The Masters - Is it the best major?

[Smithster666]

Reading an article in golf magazine today and there were 2 arguements why The Masters is and isnt the best major of the year.

Personally I think it is because I think the course is truly amazing and it gets better every year. The other arguement was that its played there every year but this can only be a good thing right? On such an amazing course.

What are your thoughts?

 

[Basher]

It's on telly in full this year...... therefore it's the best!

Beautiful course, usually nice weather, top class players. What more can be said?

 

[Aztecs27]

Nope. It shouldn't even be a major. It's always entertaining, and Augusta is a stunning course, but the other 3 majors are usually better entertainment (imho).

BUT it does kind of signal the proper start to the summer golfing season, so that makes it all the sweeter!

 

[stevek1969]

The Open is the best by a mile the Masters even tho it looks good is basically a putting competition on stupid greens,The Open you need every shot in the bag ask any pro which one thet'd rather win i'm sure they'd say The Open

 

[Smithster666]

Defently the best major for the viewer. Pitty Sky have there ways now and have the first 2 opening days as its a shame for the people that down on Sky.

 

[HomerJSimpson]

Definitely not the best for me. Invited field is a big minus although the surroundings and the course do make up for that and then some. I don't think it is the fairest test of golf either. For me The Open is the best although even then you could argue that get on the wrong side of the draw with bad eather and you can't win. Th US Open has got better in the last few years where they have stopped trying to trip up the course excessively with bone hard glass smooth greens and penal rough so close the fringes. The USPGA somehow doesn't have the cachet of a proper major (although Westwood or Monty would have it on their CV at any price) and it can produce an unexpected winner. The conclusion - Open for me but they all have their merits

 

[madandra]

It is special because it means its the start of our season.

The Masters is the best visual spectacle but The Open has the most prestige and history.

 

[Ethan]

For me, it is the least 'major' of the 4. It is a very pretty course, for sure, but it has a limited field, including many (amateurs, past champions, first tim players) with no chance to win. It further concentrates the likely number of winners because the length and design favours long hitters who hit high draws. I think there have been quite a few dull Masters events recently, nothing like the heyday (for me) of the mid 80s to mid 90s.

 

[DCB]

There's only one Major worth watching and that's The Open as covered by good old Auntie Beeb. Four days of almost continuous coverage.

Shame the Beeb spends most of it's golf budget on that one event and then uses the rest on F1

 

[Dodger]

Field wise it is the weakest of the 4 so no it's not the best.

Factor that and the fact that it is very much a 'horses for courses' course,then for me it is nowhere near the best Major.

 

[Smithster666]

Dont get me wrong The Open is amazing to and last year's was great and the year before that. Just something about The Masters that I really look forward to.

 

[MashieNiblick]

I do really like the Masters. Although the most recent Major it has great history and has provided some of my most memorable golf viewing (Nicklaus 86, Sandy Lyle's 7 iron from the bunker on 18, Woosie punching the air, Faldo holing from 60 feet in the gloom, Norman somehow contriving to lose again, etc. etc. - too many to list). It looks beautiful and it heralds the golf season.

But to me it will always be second to the Open, fickle weather and fickle bounces, and quite often these days a surprise winner, but it's our Major, the orignal golf championship played on the original courses.

However, I always get a sad feeling that the season is on the wane once the Champion Golfer for the year has been announced and the old Claret Jug has been handed over.

 

[brendy]

It is the biggest spectacle but not the most important. The open will always be more special, it's like the fa cup, plenty of stories being told and as mentioned every aspect of ability is examined. Still won't stop me sitting up each night watching. It's timing in April is perfect to get the juices going for us parkland holders as it heralds the start to our season.

 

[Society_Fan]

The best? Well it is fantastic.
I don't buy the negative bits such as invited field (it invites the best players in the world, those that might be the best in future years, and the previous best. I see nothing wrong with that and for me it adds on the event when Sandy Lyle has a great day and shoots in the 60s when some regular US Tour Pro shoots in the 80s.
I think I would go with the Open, but I would have the masters for many different reasons as a close second. I could not name a specific thing, but I get really excited in the run up to the Masters.

 

[Imurg]

Field wise it is the weakest of the 4 so no it's not the best.

Factor that and the fact that it is very much a 'horses for courses' course,then for me it is nowhere near the best Major.

Strewth - I'm agreeing with Dodger now!!

Is it Spring or something?

 

[Bacardibatman]

i like the masters alot but its not the best

its pretty, its good that working ppl get to watch alot of it, staying up late on the final day to watch the conclusion

not so good for alot of the reasons others have already posted, the field etc

the greens can make a very average shot become amazing 45-40 feet away and trickle and trickles to a cpl of inches

or a similar average shot end in the water



Its the blonde bimbo of majors pretty on the surface and yes you want it, but its not the deep "soul mate" of The Open you'd feel happier with for the rest of your life

 

[Marko77]

Dinnae think it's the best but it's certainly a great spectacle.

 

[Screwback]

Field wise it is the weakest of the 4 so no it's not the best.

Factor that and the fact that it is very much a 'horses for courses' course,then for me it is nowhere near the best Major.

Spot on dodger,

IMHO Open the best by far

 

[markonline1]

As an English guy, The Open is the most important major as far as I'm concerned, but The Masters is still pretty special as far as I'm concerned. Definitely the best viewing spectacle. My first memories of watching golf on TV were watching Sandy Lyle pick up the green jacket in 88. Since then, I've been hooked.

 

[Smiffy]

I do really like the Masters. Although the most recent Major it has great history and has provided some of my most memorable golf viewing (Nicklaus 86, Sandy Lyle's 7 iron from the bunker on 18, Woosie punching the air, Faldo holing from 60 feet in the gloom, Norman somehow contriving to lose again, etc. etc. - too many to list). It looks beautiful and it heralds the golf season.

But to me it will always be second to the Open, fickle weather and fickle bounces, and quite often these days a surprise winner, but it's our Major, the orignal golf championship played on the original courses.

However, I always get a sad feeling that the season is on the wane once the Champion Golfer for the year has been announced and the old Claret Jug has been handed over.

Great post and fully endorses my own personal feelings.
If I think of some of the great golfing moments over the years, the vast majority of them have happened at Augusta.
Mize's chip in, Faldo's relentless performance against Norman, Mickleson's shot last year out of the pine straw. I agree that the Masters shouldn't be a Major, but there is just something magical about it.
And again I agree with your comment about the Open heralding the close of another season. I always get sad on the last day because I know that the darker evenings are on the way and Autumn is just around the corner. My least favourite season.