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Carlyle Rood

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The "Sixth" Major
« on: May 10, 2009, 01:00:21 AM »
There are four major championships in golf--not five.  That being said, if we are willing to entertain the idea that The Players is golf's "fifth major," what might be golf's sixth major?  That is, what is the 6th most prestigious event in golf?

Carlyle
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Ben Sims

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Re: The "Sixth" Major
« Reply #1 on: May 10, 2009, 01:11:42 AM »
Carlyle,

Good question.  I'd say it's between The Tour Championship (this year at East Lake) and the FBR at TPC Scottsdale.  Both are prestigious in their own right.  The edge probably goes to The Tour Championship over FBR based on it being the Fed Ex cup conclusion.
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Matthew Rose

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Re: The "Sixth" Major
« Reply #2 on: May 10, 2009, 01:21:25 AM »
Memorial, Firestone, other WGC event maybe?
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Matt Varney

Re: The "Sixth" Major
« Reply #3 on: May 10, 2009, 01:24:48 AM »
I was thinking the same thing -

Memorial, Firestone, Quail Hollow, AT&T at Congressional

Great fields of players and huge purses bring the best!
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Phil_the_Author

Re: The "Sixth" Major
« Reply #4 on: May 10, 2009, 03:49:31 AM »
US Public Links Championship...

By the way, If you're gonna count the Players as a major then Tiger just lost ground on Jack...
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Kevin Pallier

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Re: The "Sixth" Major
« Reply #5 on: May 10, 2009, 06:35:30 AM »
5th = US Amateur
6th = British Amateur
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Mike_Clayton

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Re: The "Sixth" Major
« Reply #6 on: May 10, 2009, 06:41:24 AM »
Why would anyone possibly want another major championship in America?
Clearly if there is to be a 5th major - let alone a 6th - it needs to be a significant event on great courses that moves around the world - not around America.
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Chris Kane

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Re: The "Sixth" Major
« Reply #7 on: May 10, 2009, 06:48:52 AM »
Quote from: Kevin Pallier on May 10, 2009, 06:35:30 AM
5th = US Amateur
6th = British Amateur
Kevin, I'm always amused when golfing traditionalists try to suggest that modern amateur championships are at such a level.  They simply aren't - how many players players in last year's US or British Amateur would be amongst the top 100 players in the world?

They mattered in Bobby Jones' day, because there were fantastic players who never turned professional.  The amateur championships had good fields.  Now any kid who can get the ball airborne is a pro by 23.
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Kevin Pallier

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Re: The "Sixth" Major
« Reply #8 on: May 10, 2009, 07:27:24 AM »
Chris

I sill believe that the respective US and British Amateurs are very prestigous events.

More Amateurs play golf than the pro's and after the professional Majors surely one wouldn't mind the title of Amateur champion next to their name ?
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Tim Bert

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Re: The "Sixth" Major
« Reply #9 on: May 10, 2009, 08:18:06 AM »
I don't think there really is a 5th or 6th major.  That being said, I think the best is the WGC Match Play event since it draws the best players and uses a different format than the others.  You could make the case for it being ahead of The Players and even the PGA.  I wouldn't mind it being the 4th major.
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Rich Goodale

Re: The "Sixth" Major
« Reply #10 on: May 10, 2009, 08:33:50 AM »
Speculating about what might be the 5th or 6th or 7th or nth "Major" is as futile as arguing about what is the 8th Deadly Sin.  There are a helluva lot of great Sins out there, some of them even pretty new, but what's the point in arguing about whether Stupidity or The Cheater Line is more or less sinful than any of at least a dozen other worthy candidates?  There will be a "5th Major" if and only if somebody comes up with as good a collective phrase as "Grand Slam."  "Royal Flush" is a possibility, but the fact that is sounds more like an STD specific to the nobility, I doubt if it will ever fly.....
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Peter Wagner

Re: The "Sixth" Major
« Reply #11 on: May 10, 2009, 08:51:03 AM »
There is no "5th Major". 

There are four majors and that's it.  If not then I nominate the Skins Game as the 25th Major (er, well, when they come back from their one year break that is.).
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Garland Bayley

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Re: The "Sixth" Major
« Reply #12 on: May 10, 2009, 09:55:53 AM »
Heck Peter,

There aren't even four majors. There are three championships held on changing venues, and that limited field, private party, they hold in Augusta every year, which can't hold a candle to the quality of the grand slam Bobby Jones won in 1930. Bobby set the standard for major championshps. He won on courses that changed every year against players that were not given an indefinite invitation based on having won sometime in the distant past.

Tiger Woods little party at Sherwood could qualify as a major given the standard set by the Masters.

The 4th major I would like to see is one created by the professional tours of the world. It would rotate to locations around the world on a schedule something like, Australasia; the U. S.; Canada, Mexico, South America, Africa, and the Middle East; and Europe.
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"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

Chip Gaskins

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Re: The "Sixth" Major
« Reply #13 on: May 10, 2009, 10:23:01 AM »
Australian Open
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Jim Nugent

Re: The "Sixth" Major
« Reply #14 on: May 10, 2009, 10:41:15 AM »
The Ryder Cup
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Emil Weber

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Re: The "Sixth" Major
« Reply #15 on: May 10, 2009, 10:43:25 AM »
I'd say the WGC  MATCHPLAY because it would be the only matchplay-major.
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RJ_Daley

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Re: The "Sixth" Major
« Reply #16 on: May 10, 2009, 01:01:19 PM »
I can't believe you guys skipped over the prestigious Buda, KP and Dixie Cup events as worthy consideration for major golf events.
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Mark Pritchett

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Re: The "Sixth" Major
« Reply #17 on: May 10, 2009, 01:10:00 PM »
I would argue the Masters is indeed a major based on Garland's points.  It is not a championship of anything and yet it is a major.  The field size is small but it gives the tournament a greater meaning to those invited, produces solid winners, and when they return they add to the charm of the event-just like they do to at the beloved Open Championship.  Would the Masters be a more of a major if it were rotated to, oh I don't know say, PGA National, Atlanta Athletic, etc.?  

  
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Jon Wiggett

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Re: The "Sixth" Major
« Reply #18 on: May 10, 2009, 02:01:25 PM »
There is no need for a 5th major let alone one in the US. I vote for turning the USPGA back to a matchplay event.

Quote from: Rich Goodale on May 10, 2009, 08:33:50 AM
Speculating about what might be the 5th or 6th or 7th or nth "Major" is as futile as arguing about what is the 8th Deadly Sin. 

What about gorse removal Rich ;)

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George Pazin

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Re: The "Sixth" Major
« Reply #19 on: May 10, 2009, 02:34:35 PM »
Not sure what's sixth, but clearly Hartford is the 14th major, and I will drop the gloves with anyone who argues otherwise.

Just as the Estoril Open is the 53rd major, and the Johnnie Walker is the 27th, and...

If anyone is still paying attention, the GAP championship (can't remember what it's officially called) is the 217th major.

I have no idea what the Kings Putter is. Maybe Brent Hutto can figure it out.
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Big drivers and hot balls are the product of golf course design that rewards the hit one far then hit one high strategy.  Shinny showed everyone how to take care of this whole technology dilemma. - Pat Brockwell, 6/24/04

Chris Cupit

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Re: The "Sixth" Major
« Reply #20 on: May 10, 2009, 03:46:49 PM »
Quote from: Chris Kane on May 10, 2009, 06:48:52 AM
Quote from: Kevin Pallier on May 10, 2009, 06:35:30 AM
5th = US Amateur
6th = British Amateur
Kevin, I'm always amused when golfing traditionalists try to suggest that modern amateur championships are at such a level.  They simply aren't - how many players players in last year's US or British Amateur would be amongst the top 100 players in the world?

They mattered in Bobby Jones' day, because there were fantastic players who never turned professional.  The amateur championships had good fields.  Now any kid who can get the ball airborne is a pro by 23.

Just a question for the non-traditionalists.  When did the AMateurs stop being majors?  When Jones was winning them they counted.  When Palmer and Nicklaus were chasing Jones' record of 13 majors they counted.  They counted for SI in 1978 when Jack won Sportsman of the Year and at the time had 17 majors.  The NY Times counted them when Jack was on his march to break Jones' record.  In the 1986 Masters telecast more than one reference to Jack's 20th major is made so they counted then.

Then a phenom (who happens to be black) comes along and is on the cusp of breaking Jack's records and would be closer if Amateurs "still" counted and yet someone decides THEN, no let's not count those.  What gives?

I also think that by not counting Amateurs it gave some writers the chance to talk about Mickelson, O'Meara not having "majors" until they broke through .  BTW Sergio would have a major if AMs counted but it's a better story to say he is "majorless" isn't it?  (Come to think of it in his case maybe they shouldn't count ;)). 

If we belabor the point certainly the Western Open was a major for some time in its history and the Open Championship should have certainly lost its major status for a while anyway since there were times when none or very few of the best players competed in that as well.  The Masters must also be glad strength of field isn't what (alone) makes a major.

But back to my original question.  When did Amateur Championships stop counting as majors?  For extra credit, who decided and why? :D
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George Pazin

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Re: The "Sixth" Major
« Reply #21 on: May 10, 2009, 03:54:05 PM »
Quote from: Chris Cupit on May 10, 2009, 03:46:49 PM
For extra credit, who decided and why? :D

I'm pretty sure it was Matt Ward. As Golf Czar, he takes it upon himself to make all these sorts of judgment calls.

Thanks Matt!
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Big drivers and hot balls are the product of golf course design that rewards the hit one far then hit one high strategy.  Shinny showed everyone how to take care of this whole technology dilemma. - Pat Brockwell, 6/24/04

Chris Cupit

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re: The "Sixth" Major
« Reply #22 on: May 10, 2009, 04:01:11 PM »
Whoops.  I am sorry Carlysle I didn't mean to "threadjack".  My sixth major would be US Amateur preceeded of course byt the  Amateur.  For a professional major I'd say after the players  it would be nice to go outside the US and I am a traditionalist so I'll nominate both the Scottish and Australian Opens.
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PCCraig

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Re: The "Sixth" Major
« Reply #23 on: May 10, 2009, 04:17:00 PM »
Wow.... no love for the Western Open? It's the second oldest tournament in the US! And there is a big reason why Tiger played in it every year no matter what (prior to it being a FedEx tournament now). (
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H.P.S.

Chris Cupit

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Re: The "Sixth" Major
« Reply #24 on: May 10, 2009, 04:19:41 PM »
Pat--you are so right although I was trying to go outside the US.  The Western Open certainly was considered by many to be a major for a long time and I can assure you my uncle would love to have a "major" under his belt!
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