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Doug Siebert

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Re:Heretical thought....
« Reply #25 on: April 09, 2006, 01:44:19 AM »
I fail to see how adding the 61st through 140th ranked players is going to make it a stronger field.  Those guys have little chance, and if one of them did happen to win then you'd hear the tournament/course criticized for allowing a Todd Hamilton to win.

Doesn't matter when the Players is contested, it isn't and will never be a major.  And if any of the current four majors ever loses its status, it will be the PGA, which has little to differentiate it from any other weekly tour event other than acting as a testbed for potential future US Open courses.
My hovercraft is full of eels.

Garland Bayley

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re:Heretical thought....
« Reply #26 on: April 09, 2006, 11:10:29 AM »
After seeing his run through the pre masters events, I think the masters is lacking in not having one of the hottest players on tour, Camlio Villegas, in the event.

I have to assume that those in favor of a limited field event are those who are criticizing letting a Todd Hamilton win. Todd bested Ernie in a playoff. I see nothing wrong with his win. Had Bob May bested Tiger at the PGA it would have been a win to celebrate too.

I fail to see how excluding the 61st through the 140th ranked players makes it a strong event.
"I enjoy a course where the challenges are contained WITHIN it, and recovery is part of the game  not a course where the challenge is to stay ON it." Jeff Warne

ed_getka

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re:Heretical thought....
« Reply #27 on: April 09, 2006, 11:57:24 AM »
I don't think Camilo should be in the Masters if he didn't qualify under some of the parameters they have. Who wants to see a "hot" player win the Masters, never to be heard from again. Not that they won majors, but think Tommy Tolles and Paul Stankowski.
"Perimeter-weighted fairways", The best euphemism for containment mounding I've ever heard.

Tom_Doak

  • Karma: +2/-1
Re:Heretical thought....
« Reply #28 on: April 09, 2006, 04:28:49 PM »
The tradition of The Masters is unlike any other and good for it; maybe somebody will learn something about golf history that way, even if Mr. Sarazen and Mr. Snead are no longer there to hit off first.

They could easily expand the field by 5-10 players if they wanted to and include some of the guys who "just missed" but everyone knows ought to be there ... if it weren't for the cries of foul from those they didn't invite.  They are playing it safe now by not making any invitations "discretionary," as opposed to 20 years ago when they were miles ahead of other championships in including deserving players from other nations.  The World Rankings have allowed other events to catch up in that regard.

On the other hand, part of the reason they limit the field is to limit the chance that some unknown guy will win the tournament, because too many unknown winners does not a major championship make.  But, anybody who thinks The Players Championship will replace The Masters in the top 4 tournaments needs a rest.

Wayne_Kozun

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re:Heretical thought....
« Reply #29 on: April 09, 2006, 06:39:48 PM »
There was much discussion a couple weeks ago about The Players lobbying to be considered a major and the most sensible argument (IMO) was that the event organizers do not make it a major. The competitors feelings and spectators attraction make it a major.
Who is there for them to lobby?  The press?  the Golf Channel?  You and I?  They certainly don't have to convince Tim Finchem.

ForkaB

Re:Heretical thought....
« Reply #30 on: April 10, 2006, 03:14:24 AM »
The Masters is the most fascinating "major" to watch, from both a competitive and architectural point of view.  The only other tournament that comes close is the (British) Open, but only if you live in Britain and can follow it real time/ful time on the BBC.  The Masters always has a few non-invitees that put the noses of their supporters out of joint for a few weeks, but this enhances the charm of the tournament and does not at all diminish it.  The best players in the world are all at Augusta, every year.  Just look at the leader boards.

PS--Tom Doak is right about the Players.  The only way it ever becomes a "major" is if the PGA Tour takes over the PGA Shirtfolders and the Wannamaker trophy sleeps with the fishes.  This will happen in our lifetimes--even Sir Bob's and mine. ;)

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