Would you rather win The Players or an Olympic gold?

[RCGA]

You're a average PGA Tour player who will only ever win one tournament in your career: The Players or an Olympic gold in golf.

 

Which one are you taking and why?  

 

Edit: Let's say money isn't an issue, and you're Tony Finau who's already a millionaire but really hasn't won anything meaningful. 

Edited August 3, 2021 by RCGA

[MPAndreassi]

Given those circumstances, the Player’s. Prize money is too much to turn down as an average pro who only gets to win once. 

[SlingBlades]

Player's

[Abh159]

If I'm only winning once during my entire career it's a no brainer.

 

$3 million for the Player's and $37k for the Olympic gold.....

[capking]

The one tournament is too much of a factor, I’d rather win the John deer classic and an Olympic Gold medal than 1 players championship 

[smashdn]

I think the exemptions from winning the players are better too.

 

Per wiki - "The winner also receives a five-year exemption on the PGA Tour (formerly ten years), a three-year invitation to the Masters Tournament, three-year exemptions for the U.S. Open and The Open Championship, and an exemption to the next three PGA Championship tournaments starting in 2018."

 

I read an old article from 2017 regarding the Rio games but said that the gold medal winner there got one year exemptions.

[Blonde Line Lizard]

How can the fifth major be compared to a SJW golf event with a LOT of no-name players playing?

 

Perhaps this question is best asked regarding girl pro golf and one of their 4, 5, 6 or whatever actual majors they have.

[nvr3putt]

1 hour ago, MPAndreassi said:

Given those circumstances, the Player’s. Prize money is too much to turn down as an average pro who only gets to win once. 

Yes.

 

In fact, any PGA tour victory is worth more (esp. financially) than an Olympic gold.

 

And you're still able to represent your country on the Tour.

[larrybud]

I'm going to win the Players, get enough points for the Ryder Cup, then kick butt for my country in that.

[bvmagic]

If money is no issue, I'd take olympics.  However I feel like pro golf is always so competitive that money is always in the back of your head.  It doesn't take much to lose your tour card.  

[Llortamaisey]

Add another vote to the Players for me for all the reasons previously listed. However, I do think that Olympic golf will eventually overcome the ‘major’ hurdle that the Players never has been able to and Olympic golf will one day be recognized as the 5th major. It has so many intangibles that the Players doesn’t, like the other current majors have. 

[smashdn]

On the other hand, take money and expemptions completely out of it, there are only two people in the whole world walking around with a men's golf olympic gold medal.

[Superbrit]

For braggin rights id rather be able to say im the olympic champion rather than the players champion, but for everything else it would be the players, especially the money and exemptions, basically set up for life

[caeye0710]

For me personally, I'll take the Players Championship and all the money / exemptions that come with it. You said we'd only win one tournament, but that doesn't mean we can't make some money in the other tournaments and set ourselves up for life. 

 

[Mcgeeno]

I'll take the 3 mil and all the exemptions.

 

 

[PJE]

Given the scenario as a journeyman player, I'd take the Players mostly due to the exemption for five seasons and the priority ranking for winning (2).  Essentially, as Player's Champion you can choose your schedule on Tour for five years. The likelihood of staying in the top 125 is increased when you can get into the venues you want to play. 

On the other hand, if somehow I didn't have to worry about money, I'd take the Olympic title, hands down. 

 

[sekrah]

2 hours ago, capking said:

The one tournament is too much of a factor, I’d rather win the John deer classic and an Olympic Gold medal than 1 players championship 

Was leaning this way until I saw the exemption for the Players.  Players, it's a no-brainer.

Also John Deere Classic over Olympic Gold.

Olympics simply do not mean what they meant 30-40 years ago.  

 

 

 

Edited August 3, 2021 by sekrah

[PostandGhost]

Give me Olympic Gold.  You can wear that thing anywhere in the world and people will know what it is.  A journeyman is a nobody that will be forgotten in time.  I would rather be remembered forever rather than have money and exemptions, but that's just me.  

[capking]

1 hour ago, sekrah said:

Was leaning this way until I saw the exemption for the Players.  Players, it's a no-brainer.

Also John Deere Classic over Olympic Gold.

Olympics simply do not mean what they meant 30-40 years ago.  

 

 

 

Non golf fans don’t know what a players championship is, every person on earth knows what a gold medal is

[sekrah]

19 minutes ago, capking said:

Non golf fans don’t know what a players championship is, every person on earth knows what a gold medal is

I love this sport more than anything on earth and I couldn't even tell you who won gold in 2016.

 

Give me the money and exemptions 100% of the time.  Enjoy your medal.

 

 

[Dpavs]

 

This guy would fly...

 

But it would be the PGA for me either way.

Edited August 5, 2021 by Dpavs

[TheDominator273]

Give me the gold

[tatertot]

5 hours ago, Blonde Line Lizard said:

How can the fifth major be compared to a SJW golf event with a LOT of no-name players playing?

 

Perhaps this question is best asked regarding girl pro golf and one of their 4, 5, 6 or whatever actual majors they have.

"girl pro golf"

 

You're a moron.

[getitdaily]

Players

 

Money and exemptions

[Pepperturbo]

I don't believe a choice between the two is realistic, as each has a different attraction.   Choosing which depends on the players value structure.  I am, figuratively, an American Boy Scout, so representing my country has greater value than a tour event win just for me.

[elwhippy]

Players. Olympic Golf is a side show.

[betarhoalphadelta]

Olympic gold.

 

Being a "major winner" is a great accomplishment. But if you win ONE major in your entire career, people will forget you. Flash in the pan. 

 

Olympic gold is forever. When you're a grandpa, do you want to display a trophy from that one tournament, or do you want to show them your Olympic gold medal?

[Trevorn]

Craig Perks is the answer. You can always get a job with the Golf Channel if you win the Players.

 

Gold medals may not mean as much to a lot of Americans because you win so many but a country like New Zealand has only won 50 odd in history so Olympians are a much bigger deal because they are so rare.

 

Gold medal for me

[miamistomp]

 At least Finau will have closed the deal on something....

Edited August 3, 2021 by miamistomp

[PostandGhost]

It would be really cool if Tiger could qualify for 2024 and win gold.  Just think how many gold medals that guy might have if golf had returned to being an Olympic sport by the 1996 Olympics in Atlanta.