PGA Championship moving to May in 2019 golf season to avoid NFL schedule

The PGA Championship, traditionally held in August, will be moved to May starting in 2019, multiple media outlets reported Monday.

Golf Digest reported the PGA will announce the decision on Tuesday.

The PGA Championship, one of four majors, will be held at Bethpage Black on New York's Long Island in 2019. It reportedly will be moved to May for the first time in 70 years.

That would place the PGA Championship after the Masters and before the U.S. Open.

Golf Digest reported it is part of an expected schedule shift that will include moving the Players Championship from May to March.

"I know why it's happening. I get it. I certainly applaud the PGA of America in helping the PGA Tour out," Zach Johnson said, according to Golf Digest. "It does help us. I think it makes our schedule much more seamless. I think it will be better all around. Now, as far as where they are going to go in the future with that earlier date, that's the part that I don't really know how that is going to work. Oak Hill coming up (in 2023) ... can you play in the northern part of the country in May? You can, but you probably shouldn't. You've got to get lucky (on the weather)."

Charley Hoffman, a member of the PGA Tour Policy Board, told Golf Digest, "They laid it out in front of us. First for TV negotiations, you want a Players Championship in a prime spot and maybe a better time of year for course conditioning, and then the reality is we want golf done before football. Football runs TV in that time of year. Only time will tell. Everyone was against the FedEx Cup at the start, and it's turned into a great thing for the tour. And I think it will be a great thing for the PGA."

Phil Mickelson said moving the PGA Championship to May could strengthen fan interest.

"I think it will be a really good thing for the PGA, because it would be earlier on in the rotation when there is maybe more excitement for the majors," he told Golf Digest. "We get to August, and that excitement kind of dwindles a little. It's at a time of year where golf seems to linger on, so maybe there will be more energy behind the PGA earlier in the year."