Not long ago the PGA Championship was one of the highest profile golfing events in the world. After this year’s awkward event, the previous statement really can’t be said anymore. So here is the question: With the lack of big names (especially on the final day), a controversial setup and a whole lot of commercials that got golf fans riled up at the season’s final major, should the PGA Championship lose its status as one of golf’s “Major” events?

Even John Huggan (former editor of Golf Digest Magazine) went so far as to say it’s time to take away the PGA’s status as a major championship. Here is an excerpt from part of his story that has been gaining some serious steam since it was first published a couple of days ago.

Besides, in this ever-changing world, the PGA of America — like its counterparts elsewhere, in so many ways a dying organization — has no business running such an important event. Sweater salesmen should stick to what they do best and leave big-time golf to those who have at least a clue about the running of an elite professional tournament. Think about it. Never before in the history of the game has the gap between “golf professional” and “professional golfer” been so vast. And it’s only going to get bigger.

Here’s just one example of how the PGA of America is out of its depth. The television coverage here at the Atlanta Athletic Club has fallen far short of what we should be able to expect from such a supposedly important championship. In almost complete contrast to the four minutes of commercials per hour limit imposed by those charged with running the Masters at Augusta National, the telecast was a dog’s breakfast at which most discerning canines would turn up their snouts.

As you can see, Huggan was pretty unhappy with the telecast, as well as the overall event as a whole. But that was just part of the issue. This takes us back up to the top of this article. Besides the fact that the overall coverage was bad, there were no big names, there was not too much appeal, and apparently ratings were way down.

That being said, in my opinion Huggan is speaking a bit fast. Everyone in the world knows that unless a select few names are on the leader board of any big time event, then not many people are going to watch. The difference in viewership is staggering when Tiger Woods, Phil Mickelson and a select other few are not in the running. So much so that it tilts the ratings very badly in the wrong direction for golf.

So, aside from taking the “Major” status away from the PGA Championship – which is probably not a good idea, what can be done?

Well, for starter a better production and production managing crew can be put together for the event. Also, there really is no need for all of those commercials. The PGA Championship should take a page out of the Master’s production book, four commercials an hour is plenty. Simply charge more and hope that the right golfers are in the mix on Saturday and Sunday. Which brings me to my next point. It is nobody’s fault that the big guns couldn’t make the cut and hang with some of the up and coming young guns in the game.

All anyone can do that is involved with these big tournaments is hope that the Tiger Woods and Phil Mickelson’s of the world make the cut next time. Taking away “Major” status from the PGA Championship is probably not the best road to take. However, there are definitely some adjustments that need to be made.