Letter from Valhalla: A rich golf history, but future uncertain for Louisville course

Valhalla’s future inclusion in the rotation of PGAs and Ryder Cups is far from guaranteed. 

Tiger Woods waves after making a putt on the 13th hole during the first round of the PGA Championship golf tournament at the Valhalla Golf Club on Thursday. Pic: AP Photo/Matt York

Valhalla Golf Club doesn’t possess the architectural qualities of many classic major championship venues, but the Jack Nicklaus-designed course in the Louisville suburbs has delivered some dramatic moments.

Valhalla is playing host this week to its fourth PGA Championship. Among its classic moments was the epic Tiger Woods/Bob May duel in 2000 that marked the third leg of the Tiger Slam and Rory McIlroy’s fourth major triumph in 2014 in a dramatic back-nine shootout. It also brought a 2008 Ryder Cup Europeans would rather forget, when Nick Faldo steered Team Europe to a 16½-11½ defeat.