The golfing world is in agreement about Valhalla after Xander Schauffele’s PGA Championship victory on Sunday evening.
Schauffele was the man to lift the Wanamaker Trophy on the Louisville venue’s famous 18th green after carding an impressive 21-under-par over his four rounds.
Bryson DeChambeau gave his compatriot something to think about on Sunday, but Schauffele held his nerve on his 72nd hole.
Before the tournament, Valhalla’s length was highlighted as a potential roadblock for some of the world’s best.
Yet, DeChambeau was attacking most par fives with a 7 iron or higher in hand. Unfortunately, distance isn’t a factor in the modern game, and when rainfall makes the course soft, birdies and eagles are a formality.
Golf fans slam Valhalla’s set-up after PGA Championship
Typically, majors should be true tests of golf. The PGA Championship is historically one of the lowest-scoring majors, but not to the extent we witnessed in 2024.
And the golfing world is in agreement.
As highlighted by Justin Ray, the 2024 event was the lowest-scoring PGA Championship in the history of the competition, and by some distance.
Another fan, Owen Stein, suggested that Valhalla shouldn’t host another major. “Valhalla should be a regular tour stop, not a major venue,” he wrote.
Zoe Ziskey added: “If you’re posting 20 under at a major, that course probably shouldn’t be used for a major.”
Garret Gough even suggested Valhalla will never host another major. He wrote: “Yeah, safe to say Valhalla isn’t hosting another major.”
Finally, Chuck Fit said: “Course was a joke, but happy for Xander.”
There are two sides to this argument
Of course, fans want to see players tested in major championships, and that’s likely going to happen at the U.S. Open at Pinehurst No.2 next month.
Valhalla wasn’t a serious test of golf due to the wet conditions that engulfed Louisville throughout the tournament. Had the greens firmed up, several holes would’ve proven difficult.
Still, tournament organisers could have toughened the course up in some instances. The rough, for the most part, was challenging. However, the grass near water hazards was so thick it prevented wayward tee shots from being adequately punished.
With a few tweaks and firmer greens, Valhalla has the potential to be the perfect PGA Championship venue.
Irrespective of the low scoring, no one can argue the excitement the course produced during the final round, something the set-up deserves credit for.
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