Should the Masters be a Major

[SwingsitlikeHogan]

Not a fan of it's exclusivity - but what's the definition of a 'major'? It's simply moniker rather than a classification (for a classification you have to have a set of criteria - which the majors don't - they just are as was decided back then). It's not as if it's preventing another tournament from becoming a 'major'. So for me it can remain a major because of it's uniqueness (exclusivity, limited field, aura, one great course etc) and that uniqueness makes it difficult, and hence very special, to win. And for me maybe just being that 'special' is enough for me.

 

[Deleted member 18588]

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.

I agree with your second point but then it equally holds true with each of the Majors e.g. 20 club pro's in the PGA and those that come through Regional & Final Qualifying for the Open.

In recent years young Europeans like Willett and Sullivan have qualified so it is not exactly a "closed shop".

 

[Deleted member 15344]

I agree with your second point but then it equally holds true with each of the Majors e.g. 20 club pro's in the PGA and those that come through Regional & Final Qualifying for the Open.

In recent years young Europeans like Willett and Sullivan have qualified so it is not exactly a "closed shop".

This is the first year Sullivan has qualified and second year for Willet - both based on WR after good performances in Majors.

There is no reason why they could offer regional qualifying the same way as The Open and US Open which would then give players who can't gain the ranking points ( as they are weighted for US events ) a chance to play.

 

[Slab]

This is the first year Sullivan has qualified and second year for Willet - both based on WR after good performances in Majors.

There is no reason why they could offer regional qualifying the same way as The Open and US Open which would then give players who can't gain the ranking points ( as they are weighted for US events ) a chance to play.

But they are by definition 'Opens'

This one's called the 'Masters'

Wouldn't offering regional qualifying be like opening up the Champions league group stage to all the regional league winners?

 

[Fyldewhite]

Yes.

It's iconic, the course is almost mythical. Ask any rookie pro their goals and one will be to qualify for the Masters. Personally I can remember more exciting Masters than I can Opens and I look forward to it every year. Yes, folk will pick fault, they will with anything but I'm happy with it as it is and has been all my life. A truly great tournament.

 

[Deleted member 15344]

But there are by definition 'Opens'

This one's called the 'Masters'

Wouldn't offering regional qualifying be like opening up the Champions league group stage to all the regional league winners?

What it's called should have no bearing at all - being called the "Masters" shouldn't stop there be a regional qualifying to allow another 10 or so golfers the ability around the world to qualify.

 

[rksquire]

Going by my level of excitement for this week, the answer is Yes. It's earned that position and it deserves to retain it. Are you not super excited for it?

 

[Deleted member 15344]

Going by my level of excitement for this week, the answer is Yes. It's earned that position and it deserves to retain it. Are you not super excited for it?

I'm looking forward to watching it but on the same level as I look forward to watching the Players or the PGA or US PGA

The excitement levels increase for the US Open then even further for the Ryder Cup and then top level for The Open which IMO is the premier golf event in the calendar

 

[louise_a]

I have always enjoyed looking forward to The Master more than any other bar The Open and the Ryder Cup, probably because it is on in the evening so can be watched after work but didn't go on much after midnight and was on the BBC. The course is always visually stunning too.
Not sure whether it ought o be a major though due to the selectiveness on the event.
Compulsive viewing though.

 

[Deleted member 18588]

This is the first year Sullivan has qualified and second year for Willet - both based on WR after good performances in Majors.

There is no reason why they could offer regional qualifying the same way as The Open and US Open which would then give players who can't gain the ranking points ( as they are weighted for US events ) a chance to play.

It is easier for Americans to qualify for three of the four Majors which is hardly surprising.

They are US events and the PGA Tour is clearly the strongest in the world. That is why so many players from around the world try to play on it.

We have no comparable events to the Masters or even the Players in Europe as, despite the best efforts of the ET, top players from the PGA Tour, including some notable Europeans, cannot be enticed to play in the BMW event at Wentworth.

 

[Foxholer]

1st place from last season's Asian Tour OOM gets an invite, not sure where the top 20 statement came from.

Agreed! That was what I was challenging - and haven't had a reply/admission of error!

 

[Deleted member 15344]

It is easier for Americans to qualify for three of the four Majors which is hardly surprising.

They are US events and the PGA Tour is clearly the strongest in the world. That is why so many players from around the world try to play on it.

We have no comparable events to the Masters or even the Players in Europe as, despite the best efforts of the ET, top players from the PGA Tour, including some notable Europeans, cannot be enticed to play in the BMW event at Wentworth.

And for me the Majors shouldn't be location driven - they should be for all the tours and not weighted towards one tours. And it's driven by money.

 

[351DRIVER]

If you should be at the masters as a potential winner, then qualifying should not be a problem

You will see the worlds top 50 are very international

21 Americans
29 others



http://www.owgr.com/ranking

To qualify get in the top 50 in the world
Past champs
Am champs etc

All add to the tournament for me

The CONTENDERS should be worlds top 50 golfers

 

[Deleted member 15344]

If you should be at the masters as a potential winner, then qualifying should not be a problem

You will see the worlds top 50 are very international

http://www.owgr.com/ranking

To qualify get in the top 50 in the world
Past champs
Am champs etc

All add to the tournament for me

The CONTENDERS should be worlds top 50 golfers

Do you think for example Thomas Pieters or Olesen or indeed Fisher or Chasiwra ( just won his national champs ) have the potential to win - I do but their comps dont hold enough WR points for them to climb into the top 50.

As I said early Els one year didn't make it yet no doubt he has the potential to win the Masters.

I believe there are players who played on the Presidents Cup team or even last Ryder Cup players - all players that get exemptions into other majors.

 

[351DRIVER]

People will always miss out, there will always be an easy opportunity to second guess someone missing

Els did not qualify, he should have tried harder, he MAY have won the Masters and the Open, he did not qualify due to his relatively poor play leading up to the masters

If he had played better golf, he would have been in the field

I do not see the issue, the qualification process is very clear, he failed to meet the standard, so did not get in

The best golfers in the world are mostly defined by their successes in majors, being a professional who is of the standard to be a contender, part of your job is to manage your opportunities and maintaining a high enough world ranking to assure instant qualification to all majors should be something that is always on your mind.

29 out of the worlds top 50 are NOT American

Just as a note the images show WORLD NUMBERS 1s for weeks at number 1, its quite cool.. wait until you see TIGER V the rest!
http://www.owgr.com/ranking

 

[Deleted member 15344]

People will always miss out, there will always be an easy opportunity to second guess someone missing

Els did not qualify, he should have tried harder, he MAY have won the Masters and the Open, he did not qualify due to his relatively poor play leading up to the masters

If he had played better golf, he would have been in the field

I do not see the issue, the qualification process is very clear, he failed to meet the standard, so did not get in

The best golfers in the world are mostly defined by their successes in majors, being a professional who is of the standard to be a contender, part of your job is to manage your opportunities and maintaining a high enough world ranking to assure instant qualification to all majors should be something that is always on your mind.

29 out of the worlds top 50 are NOT American

I know the qualfication criteria is clear

What I would like to see amongst other changes is the criteria to be widened and make all the majors the same criteria instead of The Masters being more exclusive than the other three

How many of the Top 50 are regular US PGA Tour members ? Prob 99% without looking to check

 

[Deleted member 18588]

The current top 50 appears to be 80% PGA Tour players which would seem about right when you consider the relative size and strengths of the different Tours.

This is not a new thing, the PGA Tour has been the dominant force since the 1960's at least.

Even Europe's success in Ryder Cups has been largely attributable to players based in America.

 

[351DRIVER]

I know the qualfication criteria is clear

What I would like to see amongst other changes is the criteria to be widened and make all the majors the same criteria instead of The Masters being more exclusive than the other three

How many of the Top 50 are regular US PGA Tour members ? Prob 99% without looking to check

There is no reason for them to all be the same, they have different histories

The PGA always introduces a couple of dozen club pros, should the other 3 do this? I think it is appropriate for the PGA to do this and it is good for THAT major, for the Masters to do this would damage the tournament.

I just cannot see that any contender can complain when they know that if they are top 50 they are in, if you are a top 50 potential major winner, you want to be number 1 not just top 50, if qualifying is the problem then are you a great asset to the tournament?

I do not see the problem at all, the ONLY problem would be if qualification was not clear, as it is, you do what you need to to do get in or you do not play, simple

 

[Ethan]

There is no reason for them to all be the same, they have different histories

The PGA always introduces a couple of dozen club pros, should the other 3 do this? I think it is appropriate for the PGA to do this and it is good for THAT major, for the Masters to do this would damage the tournament.

I just cannot see that any contender can complain when they know that if they are top 50 they are in, if you are a top 50 potential major winner, you want to be number 1 not just top 50, if qualifying is the problem then are you a great asset to the tournament?

I do not see the problem at all, the ONLY problem would be if qualification was not clear, as it is, you do what you need to to do get in or you do not play, simple

We understand your point. You have repeated it a number of times. But I think you fundamentally misunderstand the concept of fairness or bias.

If the OWGR fairly represented all of those who could reasonably contend at Augusta, that would be fine. But it probably doesn't. And there are a lot of players who have no realistic hope of contending, or in some cases, making the cut.

 

[Deleted member 15344]

We understand your point. You have repeated it a number of times. But I think you fundamentally misunderstand the concept of fairness or bias.

If the OWGR fairly represented all of those who could reasonably contend at Augusta, that would be fine. But it probably doesn't. And there are a lot of players who have no realistic hope of contending, or in some cases, making the cut.

Exactly that

The World ranking points are very much weighted towards the PGA Tour because that's where the money is