The Masters - A Major - Why?

[mab]

...

None of the above is important though. The PGA Championship is dead last and, as mentioned, playing Augusta is unachievable and would be the first choice of course to play for the majority of people imo.

 

[SyR]

The Open and the Masters are true majors for me. I like the fact the Masters is always at Augusta and that the greens are fast and undulating. If they took away the fast, undulating greens it would blur into the venues used for the PGA and US Open.
I do feel that either a 5th major should be created for rest of world or the PGA is replaced with a rest of world major.

 

[JustOne]

The Masters, therefore should not really be considered a major until the 1980s. Before that it was just a regional Tour event and many of the winners in the early years did not play against anything like the best fields.

So Jack really only has 13 major wins to Tiger's 14?

 

[Ethan]

So Jack really only has 13 major wins to Tiger's 14?

No, silly. Any event Jack won is a major. The Portland Open in 1963 should be considered a major too.

 

[patricks148]

The Open without a doubt is the major to win imo. The master is all well and good ad I enjoy watching it, but to me it looks like playing golf around a botanical garden.

I’m also never, ever going to be able to get a game at AN, where as I can rock up at most Open venues within reason pay my cash and play.

For me this makes the open the competition for you everyday golfer, and not just your super rich elitist set.

 

[SwingsitlikeHogan]

I’m also never, ever going to be able to get a game at AN, where as I can rock up at most Open venues within reason pay my cash and play.

For me this makes the open the competition for you everyday golfer, and not just your super rich elitist set.

The above being just two factors that made me ask the question - and a few others have been raised here already. Tradition is one thing that may justify it's continuing status as a major; that for many it is top of their 'to-play' wish list is not in my view another. Besides - you can wish as hard as you want but you'll never play it.

 

[stevie_r]

I am, perhaps, being taken too literally.

At your golf club, if you were to pin up a list of all courses ever played in the Masters / Open / US Open / PGA and asked every member of your club to tick the course they would most like to be taken to this weekend to play for free... I believe Augusta would be the most ticked course.

If, the following week, you asked every member... assuming they weren't annoyed that you didn't deliver on your promise the week previous... which course they would most like to be taken to the following weekend to play for free, then the ticks for all previous Masters / Open / US Open / PGA courses would be reduced as the total number of course options has increased. However, I still believe Augusta would be the most ticked individual course.

I may be wrong. It's just an opinion.

You shouldn't assume that everyone feels the same as you about Augusta, it is a massive assumption given the number of courses that have hosted the other three majors.

Yes it's a magnificently presented course, looks very pretty but might as well have a big windmills and stuff on some of the greens. Would I like to play it? - tee to green yes. Is it top of my unachievable bucket list? no.

 

[DappaDonDave]

I agree it shouldn't be 3 USA 1 UK. But keep the masters do we need two US titled tournaments. Why not a World Open?... Let everyone see the great courses from countries unknown.

However...I can't see a world open bringing in as much revenue as the yanks lap up the majors and spend silly money. Most yanks won't travel and the gaurenteed big crowds are lost...

 

[sev112]

Play them all purely on current rankings and you would soon find out that none of them are worth watching any more

It's not just the winner that matters and what makes a memorable tournament ; it is the fact that the so-called majors tend to be the comps where we find out this form is temporary and class is permanent . Cabrera, Langer and Couples, last week for example, Watson at every recent Open. It is also why the world ranking flat track bullies have long lists of tournament wins but no "majors" .
Go and ask Luke, Lee, Ian and Monty if they would like to win the Masters and why. I would love for them to do so. I'd be less impressed that they won the European flagship PGA.

 

[Deleted member 1418]

The masters has the weakest field, is played in Disneyland, and is an invitational run by old duffers.

If it was not a major, the players would still play because of the history, mystique, etc. it would still be on telly. It would still be beautiful to watch the manicured terrain, and it would still herald the start of the season.

It just shouldn't be a major.

Pretty much sums it up for me. However there is more chance of a 5th major being added than any change in status to the present four. As others have said, a major in Australia towards the end of the year would be fantastic.

 

[Yer Maw]

ANGC are Masters at creating the aura and status of an event that is played on the same course every year. The timing is perfect as everyone sees it as the season kick off, the course is immacualte and who cares if you or I can't play it, your average Joe tennis player can't get on centre court Wimbledon can they), the past champions means fans (patrons- more intelligent marketing), get to see some great past champions and perhaps autographs (they're not there with the chance to win), the challenge of the greens and strategy is what the players like, though it would seem this year they got the greens and surrounds wrong, whereas last year the fringes were fluffier and the greens less fast hence a great competition. The greens are it's last challenge as the bunkers aren't much with long bunker to green shots a farce so perhaps they will increase the height of some of the lips.
The fact that they are willing to alter the course over the years is also sensible in moving with the times. But the green jacket, trophy, lodges, umbrellas is all marketing aimed at retaining an aura. Next year I am sure we will see fluffier fringes and sensible green speeds.
We see The Open as the one and they will see the Masters or US Open as the one such is patriotism. However The Open at St Andrews trumps the Masters all the time and plenty of the past greats have stated this just so. So all you detractors of St Andrews think on and go figure. The best tournament in the world to win is right on your doorstep and you can all play it.

 

[sev112]

I like the idea of another major somewhere else, so the Players is out on my basis
But why Australia . Why not China, Korea, South Africa or Japan - all established golfing countries of the future