Should the Masters be a Major

[Deleted member 15344]

Shame. We'd have missed out on the drama of Norman at the 08 Open and Watson at the 09 Open if that had been the case. And i'd hazard a guess Crenshaw in the 95 Masters. Jack in 86 might have been under threat as well. Golf starts to sound a bit duller if those sorts of stories hadnt taken place.

But we might have had other dramas instead - time to start moving on and freshening it up.

 

[Deleted member 15344]

A quality which too many seem happy to eradicate in this day and age.

Being "unique" doesn't always mean it's a good quality - the lack of lady members at various clubs is "unique" , the lack of tickets to public is "unique" , the lack of chance to play the course is "unique"

Some peoples "unique" could be someone else "tired"

 

[Deleted member 18588]

Do the players consider it a Major?

If so then everything else is irrelevant.

 

[Tongo]

Being "unique" doesn't always mean it's a good quality - the lack of lady members at various clubs is "unique" , the lack of tickets to public is "unique" , the lack of chance to play the course is "unique"

Some peoples "unique" could be someone else "tired"

So why is the Masters targeted when other majors possess anomalies or unique policies?

Should the USPGA be counted as a major bearing in mind they insist on those pesky 20 PGA professionals denying some tour pro a place? (For info: I have no issue with the 20 PGA pros playing)

 

[Tongo]

Do the players consider it a Major?

If so then everything else is irrelevant.

Pretty much sums it up

 

[HomerJSimpson]

A quality which too many seem happy to eradicate in this day and age.

Indeed. I'm all for Augusta doing it there way, even if I don't agree with everything they actually do. The pros all know that they need t be right up there to get an invite and it's aspirational for so many. I would impose a limit on the ex-winners exemption and expand the field by say 10-15 (only a couple more groups) but other than that, let it be

 

[Deleted member 15344]

So why is the Masters targeted when other majors possess anomalies or unique policies?

Should the USPGA be counted as a major bearing in mind they insist on those pesky 20 PGA professionals denying some tour pro a place? (For info: I have no issue with the 20 PGA pros playing)

Because the Masters is coming up and it's a discussion we had in the clubhouse

Whilst other majors do indeed have restrictions it's also a lot more open - it opens up the major to a lot more current golfers and it's balanced to involve all the Tours ( US , ET and Asia ) - where as the Masters isn't.

The past champions isn't the major issue for me

It's the inviting people who win in the US and the US money list but ignore all the others beyond the Top 50

The Open for example has - Top 20 in the Asian money list , PGA winners , etc etc - where as it doesn't gain entry into the Masters - yet win the Puerto Rico Open ( or comp along those lines ) and you're in.

 

[Deleted member 1740]

Yes it certainly is a major but I think the shambolic ticket situation and the limited live coverage needs to looked at, it's too much of a closed shop.

 

[HomerJSimpson]

I didn't think every PGA event carried Masters entry

 

[351DRIVER]

Its open to everyone, if you get into the top 50 in the world you are in...

 

[Deleted member 15344]

Its open to everyone, if you get into the top 50 in the world you are in...

And where are most of the ranking points based - on the US Tour , Majors , Fed Ex and WGC - lots of golfers play in the other tours but their events don't have the same amount of ranking points. So as you can see by the Top 50 most are playing on the US Tour.

 

[SugarPenguin]

Interesting thread. Never really thought about it before in all honestly.

It would be hard to strip The Masters as a major now. I kind of like the idea that its only played at Augusta compared to all the others on a rota. Mixes it up a little.
I have voted for yes but can understand why people vote no. Its my favourite major/tournament by far for some reason.

 

[Hobbit]

But we might have had other dramas instead - time to start moving on and freshening it up.

There will always be dramas, but I like my dramas to also include some of yesterday's heroes figuring on leaderboards.

As for freshening up, freshening up to what though? It will still be four rounds of stroke play with at least 50-70 of the best players in the world. Sometimes changing something is a fairly pointless exercise. In this case there isn't a great deal wrong with it.

 

[Deleted member 15344]

There will always be dramas, but I like my dramas to also include some of yesterday's heroes figuring on leaderboards.

As for freshening up, freshening up to what though? It will still be four rounds of stroke play with at least 50-70 of the best players in the world. Sometimes changing something is a fairly pointless exercise. In this case there isn't a great deal wrong with it.

And some will like their dramas to involve the current crop who are the future of the game

And in regards the inviting and selection criteria I believe there to be a great deal wrong with it

 

[Deleted member 18588]

Can't help but wonder how many potential contenders, never mind winners, are missing out under the current qualifying criteria.

Hard to think of any.

 

[Foxholer]

...
The Open for example has - Top 20 in the Asian money list , PGA winners , etc etc - where as it doesn't gain entry into the Masters - yet win the Puerto Rico Open ( or comp along those lines ) and you're in.

Er...What?!

Please show where that's an exemption/auto-invite!

PGA Winners get 5 year exemption/auto-invite same as they do for The Open!

And nothing wrong with exempting Winners of PGA events in the past year imo!

 

[Ethan]

Nobody qualifies they are invited? OK as per every other major

Mid Amateur is for over 25s not over 35s btw

You can always say, but why not invite them based on this or that, it will never please all the people

IF you are good enough you will get in, good enough is top 50 in the world

Nobody qualifies. it is an invitational event. Sorry, but that is the case. The two Opens have qualifying events of one sort or another. Joe Pro can pitch up at Walton Heath the Monday after the PGA and have a go. Michael Canpbell did that and won. The Open also has qualifying events on several countries.

 

[HomerJSimpson]

There will always be dramas, but I like my dramas to also include some of yesterday's heroes figuring on leaderboards.

As for freshening up, freshening up to what though? It will still be four rounds of stroke play with at least 50-70 of the best players in the world. Sometimes changing something is a fairly pointless exercise. In this case there isn't a great deal wrong with it.

Nothing wrong with those that are still competitive playing but some aren't and I do think it's a shame to see them struggle round for a score well over par. However, it is what it is, and has a special place in golf and I think however the event is structured and run it deserves the major status and golf is better for it. Always signals the start of the golfing season in my mind

 

[richy]

And some will like their dramas to involve the current crop who are the future of the game

And in regards the inviting and selection criteria I believe there to be a great deal wrong with it

Which current crop of future stars aren't going to feature this year?

 

[Deleted member 15344]

Can't help but wonder how many potential contenders, never mind winners, are missing out under the current qualifying criteria.

Hard to think of any.

Just a few Europeans missing that could challenge

Molinari
Fleetwood
Pepperall

Other players like Levy

Top 200 are littered with players that could mount a challenge