"The PGA Championship ... has a chance to identify itself as the only international major."

I've yet to talk to anyone--including some PGA Professionals--who see any downside in the PGA of America exploring a once every four or so years move of the PGA Championship to an overseas venue. Besides the obvious implications of accomodating an increasingly global game, beefing up the PGA's credibility and easing the Olympic-year schedule logjam, there's the simple matter of distinguishing yourself in a crowded sports market place.

Doug Ferguson pens this week's AP golf column on the PGA of America's look into the possibility of conducting the fourth major overseas now and then, and comes away virtually suggesting they'd be mistaken not to take the plunge.

Now, throw out 153 years of championship history and ask yourself this question: If golf were starting from scratch and there could be only four majors, would three of them really be in America?

That's why it makes perfect sense for the PGA Tour of America to explore the possibility of occasionally taking the PGA Championship overseas. The key words are ''explore'' and ''occasionally.''

''I would say we're more than halfway through a serious analysis,'' PGA chief executive Pete Bevacqua said over the weekend. ''What's important is we boil down our missions to two pillars – serve our members and grow the game,'' Bevacqua said. ''The ultimate test will be can we check both boxes? Does it make sense to occasionally play the PGA Championship overseas? Would growing the brand globally help our members? Would it grow the game? Part two is easy.''

Imagine a February in 2020 where, with not much else going on in sports, we get to watch a primetime or late night PGA from some foreign land? It'd be thrilling and the enthusiasm from the international community would make up for whatever negatives there would be. Most of all, the PGA of America would be elevated to a status they currently do not enjoy.