The Ringo Starr of golf majors, but we still love you, yeah, yeah, yeah

They used to call the PGA Championship “glory’s last shot” when it was played in August, until the soulless beancounters who run American golf decided this might detract from the more lucrative end-of-season FedEx Cup events. It was more poetic than “the other one” as some considered the Ringo Starr of major golf trophies, coming after “the pretty one” (the Masters), “the tricky one” (the US Open) and “the historic-y one” (our Open).

This was always a bit unfair. Yes, 30 years ago there was a duff run of winners – who now remembers Mark Brooks, Shaun Micheel, Rich Beem or David Toms? – but most of the greats are proud to have it on their CV. Jack Nicklaus won it five times, Tiger Woods four, Brooks Koepka three and Rory McIlroy a couple. The Northern Irishman is joint-favourite to win this week with Scottie Scheffler.

The PGA, which starts on Thursday (Sky Sports Main, 1pm), was moved from last place in the calendar in 2019 and is now, I suppose, glory’s second shot. Justin Rose, who has been runner-up at the last two majors, will be as desperate as anyone to make amends, though at least the Englishman didn’t literally lose a piece of silverware as Walter Hagen did with the PGA’s Wanamaker Trophy in 1925. The American left it in the back of a cab after his win a century ago. It showed up five years later, unlike McIlroy’s ability to close out a major, which went missing for 11 years.

Until 1957, the PGA had a different format from the other majors, with 36 holes of strokeplay followed by knockout matchplay. It meant the winner could play more than 200 holes in seven days ­– and the crowds had only one pair to follow for the last 18 – but variety is good. Imagine everyone focused just on McIlroy slugging it out with Scheffler. We will have to wait for the Ryder Cup for that.

It is a pity there isn’t everything riding on Arsenal’s trip to Anfield today (Sky Sports Main, 4.30pm), Liverpool having sewn up the title with four games to go. Manchester United’s battle with West Ham United for the prestigious 17th place in the Premier League is not even televised, so you’ll have to make do with radio updates. Those who want a proper end-of-season title-tussle should watch La Liga (Premier Sports 1, 3.15pm) where Barcelona host Real Madrid leading their rivals by four points with four matches to go.

Cycling is fertile ground for the Name A Famous Belgian game. In addition to Eddie Merckx, who won five Tours de France and five Giri d’Italia, they have champion road-racers like Wout van Aert and Remco Evenepoel. Famous cyclists from Albania is a harder game, but that is where the Giro started for the first time on Friday. In the third stage today (TNT Sports 3, noon), they climb the Llogara Pass, which sounds Welsh and looks gorgeous. Perhaps that will inspire Ceredigion’s Josh Tarling, who tackles the Giro for the first time.

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