The Players=major?

[BASHERBAKER69]

The Players offers the most prize money on the PGA tour, more than any of the majors so that has to be taken in to consideration too.

[Elsfan]

Easy question. If it was a Major Sergio and Adam wouldn't have won it.

[Shindig]

The Players offers the most prize money on the PGA tour, more than any of the majors so that has to be taken in to consideration too.

I don't think prize money defines the majors. If the Masters announced that, in 2010, the prize money will match the purse from 1960, I doubt that anyone who would otherwise compete would stay home.

[iacas]

On more quick question: Eric what do you mean by "unless we lose the PGA or The Masters"? Just wondering--thanks.

Already answered by the other guy, but basically I meant that if Augusta National stops holding The Masters or if the PGA stops holding the PGA.

Neither of which are probably even 1% likely to happen in the next 50 years.

[RC]

I don't think you can manufacture a major and that what the Players is. There have been past attempts to create "special," a-notch-above, tournaments and years later, they had not achieved that status or were forgotten. I doubt the Players will be forgotten, it should stick around. But it will take a long time and will depend on the quality of the competitions and winners to determine it this really becomes the fifth major -- my opinion.

[flanagan]

Was just reading the other day how Jack Nicklaus' relationship with Deane Beman became strained because of Beman's promotion of The Players and its competition with The Memorial, particularly Beman's wanting The Players to be "a major".

It's not a major, there are four majors. The PGA was unsuccessful in creating one, and I think the PGA Championship has been a lot better in recent years, something that years ago was lacking, at least in some people's minds, and maybe that has helped stop the talk about whether The Players is or isn't a major.

[PEZGolf]

Doubtful, even though the Stadium course at TPC Sawgrass is one of the hardest on tour year after year. They gotta stick with just the four majors though, IMO, because guys like Arnie, Jack, Snead and the rest of the golfing legends only had four chances every year, and it would be unfair to them to add a fifth major. It would screw up all the stats, and stats are everything to a sports nut.

I agree with you. Sometimes, it is important to maintain history---such as four Majors. However, the Players is right behind them, with one of the strongest fields we see all year. It is neat that it is held at the same course each year, just as the Masters is at Augusta. In that way, we become familiar with each hole, and not just the 17th. The list of past winners includes many who have won Majors, and that attests the difficulty of the event.

[bigfred31]

I've noticed a lot of hype about the Player's this year. I think I saw my first commercial for the players before the first for the Masters! Thats making me wonder, since there are majors in april, june, july and august, but none in may, not to mention the fact that majors are golf's biggest ratings grabbers and profit makers, is there any chance the PGA might be considering adding a fifth major within the next little while? And if so, would that be a good idea?

it does not have the history the other majors do. plus 17 is too gimmicky for a major.