial for me in terms of going back to play a little bit more in Europe. So it opens up my year a little bit more, so I’m all for it.”

Rory McIlroy on the schedule changes
Rory McIlroy – “I think it’s great for the golf schedule. I think a May date for the PGA of America is a really good thing. And just from a player’s perspective, to now have one really big tournament a month… it just has a better flow to it I think. I’ve been a big supporter of it from the first time I heard about it, and the announcement today I think has been very well received by a lot of the players in the locker room. Obviously it’s still a couple of years away, but I’m excited to play a schedule like that going forward… Overall I think it’s a great thing.”

Ken Schofield, former European Tour executive director, on the schedule changes
Ken Schofield – “In the big picture I think it’s very positive for the entire game, and of course it will help golf cement its place in the Olympics. Across the pond back in Europe it gives an opportunity to regroup, to refocus. And I’m delighted to hear that the European Tour is moving its flagship BMW PGA Championship from May to September… All in all, it’s a win-win for the entire game, and certainly for the players who play internationally.”

-NBC Sports Group-