The Players Championship - Does It Deserve to be Called a Major?
Monday May 4, 2009
It's the week of The Players Championship, the PGA Tour's greatest tournament. By that I mean that it's an event run by the PGA Tour - the four majors are not - and as a PGA Tour-operated event, it is unquestionably the most important.
But is it as important as the four majors? The PGA Tour has long been positioning The Players Championship to join the ranks of the majors, and more and more tour pros seem conformtable with that notion each year. And it's true what the PGA Tour says in pitching the tournament every year: The Players Championship does have the best field in golf.
We take a closer look at The Players-as-a-major question, and we'd like your feedback, too. Cast your vote in the poll below, and tell us what you think: Will The Players Championship ever achieve major status?
Comments
by your question, the players is already being considered for major status. but whether that happens or not i see a wonderful and exciting tournament bringing the best field of golfers from throughout the world. that in itself is great.
As a non-US golf fan, it’s clear that there is already an enormous bias towards the US in the major championships. This makes it easier for US players to win one of these career defining tournaments, and arguably reduces the credibility of the ‘golf majors’ as a concept. As an example, imagine three of the four were played in Spain each year – almost certainly Garcia would already several of them. A new major (or a replacement for the USPGA) would be best to go to Australia or Asia.
Hey Andrew, I can see where you’re coming from with your comment about the majors being so America-centric already. Same thing with the WGC — the USPGA tends to co-opt everything it can gets it hands on.
But I’m not sure I agree with the examples of players you mentioned. Sergio would probably still be major-less even if all the majors were played in his backyard! (Just kidding … sort of … Sergio fans!)
As for the Aussies … don’t they all live in Orlando or Dallas anyway?
The Players – more specificly, TPC Sawgrass, is arguably one of the finest (and most challenging) courses on the tour. In that regard, the event held there probably deserves “major” status.
I’m not certain about the “U.S. bias” – having PGA tour majors outside the U.S. is probably coming somewhere down the road, but I think this quesiton is about “right now,” and I take the respect the players and the fans have for the event (and the course) into great account when answering “Yes” to the poll.
Lets start with the current majors. The Masters – scrap it as a major. Any tournament that is invitation only deserves to go. Only keeps is’t status due to the course. The US Open – keep it. I have just read of the record 9000+ entrants for the year including a 13 yo and a 79yo. Deserves to stay as theoretically anyone can enter and win. British Open – keep it, same reasons as above for the US Open + its the oldest + the R&A know how to run a golf tournament in style. US PGA – scrap it, it barely rates as a majot now with the players anyway. Might as well sub the PGA with The Players – stronger field and the Americans can still keep 2 of the 4. For the last major i say play it anywhere except the USA. In fact rotate it around the world each year at some of the fantastic courses outside the USA, offer the biggest prize, make it truly open and call it something fancy like the Champion of Champions and if the US tour players dont want to attend so be it. I bet you Tiger will still attend if it comes with a “Majors” tag.
The Players Championship, although a fine event on a great course, does not have the strongest field in golf. Not by some way in fact. The WGC and FedEx playoffs have much stronger fields.
See this blog post for more information.
I agree with Jim (5) above. He spoke my heart! No Invitational should be a major! If what is called a major has some essence of bias or subjectivity in the name of being an Invitational, it does not deserve to be called a Major. Invitationals are expected to be used for fund raising, celebrations, etc A Major should be where all qualified talents are free to duel. I’ve seen good talents that are yet to play in the Masters or Players because they are yet to get the opportunity.
Funnily, many of the participants are now used to the weaknesses of one another as well as some of these courses they’ve been playing year in year out, forget any adjustments made if there is since a previous tournament. I feel the challenge on these courses will have reduced over time though there has not been a back-to- back win in some.
Let’s play around the Continents and not just US only. Anybody who is said to be a winner will be regarded as a true winner.
No, not a major. There can only be 4 majors in order to maintain the possibility of the “grand slam.” There aren’t 5 bases in baseball. There are 4 majors. If you win TPC, then great, you won it, and all the accolades that go with it, but you haven’t won one of the traditional majors. The Canadian Open is older and has a longer tradition than the Masters, yet you will never see it being considered for major status, despite the biggest names in golf (Tiger, Jack, Arnie) having won it (or come close).