Professional Golf

[Neilds]

Well

The course set it up is different , even when it’s on a course that holds tour events - when it comes to a major being held there the set it far more difficult

The majors have all the best players in the world from all the tours

In many tour events there will be playars missing from the top 100

And yes history of the event and past icons deeming them to be the major

Does the Open (for example) have the best players? With so many qualifiers and amateurs playing, does this mean some of the best players are missing out? Same with the Masters and past winners having exemptions - every exemption means someone else is missing out.

 

[Orikoru]

To be fair, I think it was more in relation top your original post , which you have since tried to clarify.



Perhaps it would be worth a poll. Personally I would have thought those calling it that would be a small minority, but we all operate in different circles.

Mel's style can IMO sometimes cloud the message - I think he was highlighting that the narrative around the term is pushed by an organisation and it's media partners every year. There is no right or wrong, and some people are more susceptible to that kind of marketing/advertising than others.

There is no doubting that it is an event with a strong field, and good recognition for winning it. The course will typically split opinion.

I literally hear it every year, like Ricky 'The Hitman' Hatton, it's always "Oh it's the Players Championship, the 5th Major". I don't think it's that deep, people just like to big things up. Especially as we have to wait until April for an actual major, and they're all finished 3 months later. Of course the PGA are going to lean into it because they want people to watch it, funnily enough.

 

[Arthur Wedge]

Does the Open (for example) have the best players? With some many qualifiers and amateurs playing, does this mean some of the best players are missing out? Same with the Masters and past winners having exemptions - every exemption means someone else is missing out.

Which best players are missing out ?


Top 50 in world rankings

Top 25 in the DP tour rankings

Top 30 in the Fed Ex Cup rankings

Plus multiple other winners from various tournaments

 

[BubbaP]

Does the Open (for example) have the best players? With so many qualifiers and amateurs playing, does this mean some of the best players are missing out? Same with the Masters and past winners having exemptions - every exemption means someone else is missing out.

Pulled this from an older post, will maybe look up 2025 later..

From OWGR for 2024, field strengths:

Players 456
Masters 375 (not a surprise)
US PGA 484
US Open 440
The Open 487

Your point is valid about AMs etc. generally the fields for the 3 are large which offsets.

Of course there is the separate debate about the validity of OWGR or otherwise, but it is decent comparison to use initially.


2025 OWGR field strengths:

Players 462
Masters 396
US PGA 508
US Open 478
The Open 505

 

[BubbaP]

I literally hear it every year, like Ricky 'The Hitman' Hatton, it's always "Oh it's the Players Championship, the 5th Major". I don't think it's that deep, people just like to big things up. Especially as we have to wait until April for an actual major, and they're all finished 3 months later. Of course the PGA are going to lean into it because they want people to watch it, funnily enough.

As I mentioned, maybe different circles

TBF, the PGA are likely going to be promoting/pushing the PGA Championship, not the Players

 

[Arthur Wedge]

Pulled this from an older post, will maybe look up 2025 later..

From OWGR for 2024, field strengths:

Players 456
Masters 375 (not a surprise)
US PGA 484
US Open 440
The Open 487

Your point is valid about AMs etc. generally the fields for the 3 are large which offsets.

Of course there is the separate debate about the validity of OWGR or otherwise, but it is decent comparison to use initially

The Opens have the bigger fields to allow amateurs and local qualifiers from all over the world

The PGA also has extended field for the PGA Pro’s that qualify

The Players will have a “stronger field” as per OWGR with them have the majority of those in the Top 100 being on the PGAT



Players have decided to miss The Players in the past - don’t think anyone misses a major

 

[Arthur Wedge]

As I mentioned, maybe different circles

TBF, the PGA are likely going to be promoting/pushing the PGA Championship, not the Players

Do we mean the PGA of America or the PGAT

 

[Lord Tyrion]

Does the Open (for example) have the best players? With so many qualifiers and amateurs playing, does this mean some of the best players are missing out? Same with the Masters and past winners having exemptions - every exemption means someone else is missing out.

I think the Open absolutely does. The Masters can't make the same claim but that's a rabbit hole for about April time I think

 

[Arthur Wedge]

I think the Open absolutely does. The Masters can't make the same claim but that's a rabbit hole for about April time I think

What doesn’t help the Masters is the time it’s played and daylight hours

It’s tough to get many more through than the level they already do

But apart from the Ams and past winners it’s still loaded with the top 50 and top players in certain order of merits etc

For it to increase it would need to move the date

But then we wouldn’t get to hear about Augusta and its Azeleas etc etc etc in full bloom blah blah blah and all that other guff they spout


Still would remove it from a major and get another Open in there

 

[BubbaP]

What doesn’t help the Masters is the time it’s played and daylight hours

It’s tough to get many more through than the level they already do

But apart from the Ams and past winners it’s still loaded with the top 50 and top players in certain order of merits etc

For it to increase it would need to move the date

But then we wouldn’t get to hear about Augusta and its Azeleas etc etc etc in full bloom blah blah blah and all that other guff they spout


Still would remove it from a major and get another Open in there

They could maybe go two tee starts. Wouldn't fit the ethos though probably.

+1 for another open

 

[Arthur Wedge]

They could maybe go two tee starts. Wouldn't fit the ethos though probably.

+1 for another open

Two tee starts at Augusta

Wash your mouth out

Imagine the “Committees face if that was suggested”

 

[Lord Tyrion]

For it to increase it would need to move the date

But then we wouldn’t get to hear about Augusta and its Azeleas etc etc etc in full bloom blah blah blah and all that other guff they spout


Still would remove it from a major and get another Open in there

It's Augusta National, they'll import azaleas by the lorry load for whenever it's held. Money is no object, reality doesn't matter there

 

[sunshine]

Mel's style can IMO sometimes cloud the message - I think he was highlighting that the narrative around the term is pushed by an organisation and it's media partners every year. There is no right or wrong, and some people are more susceptible to that kind of marketing/advertising than others.

What are you trying to say about Mel?

I don't think I've ever heard anyone actually call the Players the 5th major, outside of the PGA Tour marketing or Sky TV hype machine.

 

[BubbaP]

Good ol' Viktor....

He was quick to explain that the recent headlines about players returning haven’t changed his outlook in the slightest.

“Not really,” Hovland replied. “I just see the news and I go, oh, that’s interesting, and then I just go about my day.

“I got stuff to do, things to figure out, so that’s about the amount of calories I’m spending on reacting to things like that.”