So what you're saying is that if you don't play on the PGA Tour, it's almost impossible to earn an invitation into the Masters. But if you do play on the PGA Tour, it's not that difficult because there are so many weak fields.
I don't think anyone is disputing that Batia has earned his spot. The point being made is that others have equally earned their spot but due to the invitational system at the Masters and also the mess that is the rankings system right now, they will not be there.
Is that really true? In terms of OWGR points it may have been but we know that they are no longer representative. Was it distinctly stronger?
Well, without wanting to sound like a broken record. He knew what he was getting into. He chose money over majors.
Doesn’t matter how you want to look at it. He chose this. The rules are there in writing. He managed to beat what was in front of him, some top players, some has beens and some never weres. Just as Batia did.
I don't think he is complaining. It is fans, looking on from the outside who are disappointed. We want the strongest fields for majors, we aren't getting them, largely through stubbornness and protectionism.
I’d ask which big name LIV players won’t be there?
Sorry, but Batia did not get entry to the Masters by invitation alone, he qualified by winning at the weekend.
Not every tournament is won by a big name, as shown by Batia. Golf has a history of people coming from the middle of the pack, it is what keeps it interesting. If you don't include them then they can never become big players.
I know. So did Burmester but his comp doesn't count apparently. We know why, but that doesn't stop it from being a shame. Majors should have the best players there, not just most of them.
But how come he's never once played in the Masters then? (Burmester)
That's what I mean.. I was challenging the statement that Bhatia got in on ranking, when Burmester's was apparently lower, but he never got in.
Bhatia got in because he won at the weekend. If it was purely ranking then he would not have got the invite. Such is the Masters........That's what I mean.. I was challenging the statement that Bhatia got in on ranking, when Burmester's was apparently lower, but he never got in.
Did we shame players when they left the European Tour to join the money machine that is the PGA? Is the move to LIV really that different (apart from it being louder and brighter, or is it only louder?)
Agree to be honest. It perplexes me that the majors don't seem to want to prioritise ensuring they have the absolute best field of golfers in their events. Quite happy to plod along and say "ho-hum, our hands are tied".
Yes it is very different. Those players had to earn their places on the PGAT.
Here is another question to get people hyper ventilating. How long until the majors ask the ranking system to be flexible and look to bend to accept LIV players into the system? They can stay rigid and lose big players as their exemptions disappear, or they can say 'we want the best and your system is no longer providing them'. The rankings is fixated on certain issues, maybe they should not be. If the likes of Rahm, Smith, Koepka are happy to play on LIV, and no one can dispute those are world class players, and they are disappearing down the current rankings, then that suggests the system is failing right now.
Elite tournament golf isn't (or shouldn't be) a PGA Tour owned and operated cartel.
