Majors- How important are they?

[sean_miller]

Originally Posted by MEfree

Quote:

Originally Posted by sean_miller

Unless it was one of Jeff Sluman, Paul Azinger, or Bob Tway with a pitch in from a bunker, then no, I don't know who won. I sure know it wasn't Greg Norman though.

Wouldn`t be hard to look up, but off the top of my head I think Jack won the Masters in 1986, but couldn`t tell you who won any other events.

IIRC, '86 was unique because the same guy had the 54 hole lead in all 4 and only won 1 of them - The Open Championship.

[Golfingdad]

Originally Posted by bwdial

Very few people remember who won the Shearson Lehman Brothers Andy Williams Open, Manufacturers Hanover Westchester Classic or Georgia-Pacific Atlanta Golf Classic in 1986.

Everyone remembers who won the PGA Championship in 1986.

Count me on the list of those who do not remember it ...

Originally Posted by k-troop

I don't know who won the PGA Championship in 1986.

... but I did look it up and ...

Originally Posted by sean_miller

Unless it was one of Jeff Sluman, Paul Azinger, or Bob Tway with a pitch in from a bunker, then no, I don't know who won. I sure know it wasn't Greg Norman though.

... Sean was right.

Originally Posted by MEfree

Wouldn`t be hard to look up, but off the top of my head I think Jack won the Masters in 1986, but couldn`t tell you who won any other events.

Yes, the '86 Masters is one I remembered as well.

But to BDWIAL's point ... maybe we don't specifically remember it as 1986, but we certainly remember Bob Tway beating Norman with the bunker shot, and we only remember it because it was the PGA.  Sadly for Tway though, we remember it mostly not because of him, but because of Greg Norman.  If D.A. Weibring or Doug Tewell (2 that finished that tourney in the top 10) were leading instead of Norman when Tway chipped in, I would argue that we would barely remember it at all.  Kind of like we remember the '03 PGA.  (Shaun Micheel over Chad Campbell, Tim Clark and Alex Cejka)

Bibliography note:  All of my info is from the almighty wikipedia.

[bwdial]

Bob Tway actually won all of those events.  Brocks and Turtleback must be at Bethpage watching the Barclays, because surely they would have known that.

When it comes to individual sports, "major" events define a career.  People remember who wins the Indianapolis 500 or Daytona 500 more than who wins at Milwaukee or Martindale.

[Golfingdad]

Originally Posted by bwdial

When it comes to individual sports, "major" events define a career.  People remember who wins the Indianapolis 500 or Daytona 500 more than who wins at Milwaukee or Martindale.

You are right.  And like k-troop said, they define a career whether you win one or not.  I just don't know how much it really matters to most professional athletes what "people" remember.  We, the fans, and the media as well, like to think about their legacies as the most important thing.  We all have an opinion as to when Michael Jordan or Rickie Henderson should retire to "protect their legacy," but maybe they don't care about their legacy and they just love to play and compete?

If I was a professional golfer, and had the choice between a career the likes of Steve Jones, Rich Beem, Todd Hamilton vs. a career of Colin Montgomerie, Lee Westwood, Luke Donald (assuming the latter 2 never win a major), I am taking the Brits over the Americans all day long.

I would rather compete successfully for a long period of time, than "get lucky" once ... no matter how big that one check, or how extra shiny that one trophy.

[k-troop]

Originally Posted by Golfingdad

If I was a professional golfer, and had the choice between a career the likes of Steve Jones, Rich Beem, Todd Hamilton vs. a career of Colin Montgomerie, Lee Westwood, Luke Donald (assuming the latter 2 never win a major), I am taking the Brits over the Americans all day long.

Monty is a Scot.  I'm sure any Scots on the forum are choking on their whisky at this very moment at your horrendous affront.

[Golfingdad]

Originally Posted by k-troop

Monty is a Scot.  I'm sure any Scots on the forum are choking on their whisky at this very moment at your horrendous affront.

I started to write "Englishmen" and then remembered Monty was Scottish, which is why I went with Brit.  I assumed that it referred to anybody from Great Britain  ... that's not the case??

[Fourputt]

Originally Posted by Golfingdad

I started to write "Englishmen" and then remembered Monty was Scottish, which is why I went with Brit.  I assumed that it referred to anybody from Great Britain  ... that's not the case??

Yes it is.  Some people just choose to be nitpickers.  Great Britain is comprised of England, Scotland, and Wales.  The United Kingdom also includes Northern Ireland with Great Britain.

[zipazoid]

The fallacy of this poll is, you're asking a bunch of amateurs (and a couple of teaching pros) about the importance of something that, really, only touring pros can answer.

In other words, it's totally moot how important we think the majors are. Ask the tour pros.

[MEfree]

Originally Posted by zipazoid

The fallacy of this poll is, you're asking a bunch of amateurs (and a couple of teaching pros) about the importance of something that, really, only touring pros can answer.

In other words, it's totally moot how important we think the majors are. Ask the tour pros.

I agree that touring pros might have a different take than us but opinions are like a-holes, everyone is entitled to one.

With that said, I would be interested to see what different touring pros thought- where is the best place to ask them?

[zipazoid]

Originally Posted by MEfree

I agree that touring pros might have a different take than us but opinions are like a-holes, everyone is entitled to one.

With that said, I would be interested to see what different touring pros thought- where is the best place to ask them?

Well, I'm not saying the question can't be asked here, just saying it's totally irrelevant what we think the importance of majors are.

As far as the place to ask the pros, they are asked often & repeatedly by the media, and from what I gather the majors are held in extremely high regard. A typical comment is along the lines of, a major win makes a career, would trade numerous wins for a major, and so on.

How that mathematically plays out (like this poll is trying to do), who knows? A major worth 4 or 5 or 10 regular wins...I would imagine it varies from pro to pro.

[ghalfaire]

Originally Posted by zipazoid

The fallacy of this poll is, you're asking a bunch of amateurs (and a couple of teaching pros) about the importance of something that, really, only touring pros can answer.

In other words, it's totally moot how important we think the majors are. Ask the tour pros.

I don't believe this.  I think the touring pros do care what the amateurs of the game think of them and their game.  If for no other reason it is worth money to them in endorsement if we think their game is superior.  Probably even worth more if we like because we perceive them as "nice guys" that can really play golf.

[zipazoid]

Originally Posted by ghalfaire

I don't believe this.  I think the touring pros do care what the amateurs of the game think of them and their game.  If for no other reason it is worth money to them in endorsement if we think their game is superior.  Probably even worth more if we like because we perceive them as "nice guys" that can really play golf.

I agree. But that's not what I said.

Didn't say pros don't care what amateurs think. I said amateur's opinion on the importance of majors is irrelevant. It's like asking guys at a pick-up basketball game how important the NBA Championship is. We can't comprehend the thinking of a pro cuz they are on such a different level than we are.

[Shorty]

Originally Posted by MEfree

I agree that touring pros might have a different take than us but opinions are like a-holes, everyone is entitled to one.

With that said, I would be interested to see what different touring pros thought- where is the best place to ask them?

You don't have to. You only have to look at any interview or comment made by any professional golfer with regard to majors.

Many never even get a chance to play in one, let alone contend.

They are what all players aspire to, once they reach a certain level.

Do you think Sergio Garcia's and Adam Scott's experiences and comments aren't giving you enough information. They are representative.

Or Kenny Perry a few years ago?

[dash1988]

majors are everything in my opinion you shouldnt be allowed to be world number 1 if you havnt won a major in both golf and tennis.

[dsc123]

Majors are important and all, but they don't make a career alone.

Do you think a guy who wins a major but no other tournament had a great career?  I think a guy like Stricker, Donald, and Westwood have.  Those guys will be remembered major or not.  I've never heard of most of the one time major winners the OP mentioned.

So I think a typical pro would prefer a career with 4 wins and no major to a career of one major win and no other wins.  But once you win 5-10 times, then it all becomes about majors.  Guys like Donald and Westwood would probably value it at 1:7 or something.

[Shorty]

Originally Posted by dsc123

Do you think a guy who wins a major but no other tournament had a great career?  I think a guy like Stricker, Donald, and Westwood have.  T

Nice as he seems to be and amzing as his resurrection was, I hardly think that Steve Stricker is going to be someone who is thought of very often once he retires.

Donald and Westwood will be remembered primarily as GPNTHWMs  - especially in the context of their European Tour victories and Donald's double.

[dsc123]

Nice as he seems to be and amzing as his resurrection was, I hardly think that Steve Stricker is going to be someone who is thought of very often

But you could say the same about guys who won a major and nothing else.

[zipazoid]

Somehow I just don't think Andy North has too many regrets in his career.