Aren't the WGC events in effect nothing more than invite only and open to the top 50/64 depending on the event? They certainly preclude a lot of players as well and don't feature any of those that are the future of the game.
Aren't the WGC events in effect nothing more than invite only and open to the top 50/64 depending on the event? They certainly preclude a lot of players as well and don't feature any of those that are the future of the game.
D
Deleted member 15344
Guest
Most of the European Tour members who play solely on the ET will be missing
A crystal ball would be needed to see which youngster would actually develop into a star. I'll take seeing a past champ having a struggle than a no name having struggle.
It's an American event. Of course it won't be heavily influenced by the European Tour. Why would it. Even the Open is multi-national and a lot can only get in by pre-qualifying so don't see what difference it makes
garyinderry
Ryder Cup Winner
The limited coverage is my only gripe.
NWJocko
Tour Winner
You make it sound like they sit round and decide who they will or won't invite this year!?
There are qualifying criteria in the same way other majors have mechanisms to qualify. The "invitation" is almost ceremonial, unless you know of a player that's met their criteria and not received an invite?
There are things I would change about it (dictating tv coverage and access to tickets majinly) but it absolutely should be a major. Whenever you hear the pros asked about which major they want to win, even the Brits want to win the Masters after The Open.
USER1999
Grand Slam Winner
If the uspga, the r and a , etc, said, allow full tv coverage, or you can kiss major status goodbye, what would happen?
Yep. You would see every shot, start to finish.
It's time for the tours to man up. It just is.
Yep. You would see every shot, start to finish.
It's time for the tours to man up. It just is.
D
Deleted member 18588
Guest
Sorry but none of the above have ever done anything to suggest they would be likely to mount a serious challenge. Even Francesco Molinari's record in Majors or on the PGA Tour does not seem to support the idea of him being in contention.
We have to accept that the organisers of any Major can set qualification standards to reflect the history and identity of their tournament.
We may not like those criteria but "them's the rules."
As for an event being a Major and that being dependent upon the quality of the field then The Players' Championship would probably stand alone.
However, there are many other factors that determine the standing of an event as a Major.
Raesy92
Assistant Pro
Probably my favourite tournament of the year to watch.
Definitely should have major status, it takes a special player to win it. I don't get the 'exclusivity' issue either. You get to a high enough ranking in the world and you will get an invite. Simple.
Definitely should have major status, it takes a special player to win it. I don't get the 'exclusivity' issue either. You get to a high enough ranking in the world and you will get an invite. Simple.
D
Deleted member 15344
Guest
They would have just as much chance as anyone - they are talented professional golfers who have won tournaments - can't dismiss - that's the beauty of golf events
People don't "have to accept" anything - they are free to discuss and debate it - I'm pretty sure golf tournaments evolve and the Masters will at one stage
Again the Players is another US PGA Event weighted heavily to US players or players on the PGA tour - should never be a major.
ger147
Tour Winner
1st place from last season's Asian Tour OOM gets an invite, not sure where the top 20 statement came from.
Smiffy
Grand Slam Winner
Don't understand this comment Bri.
There's no guarantee that a young "no name" will struggle.
But I guarantee that a 60 year old "past champ" will.
Give these old boys their own Stableford competition on the Monday after the Majors.
Some of them would struggle for 36 points.
Slab
Occasional Tour Caddy
Now that it is one it can’t really be stripped in this commercial age (its far more likely we’ll get 5th major rather than an alternate 4th)
It’s a bit like Monaco for the F1, no way on earth it would get a race awarded today but it’s not only still there but there as one of F1’s blue ribbon/majors!
Lots I’d like to see change about the Masters
• Treatment of caddies etc
• No critique from media
• One trick pony course
• Broadcast limitations
Can’t really include ticketing in the list though, after all its for the same reason I’m not going to Monaco this year either
I used to disagree with entry list but after reading the full criteria a few years back it’s pretty much got the likely contenders every year (it’s an annoyance they get away with the ‘invitation’ tag but that’s just another thing I’d like to see change)
Warts an all its a Major and will remain so (unless Trump buys the course!)
It’s a bit like Monaco for the F1, no way on earth it would get a race awarded today but it’s not only still there but there as one of F1’s blue ribbon/majors!
Lots I’d like to see change about the Masters
• Treatment of caddies etc
• No critique from media
• One trick pony course
• Broadcast limitations
Can’t really include ticketing in the list though, after all its for the same reason I’m not going to Monaco this year either
I used to disagree with entry list but after reading the full criteria a few years back it’s pretty much got the likely contenders every year (it’s an annoyance they get away with the ‘invitation’ tag but that’s just another thing I’d like to see change)
Warts an all its a Major and will remain so (unless Trump buys the course!)
Splitting hairs and assumptions Rob. But does Langer and Couples struggle? How many 20 yr olds make the cut? Will either the U.S. or British amateur champion win? Will the Seniors tour champion win? There are oldies in the field that won't win, and there are youngsters in the field that won't win.
Each to their own at the end of the day, but I prefer to watch Couples or Langer than this years amateur champions.
The cream of the game, all the way down to at least 50 in the world, are invited on merit, not just invited. The amateur champions and seniors add to the flavour but not to the real battle. As for the lesser pro's, as someone else said earlier in the thread, get into the top 50.
Smiffy
Grand Slam Winner
Each to their own Bri, and quite right too.
But I still can't help feeling that somebody somewhere is being done out of a chance to win a major due to all the old boys that are still allowed to play in it.
Seeing Sandy Lyle or Woosnam shooting two rounds of 82 and 86 and then catching a 'plane home doesn't make me feel like it's a "proper" major.
I'd certainly agree to a tweak with past champions. But I just don't know how you'd tweak it. Maybe miss 3 cuts on the trot and all you get is an invite to the Champions dinner?
Equally, if you moved the bar to top 65 in the world would that then mean your amateur champs have less chance to make the cut?
The only absolute way that doesn't discriminate is make top 100 in the world, but that would exclude your tour champs from Asia and the top amateurs. And then all you have is a copy of the comp from the previous week(s).
The results for the Masters mirrors the other Majors. There's the odd one off winner but the vast majority are true champions.
Ethan
Money List Winner
Well, that is hardly the point, is it. Augusta is famously a course with few first time winners, and players need to learn the course. For all we know, Thomas Pieters may be a future winner, and he needs to start to learn the course, but not this year.
To invert your dubious logic, how many players are invited who have no realistic chance of contention? I reckon about 20.
Slab
Occasional Tour Caddy
By no means a fan boy of the Masters qualification but the entry list shows that 20 players (over 20% of the field) this weekend will be first timers & while I don't know how that compares to other majors it sounds pretty healthy on its own
Someone's always gonna miss the list
Ethan
Money List Winner
But that is driven by the fact that the Am champions are usually first timers, with new winners each year, and that last year there were a bunch of first time PGA Tour winners. Next year may be different for the latter. Still rather US-centric though.
Slab
Occasional Tour Caddy
Yup 8 of the 20 are US players (not checked to see if only US players could have won the comps that got them in though)
Next year could be different as you say, Thomas Pieters might even break into top 50 or win an event that gets him invited
There still gonna be some poor sod that just misses out
