PGA of AmericaCharlotte, NC – September 30: A view from the Wanamaker Trophy at Quail Hollow Club on September 30, 2016 in Charlotte, North Carolina. (Photo by Gary Kellner/PGA of America via Getty Images) *** Local Caption ***CHARLOTTE — The PGA of America will be moving its flagship event, the PGA Championship, from its traditional August date on the golf calendar to May, sources familiar with the decision confirmed to Golf Digest. A formal announcement is expected at a Tuesday afternoon press conference at Quail Hollow Club with PGA CEO Pete Bevacqua and PGA Tour commissioner Jay Monahan.
The change in the schedule will start in 2019 at New York’s Bethpage Black.
Sources say that PGA of America officials have been quietly contemplating moving the event, shifting it to the second major in the calendar year, since as early as 2013. The potential move became more public when Monahan suggested earlier this year as he took his commissioner post that the PGA Tour would be willing to shift..

Getty ImagesSPRINGFIELD, NJ – JULY 31: Jimmy Walker of the United States celebrates with the Wanamaker Trophy after winning the 2016 PGA Championship at Baltusrol Golf Club on July 31, 2016 in Springfield, New Jersey. (Photo by Andrew Redington/Getty Images)The PGA of America’s decision to move its flagship event, the PGA Championship, from its long-running August date to May starting in 2019 largely has been met with approval by PGA Tour players, though mostly because of expectations of the ripple effect in the split-calendar season.

The move, which sources tell Golf Digest will be announced Tuesday, is believed to be the first domino in a series of changes that includes an anticipated shift of the Players from May back to a March slot it occupied from 1977 until 2006 and the conclusion of the FedEx Cup Playoffs by Labor Day.

“I know why it’s happening. I get it. I certainly applaud the PGA of America in helping the PGA Tour out,” said two-time major winner Zach Johnson. “It does he..