Peter,
Interesting. Of course, RTJ did it with the US Opens at such places like Oakland Hills, too. Ross got relatively lots of attention before that. But, it does seem like each generation of archies gets a little more attention, just because there are zillions of news outlets on the web, TV, radio and still even in print that need content.
Most of the arguments/issues about gca seem the same from generation to generation, but the confluence of big money PGA stops, pros in architecture, etc. in the 1980's did seem to bring TPC to the forefront like few modern courses had been brought up before.
It would be an interesting discussion in itself....from our own admittedly faulty memories, what courses in each decade got the most ATTENTION, not were perceived as the best architecture. Actually sounds like an old SNL skit where contestants had to agree with what a teenager might answer, not the real facts......