The 17th hole is fun and draws in some viewers that otherwise might not have tuned into weekend golf coverage, but could you ever imagine such a monstrosity of a hole appearing at places like Augusta National, Pebble Beach, St. Andrews, Medinah, Merion, Baltusrol, Shinnecock Hills or Oakmont? Especially for the PGA of America, which eagerly migrated its own major to the vacant May slot in search of stronger TV ratings and better course conditions. This week, golf fans are getting an earful about "The Players." They're hearing what a great course it's played at, what a great field it has, and how it's just the teeniest bit shorter in stature than those "other" majors: The Masters, the U.S. Open, the Open Championship, and the PGA Championsh. Biggest purse. Its true that some tournaments have procured into majors, but this evolution isnt a drawn-out thing. Caddie Confidential -- Why the Players Championship really is a major. Other than when Tiger Woods won in 2013, final-round TV ratings remained flat (low to mid 3s) during the first half of that stretch, then fell off dramatically before climbing to 3.6 in 2018. The 2022 Players Championship purse is the largest in PGA Tour history, up from $15m to a total of $20m - $7.5m more than the US Open, which is the biggest purse of the four Majors. Especially for the PGA of America, which eagerly transferred its own major to the vacant May slot in search of stronger TV ratings and better course conditions. Our verdict on the latest version of one of Srixon's most popular golf balls, By Kit Alexander The tournament began in 1934, and it is debatable as to when it was truly considered to be a major championship. However, this style of a hole is also not something that would ever be considered at a golf course where a major championship is held. So no, The Players Championship is not (and will never be) a major, and that is fine. First is the history. Nah. Heres why you can trust us. The vast majority of the top 100 players in the Official World Golf Ranking tee it up, unlike The Masters, which has an invitation-only field, and the . The other three majors are more than a century old. Sutton held a one shot lead over Woods on the final hole of the tournament and stepped up with a 6-iron fitting for the moment, closing the predatorial Tiger for his second Players Championship victory. While it is incredibly difficult to win, it actually turns out that The PGA Championship can claim the distinction of the hardest tournament to win (by a slight margin). Those two reasons are the Players Championship golf course and the tournaments history. Len Mattiace, a local Sawgrass resident, arrived at the 17th tee on Sunday afternoon in 1998 just one shot off the lead and was a Cinderella story waiting to happen. We and our partners use data for Personalised ads and content, ad and content measurement, audience insights and product development. If the players themselves insisted that its a major and embraced their own championship, theyd be playing for an additional $50 million a year, he said. The schedule shift also allowed for the move of the Players . Compared to other places where you can kind of put it on cruise control, he said. While some casual fans might enjoy the Player Championship even more than the majors, due in large part to the annual carnage seen on the 17th hole, the Players Championship is not and most likely will never be a major championship for two main reasons: The Players Stadium Course at TPC Sawgrass contains some fun, fan-friendly holes, but at the end of the day, the course is simply a quirky, made-for-TV track constructed in the middle of a Florida swamp. Wining The Players Championship in a hostile environment against tough competitors is no less a feat than winning any other major. In 2022, the prize purse was a whopping $20 million, with the winner taking home a cool $3.6 million. But to be the first one to defend here would be pretty cool. I dont think you ever need extra motivation when you come to this golf tournament, he said at his pre-tournament press conference this week. Tiger and Sergio went at it in 2013, both in the media centre and on the golf course. Already billed by some as the 'unofficial' 5th major, there is an increasing clamour from the games modernizers that this be made official. The iconic 17th hole at the Stadium Course, home of the Players Championship. Thread starter . BA1 1UA. This golf course can play so differently day to day based on wind direction, conditions. The tournament would be moved back to May in 2017 to better facilitate the positioning of the PGA Championship in August. Since 1982, The Players Stadium Course at TPC Sawgrass down in Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida has been the home of the Players Championship. An example of data being processed may be a unique identifier stored in a cookie. He would go on to take a drop and find the front bunker before blading his next shot into the water again. Hal Sutton produced one of the most iconic on-course moments when he went head to head with Woods in 2000. Tournaments have evolved into majors throughout the history of the game, but in each instance a tournaments major championship evolution has been rather quick. . The FedEx postseason derby, not the Players, has become the tours crown jewel. In fact, many golfing personalities believe, that the 17th hole at TPC Sawgrass is one of the defining factors why it has not and will never be considered a major. His tee shot flew over the island green and into the water. James joined Golf Monthly having previously written for other digital outlets. It restarts a long standing debate on whether it should be recognized as such or just remain ‘unofficial’. Go. The modern idea of the Grand Slam didnt begin to take hold until 1960, when Arnold Palmer won the Masters and U.S. Open, then lost by one shot at the Open Championship. If the Players did evolve into a major at some point, it would be the first time in history that a tournament became a major some 40 to 50 years after it was initially created, and at that point, what happens to all of the winners from the past 40 years? The U.S Open has another similar scenario where it was, almost immediately, considered a major straight after its first run in 1895. Whilst the argument of the Major setup can continue long into the night, one thing Im sure everyone can agree on is that the tournament needs to produce memorable moments and the Players Championship has done just that. The Players Championship has been around for 40 years and has been at TPC Sawgrass for 30 years, yet to this day it is still not considered to be a major championship. The 2022 Players Championship purseis the largest in PGA Tour history, up from $15m to a total of $20m - $7.5m more than the US Open, which is the biggest purse of the four Majors. But its place as a prize for the best who have ever played the game should be elevated. Down by a run with a man on in the eighth inning of Game 5 of the National League Championship Series, Bryce Harper unleashed one of his controlled, violent swings. Would their names be forgotten? It really is as simple as that. Golf Monthly is part of Future plc, an international media group and leading digital publisher. It had been a major because decades ago, the Tour players were in the PGA. The closing three-hole stretch rivals that of Amen Corner and the Bear Trap in terms of difficulty and spectator excitement, with many a Championship won and lost on those holes. The Players Championship doesnt fit the traditional bill of a major tournament. The debate over whether or not the Players Championship should be considered a major is as much a part of golf's spring tradition as the azaleas blooming at Augusta National and championship dreams coming to die in the murky waters surrounding the 17th green at TPC Sawgrass. (CNN) It is known as golf's unofficial "fifth major," but the Players Championship has an identity problem. Before stepping out onto the green and that first tee box, it might do you some good to refresh on the typical golf terms used. 2023 Rules Of Golf Updates: Everything You Need To Know, Nelly Korda & Lexi Thompson To Make History In QBE Shootout, Bubba Watson Makes Bold Claim About PGA Tour Appearance Fees, 10 Amazon.co.uk Gift card when you subscribe, Expert golfing tips, reviews, news & interviews, Try a single issue or save on a subscription, Issues delivered straight to your door or device, Winners of PGA Tour events since last Players, Top 125 from previous season'sFedEx Cuppoints list, Players Championship winners from the past five years, The Tour Championshipwinners from the past three years, World Golf Championshipwinners from the past three years, Top 50 from theOfficial World Golf Ranking, Korn Ferry Tourmoney leader from prior season, Money leader during theKorn Ferry Tour Finals, if not the regular-season money leader, Top 10 current year FedEx Cup points leaders, Remaining positions and alternates filled through current year FedEx Cup standings. Its one of those courses where you feel so uncomfortable and unconfident with a one-shot lead or two-shot lead even with a few (holes) to go. He would go on to win the three-hole aggregate playoff and claim the biggest victory of his career to date. Big picture? Continue with Recommended Cookies. "The swing of . The list of champions since 1982 doesnt stand up to the same champions of the four major tournaments. It has been running for close to 50 years already, and 40 of them have been at TPC Sawgrass. In fact, the media and only the media determines which tournaments qualify as a Major in their eyes. In 1968 the Tour players broke away from the PGA, such that the PGA Tour and the PGA are entirely separate entities. The Western Open was once considered a major. Its hard to imagine purses rising another $50 million without some form of outcry from corporate sponsors and other financial backers who have remained loyal to the Tour over the years. However, The Players Championship, which was canceled after one round on March 12, won't be one of them. The LPGA and the PGA Tour Champions each have five majors and both suffer for the fact. A true "Stadium Course," the championship-caliber . The Players champion will take home a record $3.6m, the largest in tournament history. The PGA Championship followed suit in 1916, while the Masters is the youngest of the four majors, beginning in 1934. The latest in the sports world, emailed daily. With all the talk of Woods being past his prime, shouldn't winning a challenging tournament with the largest purse in the US and . Its an obvious accommodation to the FedEx Cup playoffs, which now finish in August to avoid competing with the almighty NFL for television viewers. Those two reasons are the Player's Championship golf course and the tournament's history. He entered the 17th hole on Saturday afternoon tied with Vijay Singh and three behind leader Jerry Kelly. We arent saying that The Players Championship wont be considered a major someday it would be silly to rule it out completely. The winner of the Players Championship is awarded 80 points against the 100 for a Major championship. Jason Day had a four-stroke advantage to win the Players Championship at Sawgrass last year. A Pete Dye original if ever there was one, TPC Sawgrass has been tweaked several times over the years, resulting in a layout that rewards a conservative, connect-the-dots style of play. The Players Championship has the largest purse in golf and arguably the best field in the world, including the four major championships. He is also an avid collector of memorabilia; with items from the likes of Bobby Jones, Tiger Woods, Francis Ouimet, Arnold Palmer, Lee Trevino, Adam Scott and Ernie Els. To view the purposes they believe they have legitimate interest for, or to object to this data processing use the vendor list link below. Often known as golf's "fifth major". But the tournament is still not a major, and here is why. 1 of 3 Go to page. In this history of golf, each time that a tournament has turned into a major, it has been done with haste. In short, it’s not. The 17th is a quirky gimmicky hole that has now become the face of the Players Championship, and although the hole may be popular amongst fans, its also one of the main reasons why the Players Championship will never be considered a major. The Players Championship was originally played in March before it was rescheduled to May in 2007 following the introduction of the FedEx Cup and the season closing, Tour Championship. The football team has not had a national championship since 1954 and has not captured a Pac-12 title since 1998. Its most noteworthy feature is a gimmick, the par-three 17th Island Green surrounded by a man-made lake. And, whichever side you lean to, at least now youll know the reasoning behind the Players Championship being kept off the major circuit. The AmazingCre Portland Classic. By the early 1950s, there was no question as to its status and it has been one of the four majors ever since. The PLAYERS may no longer be the fifth major. He's the reason the Players Championship exists, a big reason the Tour he once governed has evolved into a money-making machine for the men fortunate enough to play the game at its highest. Although some folks would like to declare every tournament Woods enters as a major, current commissioner Jay Monahan seems to have the vision and pragmatic sensibilities needed for the tour to strengthen itself through its other properties. In truth, no, the Players Championship is not golfs fifth major, but that doesnt stop people from calling it such. There is no fifth major because the game has done pretty damn well with four. The question arises because it is becoming harder to find reasons why this. The Masters is the youngest of the four majors and wasnt really considered a major right from the start. James grew up on the east coast of England and is the third generation of his golfing family. The Players Championship prize purse is one of the biggest reasons why so many people believe it is already a major. This article will highlight the reasons why the Players Championship is not considered a major golfing tournament even though it has a healthier purse and field than all of them (and that includes the Masters). Bobby Jones Grand Slam in 1930 consisted of the U.S. A major reward for the tournament, you could say. The course is fairly short by PGA Tour standards, which means that guys like Tiger Woods and Phil Mickelson can navigate their way around the course while taking a driver out of their bags no more than two-to-three times per round. Basically, it all comes down to viewership. The Players Championship should be a Major After a shake-up in the Major calendar in the last couple of years with COVID issues and the PGA Championship moving to May, it's time to add The. The PGA Tour has its own championship tournaments now. PONTE VEDRA BEACH, Fla. - A dozen years before Justin Thomas won the Players Championship last March, he won the AJGA's 2009 Wyndham Invitational and earned a berth into the PGA Tour's Wyndham Championship. if(typeof ez_ad_units != 'undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[250,250],'ourgolfclubs_com-banner-2','ezslot_8',164,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-ourgolfclubs_com-banner-2-0');report this ad, https://ourgolfclubs.com/author/lukegriffin/, link to Golf terms you should know (or probably forgot). Why wasnt it made a major all those years ago? The Players Championship was first played in 1974 and has never been cancelled. But it's still a great tournament, thanks to its strong field, its designer and it's money. There are two main reasons why the Players Championship is not considered (and never will be considered) a major on the PGA (Professional Golfers Association) Tour. Once the Tour broke off, the PGA Championship no longer is that. The intricacies of the course dont particularly give any player an advantage, and here is another oddity of the tournament: no player has ever successfully defended his title. 101,145 people like this. As for the notion that you add a fifth major because the LPGA and the seniors did it, well, Beman is a smart man, but hes also a company man. Biggest purse. End of storyuntil next May, when we once again begin debating whether the Players Championship is golfs fifth major. And what would happen to the winners of the last 50 years? Travis Sawchik. For more golf news, insight and analysis, check out The Tour Report. Its not like these guys are standing in breadlines. The course was purpose-built with the Players Championship in mind and opened its doors in 1980, two years prior to the inaugural hosting of the event. The (lower-case) players believe the tournament is prestigious, and the PGA Tour does everything it can to make them feel that way about their flagship event. Full Leaderboard . The Players Championship is indeed a significant tournament. That is primarily because of the inclusion of a large number of club professionals. The debate that has been raging on for decades is showing no signs of slowing down. The qualification criteria is geared towards having the most in-form players on the start sheet. Official page of THE PLAYERS Championship, the PGA TOUR's flagship event held at TPC Sawgrass March 8 - 12, 2023. The PGA organized all the Tour events. As it is, theyre leaving all that money on the table. On Thursday, the next three tournaments on the LPGA Tour - including the first major of the year - were postponed . Youd never seen him pull those shenanigans that at Augusta.) It's a money grab, and golf fans shouldn't fall for it. That fifth major claim has been going on since Deane Bemans days as PGA Tour commissioner, a hollow boast in that golfs most important events need not and cannot anoint themselves. (Photo by Cliff Hawkins/Getty Images). Schupak: The case for why Junior Players champ Benjamin James should be teeing it up with Justin Thomas in the 2022 Players Championship. 100 PGA TOUR Blvd. The list of champions since 1982 looks more like a list you might expect to see at a high quality PGA Tour event or possibly even a World Golf Championship, but certainly not a major championship. Four major championships par-three 17th island green surrounded by a man-made lake a cookie out completely Player & # ;! For close to 50 years already, and here is why the FedEx postseason derby, the... And find the front bunker before blading his next shot into the.! Ads and content, ad and content measurement, audience insights and development! 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