Majors: Will We See a Change to the Current 4?

[Catty]

Should be Us Open, the Open, Masters and the Australian open as the 4 Majors.

[dalehead]

Sorry mate. Your Open is a historic championship that deserves more respect than it gets. But Australia is too remote, too small in population, and without enough media and financial juice to get major status for the tournament. Besides you play it at the wrong time of year and at a time of day when the rest of the golf world is asleep.

[RobertBaron]

Won’t happen unless professional golf finds itself on the brink of financial collapse and in search of a last ditch effort.

[nichho]

> @raynorfan1 said:

> I suspect that if it sticks (and they get the format right), the Olympics will come to achieve 'major' status in the same way that it has in tennis (and other sports). Career accomplishments for guys like Andy Murray are always going to be: three grand slams and two gold medals. Always mentioned in the same breath.

 

Feasible but unlikely. Golf doesn't control it's Olympic status, the Olympic committee do and they can turn round tomorrow and arbitrarily decide that the next one is the last one. Not a good look for a major.

 

However I could see how the PGA Tour might go along with it. Lobby for Olympic golf to be decreed a major. Once it is done lobby behind the scenes for golf to be dropped from the Olympics and then very helpfully step in and fill the void. Thank you Mr Commissioner, no thank you.

[Rustynuts]

Tennis has it sorted, 3 in the USA isn’t right. The PGA should be a roving event with the USA getting to host it every 5 years maybe. Aussie should have one, as should South Africa. China, Japan etc also deserve to host it occasionally

[GoGoErky]

They are all majors and no cuts so everyone gets paid.

 

There’s no need to change or add. Unlike Evian who was pressuring the lpga the sponsors aren’t doing that to the pga tour.

[LICC]

> @"Oliver Klozoff" said:

> We were talking about this the other day. The Masters, British Open, and US Open are pretty much locked in stone. They are majors and that isn't changing.

>

> The PGA was rendered irrelevant this year by moving up on the calendar. It was already lagging, but when it was the last of the 4 majors on the schedule it had a place as a way to sneak in a major and make someone's year. Now it seems lost. It's a bit relevant in Grand Slam talk now. But other than that it's not of much interest. And the Tour had already failed trying to make the Players the 5th major. But this year end Fed Ex Cup in the current format. Now that's got some chances to take the place of the PGA. I don't think you can give players a head start in a major though. Nor can it be at Least Lake every year. Interesting discussions about it though. My guess is they find a way to move the PGA date back to where it was in a few years. Who knows. Rose is right that the majors were too compressed though.

 

Exactly. Nothing is changing anytime soon, but if it were it would be a PGA Tour event replacing the PGA Championship. There is another discussion in the forum where I asked why the PGA is still a major, and there was lots of discussion but no real good reason other than it historically has been.

[Oliver Klozoff]

> @widow-maker said:

> > @"Oliver Klozoff" said:

> > We were talking about this the other day. The Masters, British Open, and US Open are pretty much locked in stone. They are majors and that isn't changing.

> >

> > The PGA was rendered irrelevant this year by moving up on the calendar. It was already lagging, but when it was the last of the 4 majors on the schedule it had a place as a way to sneak in a major and make someone's year. Now it seems lost. It's a bit relevant in Grand Slam talk now. But other than that it's not of much interest. And the Tour had already failed trying to make the Players the 5th major. But this year end Fed Ex Cup in the current format. Now that's got some chances to take the place of the PGA. I don't think you can give players a head start in a major though. Nor can it be at Least Lake every year. Interesting discussions about it though. My guess is they find a way to move the PGA date back to where it was in a few years. Who knows. Rose is right that the majors were too compressed though.

>

> How in the world can the FedEx Cup ever hope to be a major when the players start the Tournament on uneven levels. One guy is 10 under at the start of play and you want the results of the Tournament to be a Major Championship?

>

> I don't think they should have moved the PGA Championship, but they've got the right 4 Tournaments that hold Major status. No reason to change a thing. It works well as it is. They're run by different organizations and that's part of what sets them apart from a regular Tour event. No reason to dilute it by adding another and no reason to change out one for another. What point would it make if you made the Players Championship a Major and took the designation away from the PGA Championship? It would mean nothing other than a money grab by some entity that thinks it has the power to do it.

>

> Nobody is in charge of determining what is and what isn't a Major. It happened organically and it's just the way it is. The PGA Tour isn't in charge of determining what is and what isn't a Major. It's not theirs to control.

 

Did you read my post? It says "I don't think you can give players a head start in a major though.". So obviously I know you can't start on uneven levels if it becomes a major.

 

The PGA organization does good work for golf. But the PGA as a major is diluted by the club pros and it severely lacks an identity. Masters has the same gorgeous place each year and exciting back 9s. USGA has hard course setups and is open to all. British has history and links courses and qualifying. The PGA? Not sure what it really is.

 

But the PGA Tour running a major at the end of the season with only the top 30 players + the next 20 or so from the WGR? That guarantees a quality winner and carries a lot of weight. Just can't be at East Lake east year. It's a good time of year to head north to like Michigan, Chicago, Boston, Oregon, Washington. That could be a nice rota.

 

I just don't know if the PGA Tour even wants to do that to the PGA. It's kind of crushing to an organization that promotes your sport at the lower levels. So I think the PGA Tour would be happy with it being what it was this year.

 

That's why I think in the end the PGA just moves back to the end of the schedule. Say 2 weeks after the Tour Championship rather than squishing it in before.

 

[raynorfan1]

> @nichho said:

> > @raynorfan1 said:

> > I suspect that if it sticks (and they get the format right), the Olympics will come to achieve 'major' status in the same way that it has in tennis (and other sports). Career accomplishments for guys like Andy Murray are always going to be: three grand slams and two gold medals. Always mentioned in the same breath.

>

> Feasible but unlikely. Golf doesn't control it's Olympic status, the Olympic committee do and they can turn round tomorrow and arbitrarily decide that the next one is the last one. Not a good look for a major.

>

> However I could see how the PGA Tour might go along with it. Lobby for Olympic golf to be decreed a major. Once it is done lobby behind the scenes for golf to be dropped from the Olympics and then very helpfully step in and fill the void. Thank you Mr Commissioner, no thank you.

 

The interesting thing though...is that "golf" doesn't really "control" what is or is not considered a major. The significance of the events has more to do with what fans perceive to be the most important events; the PGA Tour (or R&A, or USGA, or PGAA) really has no say in what is a "major".

 

The Olympics will never be a "true" major, in the same way that it's not a "slam" in tennis...but from a prestige standpoint, it's basically equal.

 

IMHO the only way that a real major emerges is organically, and I think the best chance is something like the Dubai Desert Classic where you have a benefactor paying tee money to get an incredibly strong field to make it a must-watch tournament.

[imakaveli]

Sure we will, we have seen a lot of terrible decisions recently, so why stop.

[Ferguson]

> @Hawkeye77 said:

> LOL, I get my golf history from a wealth of sources, the titles of which don't start with "Wiki".

>

> Silly thread, is this the 3rd or 4th time been brought up on here in one form or another (probably more) just in the last six months?

>

> Nothing new in the OP that hasn't been known since Deane Beman ran things and nothing even remotely suggesting there would be any change, call to change, spare change, etc.

>

>

Have you read The Canadian Mounted?

Good source. Golf is mentioned.

 

 

 

 

[TMoakley1547]

> @nichho said:

> > @TMoakley1547 said:

> > I could see the PGA Tour adding a tournament, or giving a current tournament (The Players, probably) and giving it "Major" status. But it would feel forced im sure, kind of like the FedEx Cup.

> >

> > I dont see it happening, but you never know these days.

>

> If the PGA Tour give the Players "major" status then perhaps the European Tour will give one of their events "major" status, who knows, perhaps the **Scottish Open**. The Aussies might want a piece of the action as well seeing how their national championship pre-dates the players by 70 years or the French which is 71 years older, or the South African or even China, not very old but they just might fancy adding major to the title, why not if that is the criteria.

 

Somebody had the idea on WRX that the Euro Tour/PGA Tour should give the Scottish Open a WGC status. I thought that was a great idea.

[widow-maker]

> @"Oliver Klozoff" said:

> > @widow-maker said:

> > > @"Oliver Klozoff" said:

 

> But the PGA Tour running a major at the end of the season with only the top 30 players + the next 20 or so from the WGR? That guarantees a quality winner and carries a lot of weight. Just can't be at East Lake east year. It's a good time of year to head north to like Michigan, Chicago, Boston, Oregon, Washington. That could be a nice rota.

>

 

 

 

 

The PGA Championship already has those same 30 players and almost all of the top 100 in their event. And it already moves around the country. There's just no reason to replace it, other than a money grab by the PGA Tour. It has a superior field to every other event(certainly stronger than the Masters, US and British Opens), even with the 20 Club pros who get exemptions. Only the Players Championship comes close to strength of field to the PGA. Perhaps it needs to be played in August, or September. Perhaps they move it occasionally out of the country. There are things they could do to try to enhance it, but there's really no need to knock it out of it's spot.

The Masters, PGA, US Open and Open Championship garner 80-100 pages in their threads on this forum. The Tour Championship was at about 12 pages on Sunday as McIlroy was finishing up. The interest is already there for the current 4 Majors. Why change what is obviously already working?

[bscinstnct]

> @raynorfan1 said:

> > @nichho said:

> > > @raynorfan1 said:

> > > I suspect that if it sticks (and they get the format right), the Olympics will come to achieve 'major' status in the same way that it has in tennis (and other sports). Career accomplishments for guys like Andy Murray are always going to be: three grand slams and two gold medals. Always mentioned in the same breath.

> >

> > Feasible but unlikely. Golf doesn't control it's Olympic status, the Olympic committee do and they can turn round tomorrow and arbitrarily decide that the next one is the last one. Not a good look for a major.

> >

> > However I could see how the PGA Tour might go along with it. Lobby for Olympic golf to be decreed a major. Once it is done lobby behind the scenes for golf to be dropped from the Olympics and then very helpfully step in and fill the void. Thank you Mr Commissioner, no thank you.

>

> The interesting thing though...is that "golf" doesn't really "control" what is or is not considered a major. The significance of the events has more to do with what fans perceive to be the most important events; the PGA Tour (or R&A, or USGA, or PGAA) really has no say in what is a "major".

>

> The Olympics will never be a "true" major, in the same way that it's not a "slam" in tennis...but from a prestige standpoint, it's basically equal.

>

> IMHO the only way that a real major emerges is organically, and I think the best chance is something like the Dubai Desert Classic where you have a benefactor paying tee money to get an incredibly strong field to make it a must-watch tournament.

 

This is on target. You can't say, "This tournament is hereby a major" without the buy in of the fans, the players, and the media.

 

Curious now. How and when did the Majors officially become Majors? Did Bobby Jones come up with the original concept of 4 majors (the pregnant traparhomboid or whatever ; ) And then they changed it to the modern version?

[cdnglf]

> @bscinstnct said:

> > @raynorfan1 said:

> > > @nichho said:

> > > > @raynorfan1 said:

> > > > I suspect that if it sticks (and they get the format right), the Olympics will come to achieve 'major' status in the same way that it has in tennis (and other sports). Career accomplishments for guys like Andy Murray are always going to be: three grand slams and two gold medals. Always mentioned in the same breath.

> > >

> > > Feasible but unlikely. Golf doesn't control it's Olympic status, the Olympic committee do and they can turn round tomorrow and arbitrarily decide that the next one is the last one. Not a good look for a major.

> > >

> > > However I could see how the PGA Tour might go along with it. Lobby for Olympic golf to be decreed a major. Once it is done lobby behind the scenes for golf to be dropped from the Olympics and then very helpfully step in and fill the void. Thank you Mr Commissioner, no thank you.

> >

> > The interesting thing though...is that "golf" doesn't really "control" what is or is not considered a major. The significance of the events has more to do with what fans perceive to be the most important events; the PGA Tour (or R&A, or USGA, or PGAA) really has no say in what is a "major".

> >

> > The Olympics will never be a "true" major, in the same way that it's not a "slam" in tennis...but from a prestige standpoint, it's basically equal.

> >

> > IMHO the only way that a real major emerges is organically, and I think the best chance is something like the Dubai Desert Classic where you have a benefactor paying tee money to get an incredibly strong field to make it a must-watch tournament.

>

> This is on target. You can't say, "This tournament is hereby a major" without the buy in of the fans, the players, and the media.

>

> Curious now. How and when did the Majors officially become Majors? Did Bobby Jones come up with the original concept of 4 majors (the pregnant traparhomboid or whatever ; ) And then they changed it to the modern version?

 

The preternatural quaternion

[tiderider]

> @Rustynuts said:

> Tennis has it sorted, 3 in the USA isn’t right. The PGA should be a roving event with the USA getting to host it every 5 years maybe. Aussie should have one, as should South Africa. China, Japan etc also deserve to host it occasionally

 


 

[bscinstnct]

> @cdnglf said:

> > @bscinstnct said:

> > > @raynorfan1 said:

> > > > @nichho said:

> > > > > @raynorfan1 said:

> > > > > I suspect that if it sticks (and they get the format right), the Olympics will come to achieve 'major' status in the same way that it has in tennis (and other sports). Career accomplishments for guys like Andy Murray are always going to be: three grand slams and two gold medals. Always mentioned in the same breath.

> > > >

> > > > Feasible but unlikely. Golf doesn't control it's Olympic status, the Olympic committee do and they can turn round tomorrow and arbitrarily decide that the next one is the last one. Not a good look for a major.

> > > >

> > > > However I could see how the PGA Tour might go along with it. Lobby for Olympic golf to be decreed a major. Once it is done lobby behind the scenes for golf to be dropped from the Olympics and then very helpfully step in and fill the void. Thank you Mr Commissioner, no thank you.

> > >

> > > The interesting thing though...is that "golf" doesn't really "control" what is or is not considered a major. The significance of the events has more to do with what fans perceive to be the most important events; the PGA Tour (or R&A, or USGA, or PGAA) really has no say in what is a "major".

> > >

> > > The Olympics will never be a "true" major, in the same way that it's not a "slam" in tennis...but from a prestige standpoint, it's basically equal.

> > >

> > > IMHO the only way that a real major emerges is organically, and I think the best chance is something like the Dubai Desert Classic where you have a benefactor paying tee money to get an incredibly strong field to make it a must-watch tournament.

> >

> > This is on target. You can't say, "This tournament is hereby a major" without the buy in of the fans, the players, and the media.

> >

> > Curious now. How and when did the Majors officially become Majors? Did Bobby Jones come up with the original concept of 4 majors (the pregnant traparhomboid or whatever ; ) And then they changed it to the modern version?

>

> The preternatural quaternion

 

Ha! Here is some history...

 

Walter Hagen could have related to Jack's comment when "they," in the late 1930s, ordained the Masters (aka the Augusta National Invitation) as the new top-shelf golf title, with the British and U.S. Opens and the American PGA Championship. At the same time, the Western Open, the third-oldest open championship, first played in 1899, was dropped a notch. And though the term "major" didn't really take hold until Arnold Palmer, thanks largely to the promotional efforts of his agent, Mark McCormack, traveled to St. Andrews in 1960 for the British Open, the various record books continued counting U.S. and British Amateur titles as majors. But "they" concluded that Hagen's five Western Opens didn't quite match his two U.S. Opens, four British Opens and five American PGAs in terms of prestige and importance.

 

Because it's anyone's guess as to the identity of "they," I'll give you mine. Credit sportswriter Grantland Rice, a founding member of Augusta National Golf Club and a close friend of Jones, for influencing his fellow golf writers to elevate the Masters over the Western Open. And credit Gary Player, a close friend of Nicklaus, for minimizing the achievement of winning a U.S. or British Amateur to something less than winning a senior "major." I have no beef with the working press making such calls. It happens in other sports, and because these folks are the chroniclers of the game, it makes sense. But a campaign by a fellow-competitor using old-timers' tournaments to alter the definition of a major? "Give me a break!" as tennis' John McEnroe might say.

 

https://www.golfdigest.com/story/david-fay-history-of-majors

[QuigleyDU]

> @Rustynuts said:

> Tennis has it sorted, 3 in the USA isn’t right. The PGA should be a roving event with the USA getting to host it every 5 years maybe. Aussie should have one, as should South Africa. China, Japan etc also deserve to host it occasionally

 

Isnt the PGA hosted by the PGA of America? If so, why should it move??

[nichho]

> @QuigleyDU said:

> > @Rustynuts said:

> > Tennis has it sorted, 3 in the USA isn’t right. The PGA should be a roving event with the USA getting to host it every 5 years maybe. Aussie should have one, as should South Africa. China, Japan etc also deserve to host it occasionally

>

> Isnt the PGA hosted by the PGA of America? If so, why should it move??

 

It doesn't have to. These are all random thoughts by members of GolfWRX.

[gvogel]

> @raynorfan1 said:

> I suspect that if it sticks (and they get the format right), the Olympics will come to achieve 'major' status in the same way that it has in tennis (and other sports). Career accomplishments for guys like Andy Murray are always going to be: three grand slams and two gold medals. Always mentioned in the same breath.

 

It never will. The fact that only 4 from the US will participate, and there are golfers playing who are not in the World top 500 means that the field is really weak.

[raynorfan1]

> @gvogel said:

> > @raynorfan1 said:

> > I suspect that if it sticks (and they get the format right), the Olympics will come to achieve 'major' status in the same way that it has in tennis (and other sports). Career accomplishments for guys like Andy Murray are always going to be: three grand slams and two gold medals. Always mentioned in the same breath.

>

> It never will. The fact that only 4 from the US will participate, and there are golfers playing who are not in the World top 500 means that the field is really weak.

 

That was why I said "and they get the format right". I agree, in the current construct, it's not going to get there. But if they change the criteria for selection (and the number of people from each country eligible)...it would work.

[LICC]

> @raynorfan1 said:

> > @gvogel said:

> > > @raynorfan1 said:

> > > I suspect that if it sticks (and they get the format right), the Olympics will come to achieve 'major' status in the same way that it has in tennis (and other sports). Career accomplishments for guys like Andy Murray are always going to be: three grand slams and two gold medals. Always mentioned in the same breath.

> >

> > It never will. The fact that only 4 from the US will participate, and there are golfers playing who are not in the World top 500 means that the field is really weak.

>

> That was why I said "and they get the format right". I agree, in the current construct, it's not going to get there. But if they change the criteria for selection (and the number of people from each country eligible)...it would work.

 

The PGA Tour could kill the PGA Championship as a major and replace it with the Players if it wanted to. But it doesn’t make sense to do that now.

[tiderider]

> @raynorfan1 said:

> > @gvogel said:

> > > @raynorfan1 said:

> > > I suspect that if it sticks (and they get the format right), the Olympics will come to achieve 'major' status in the same way that it has in tennis (and other sports). Career accomplishments for guys like Andy Murray are always going to be: three grand slams and two gold medals. Always mentioned in the same breath.

> >

> > It never will. The fact that only 4 from the US will participate, and there are golfers playing who are not in the World top 500 means that the field is really weak.

>

> That was why I said "and they get the format right". I agree, in the current construct, it's not going to get there. But if they change the criteria for selection (and the number of people from each country eligible)...it would work.

 

it's played every 4 years ... it will never be a major ...

[ryanarneson]

> @LICC said:

> > @raynorfan1 said:

> > > @gvogel said:

> > > > @raynorfan1 said:

> > > > I suspect that if it sticks (and they get the format right), the Olympics will come to achieve 'major' status in the same way that it has in tennis (and other sports). Career accomplishments for guys like Andy Murray are always going to be: three grand slams and two gold medals. Always mentioned in the same breath.

> > >

> > > It never will. The fact that only 4 from the US will participate, and there are golfers playing who are not in the World top 500 means that the field is really weak.

> >

> > That was why I said "and they get the format right". I agree, in the current construct, it's not going to get there. But if they change the criteria for selection (and the number of people from each country eligible)...it would work.

>

> The PGA Tour could kill the PGA Championship as a major and replace it with the Players if it wanted to. But it doesn’t make sense to do that now.

 

How would the PGA Tour do that? They don't have a say in *any* of the current majors. (and they hate that) They don't get to replace anything.

 

Oh, they'd LOVE to replace the PGA with The Players, but no one is buying what they are selling on that front.

[LICC]

> @ryanarneson said:

> > @LICC said:

> > > @raynorfan1 said:

> > > > @gvogel said:

> > > > > @raynorfan1 said:

> > > > > I suspect that if it sticks (and they get the format right), the Olympics will come to achieve 'major' status in the same way that it has in tennis (and other sports). Career accomplishments for guys like Andy Murray are always going to be: three grand slams and two gold medals. Always mentioned in the same breath.

> > > >

> > > > It never will. The fact that only 4 from the US will participate, and there are golfers playing who are not in the World top 500 means that the field is really weak.

> > >

> > > That was why I said "and they get the format right". I agree, in the current construct, it's not going to get there. But if they change the criteria for selection (and the number of people from each country eligible)...it would work.

> >

> > The PGA Tour could kill the PGA Championship as a major and replace it with the Players if it wanted to. But it doesn’t make sense to do that now.

>

> How would the PGA Tour do that? They don't have a say in *any* of the current majors. (and they hate that) They don't get to replace anything.

>

> Oh, they'd LOVE to replace the PGA with The Players, but no one is buying what they are selling on that front.

 

They could do it tomorrow if they wanted. Move the Players to May and have all the top players play it instead of the PGA

[JAMH03]

> @SkiSchoolPro said:

> Most seem to accept that the current 4 majors are what everyone will always accept as the major titles in golf BUT I think there are 3 important things to remember:

> 1. When some historical pros won their "Major" titles, these titles were not necessarily considered majors.

> 2. Some titles that were considered majors years ago are little more than a footnote today.

> 3. The PGA Tour would love to own/control 1 or more majors.

>

> Check out https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Men%27s_major_golf_championships#History for an interesting read on the history of Majors.

> Regarding #1 above- Is it less worthy to win a major title when you did not have the pressure of knowing it was a major?

>

 

 

Of course they will change.

[nichho]

> @LICC said:

> > @ryanarneson said:

> > > @LICC said:

> > > > @raynorfan1 said:

> > > > > @gvogel said:

> > > > > > @raynorfan1 said:

> > > > > > I suspect that if it sticks (and they get the format right), the Olympics will come to achieve 'major' status in the same way that it has in tennis (and other sports). Career accomplishments for guys like Andy Murray are always going to be: three grand slams and two gold medals. Always mentioned in the same breath.

> > > > >

> > > > > It never will. The fact that only 4 from the US will participate, and there are golfers playing who are not in the World top 500 means that the field is really weak.

> > > >

> > > > That was why I said "and they get the format right". I agree, in the current construct, it's not going to get there. But if they change the criteria for selection (and the number of people from each country eligible)...it would work.

> > >

> > > The PGA Tour could kill the PGA Championship as a major and replace it with the Players if it wanted to. But it doesn’t make sense to do that now.

> >

> > How would the PGA Tour do that? They don't have a say in *any* of the current majors. (and they hate that) They don't get to replace anything.

> >

> > Oh, they'd LOVE to replace the PGA with The Players, but no one is buying what they are selling on that front.

>

> They could do it tomorrow if they wanted. Move the Players to May and have all the top players play it instead of the PGA

 

Now that I would love to see. The PGA Tour move the Players directly against the PGA Championship and then lets see which is the most important to the actual players.

 

I'm pretty sure that I know which event would win.

[ray9898]

Move the PGA our of the country???

 

Please....it is hosted by the PGA of America and sponsored by its core membership with is right here in the USA. This is a huge country with lots of great places to host the tournament. Absolutely no need look outside or borders. There are plenty of international tournaments.

[PappyVanWinkle53]

> @nichho said:

> > @LICC said:

> > > @ryanarneson said:

> > > > @LICC said:

> > > > > @raynorfan1 said:

> > > > > > @gvogel said:

> > > > > > > @raynorfan1 said:

> > > > > > > I suspect that if it sticks (and they get the format right), the Olympics will come to achieve 'major' status in the same way that it has in tennis (and other sports). Career accomplishments for guys like Andy Murray are always going to be: three grand slams and two gold medals. Always mentioned in the same breath.

> > > > > >

> > > > > > It never will. The fact that only 4 from the US will participate, and there are golfers playing who are not in the World top 500 means that the field is really weak.

> > > > >

> > > > > That was why I said "and they get the format right". I agree, in the current construct, it's not going to get there. But if they change the criteria for selection (and the number of people from each country eligible)...it would work.

> > > >

> > > > The PGA Tour could kill the PGA Championship as a major and replace it with the Players if it wanted to. But it doesn’t make sense to do that now.

> > >

> > > How would the PGA Tour do that? They don't have a say in *any* of the current majors. (and they hate that) They don't get to replace anything.

> > >

> > > Oh, they'd LOVE to replace the PGA with The Players, but no one is buying what they are selling on that front.

> >

> > They could do it tomorrow if they wanted. Move the Players to May and have all the top players play it instead of the PGA

>

> Now that I would love to see. The PGA Tour move the Players directly against the PGA Championship and then lets see which is the most important to the actual players.

>

> I'm pretty sure that I know which event would win.

 

Yeah....that would actually be a total disaster for the PGA Tour.....all the top guys would end up playing the PGA Championship, and the "top guys" that are left over would battle it out for The Players......nothing says high ratings like Cody Gribble or John Senden with a 54-hole lead in Ponte Vedra!

[LICC]

> @"Crazy About Golf" said:

> > @nichho said:

> > > @LICC said:

> > > > @ryanarneson said:

> > > > > @LICC said:

> > > > > > @raynorfan1 said:

> > > > > > > @gvogel said:

> > > > > > > > @raynorfan1 said:

> > > > > > > > I suspect that if it sticks (and they get the format right), the Olympics will come to achieve 'major' status in the same way that it has in tennis (and other sports). Career accomplishments for guys like Andy Murray are always going to be: three grand slams and two gold medals. Always mentioned in the same breath.

> > > > > > >

> > > > > > > It never will. The fact that only 4 from the US will participate, and there are golfers playing who are not in the World top 500 means that the field is really weak.

> > > > > >

> > > > > > That was why I said "and they get the format right". I agree, in the current construct, it's not going to get there. But if they change the criteria for selection (and the number of people from each country eligible)...it would work.

> > > > >

> > > > > The PGA Tour could kill the PGA Championship as a major and replace it with the Players if it wanted to. But it doesn’t make sense to do that now.

> > > >

> > > > How would the PGA Tour do that? They don't have a say in *any* of the current majors. (and they hate that) They don't get to replace anything.

> > > >

> > > > Oh, they'd LOVE to replace the PGA with The Players, but no one is buying what they are selling on that front.

> > >

> > > They could do it tomorrow if they wanted. Move the Players to May and have all the top players play it instead of the PGA

> >

> > Now that I would love to see. The PGA Tour move the Players directly against the PGA Championship and then lets see which is the most important to the actual players.

> >

> > I'm pretty sure that I know which event would win.

>

> Yeah....that would actually be a total disaster for the PGA Tour.....all the top guys would end up playing the PGA Championship, and the "top guys" that are left over would battle it out for The Players......nothing says high ratings like Cody Gribble or John Senden with a 54-hole lead in Ponte Vedra!

 

That would never happen if the PGA Tour made this move. The PGA Tour is the group of PGA Tour players. The Tour would do this if the players wanted to do it, and therefore they would all play the Players instead of the PGA Championship.