The Pairings Challenge

It was no coincidence that Tiger Woods was paired with Jack Nicklaus at the 2000 PGA Championship at Valhalla Golf Club. "We try to create interest and intrigue with the pairings," says Kerry Haigh, the PGA of America's Managing Director of Tournaments.

Bob Denney, PGA of America

South African Ernie Els was a 22-year-old phenom in 1992 when he arrived at Bellerive Country Club in St. Louis, Mo., to play in the 74th PGA Championship. The impact Els would bring to the world of golf was just beginning, although he had already established himself outside the United States.

He had won four South African Tour events and finished tied for fifth in the 1992 British Open. The '92 PGA Championship marked his debut in a U.S. major championship.

With whom would Els be paired in the season's final major? The PGA of America's Tournament Department elected to have Els -- the youngest in the field -- play alongside the oldest player in the field, then-62-year-old Arnold Palmer, who had competed in every PGA Championship since its conversion from match play to stroke play in 1958.

It was a pairing made for a major -- a darling for the gallery and enjoyable for each player.

"He's fan-tas-tic," said Palmer, with emphasis on all three syllables. "Great potential; best I've seen for someone that young, by far." Els, who missed the cut with rounds of 73 and 80, said of his two days at the Championship, "Although I played (bleep) golf, I'll always remember these two days as very, very special to me."

Els' entry in the field had elevated him to a top "bracket" in a pool of players by which The PGA of America uses to determine its first- and second-round pairings. There is not a distinct "formula," but there are helpful guidelines by which PGA Managing Director of Tournaments Kerry Haigh follows.

The PGA Championship pairings are divided into the following categories:

(1) Top gallery attractions, and major champions for the past three years. These feature the showcase groups, including many of the top 50 world-ranked players.

(2) Past PGA Champions.

(3) PGA Tour winners of the past three years, along with international players among the top 50 world rankings and other "major" winners.

(4) Tour winners prior to the last three years, internationals outside the top 50 world rankings, consistent money-winners who have yet to win a PGA Tour event and the top 13 PGA Club Professional Championship finishers.

(5) The remaining 12 PGA Club Professional Championship finishers, and Tour professionals who earned a spot on the money list from Asia and Europe.

The computer also enters into the pairings "party," matching players in all groups. When this is completed, Haigh turns over the pairings sheet for final review to The PGA's national officers and Chief Executive Officer.

"We try to create interest and intrigue with the pairings," says Haigh, who joined The PGA of America staff in 1990. "The pairings add to the excitement of the Championship. I think each organization has their own different categories and method as to how they set up pairings. There isn't any right or wrong way.

"The luck of the draw is and should be involved. You are concerned about it, because you hope that everyone has a pairing with which they are comfortable."

Prior to Haigh's PGA service, The PGA of America Tournaments Department made a conscious effort to provide a pairing that any player would enjoy being a part of -- a trio featuring the winner of the current year's three previously played major championships: the Masters, U.S. Open and British Open.

Though the pairings process demands a large amount of preparation, there are times when the process works like a dream.

In 2000, Tiger Woods won the U.S. Open and British Open, while Vijay Singh captured the Masters. The marquee pairing needed one more member for the major at Valhalla Golf Club in Louisville, Ky. How about Valhalla designer Jack Nicklaus? The guy knows something about being in a marquee pairing.

As the Championship unfolded, it would be Nicklaus' final appearance in the PGA Championship. After 37 years in the event, the Golden Bear made one final memorable farewell to his fans.

"I tell the story all the time," said Woods at the 2005 Memorial Tournament. "We were walking off the 18th tee, saying, 'Hey, let's do this the right way. Let's finish this off the right way, and we both make birdie.' He (Nicklaus) almost made eagle. That, to me, is one of the coolest moments I've ever had." After Woods approached the green, Nicklaus gestured to Woods that the stage was now his. Woods gave a big grin and made a short birdie putt, before Nicklaus tapped in for his.

"That pairing certainly got a lot of attention in a lot of ways," says Haigh. "We had to make a decision who they (Woods and Singh) were going to play with, and it worked out well."

As for his 15 years in directing the operations of the season's final major, Haigh says the responsibility of pairings is not overwhelming.

"You have to see how the players do each year and it's one of many things that you have to do to prepare for a PGA Championship," he says.

The impact television makes to professional golf, Haigh says, also is a factor in determining pairings.

"Television covers all 18 holes and is on for many hours each day and you would like to see as many players get on the screen as possible during that period," adds Haigh.

Every year, every Championship is different, which leads to new pairing challenges.

"We've used a similar pairings format for the Senior PGA Championship," says Haigh. "There's still an element of chance in whoever is paired, and there should be."

What is guaranteed is that the PGA Championship pairings have produced more positives than a roll of the dice. They are a ticket to a lifetime of memories for those on both sides of the gallery ropes.

Bob Denney is The PGA of America's Manager of Media Relations.