The Major season is far too condensed

Shiraz 4.99

It's an awful long wait between the USPGA & the following years Masters.
Granted the Masters needs spring & the US & British Opens need northern hemisphere summer.
They really need to look at having a South African/Australian major maybe around Christmas/New Year & axing the USPGA from Major status.

I realise I'm not the first person to propose this discussion but I'd like to hear the forum's opinion on this.

Jazzzman

Having a major in SA/Australia?

Nah, I'm not having that. It's a bit like having the World Cup in Qatar.

Senecio

This is the role that the WGC co-sanctioned events should be filling. The HSBC Champions is being held next week in China and the Cadillac championship is held early in March.

I question the role that the US PGA plays these days. The Masters will have be the Masters, The US Open is the game tester with the narrow fairways and long rough and the Open championship is an opportunity to keep a major this side of the Atlantic and to keep Links golf at the top of the game. The US PGA is just a poor man's Us Open.

saintastic

Senecio wrote: »

The US PGA is just a poor man's Us Open.

I generally think the USPGA is a trumped up PGA Tour event.

Golf Digest reported last year that have taking the USPGA abroad starting in 2020 if the idea takes off. I think having the USPGA in December in somewhere like Royal Melbourne would be fantastic. That course looked brilliant last week for the Asia Pacific Amateur Championship.

Slicemeister

With the amount of New courses in China I'd love to see one held there. Can only be good for the game with a huge audience on the doorstep.
End this western dominance of the Majors. Needs someone like Ecclestone or Barry Hearne to springboard the concept. What's to say there couldn't be 7 or 8 Majors- surely the sheen wouldn't be taken from a win, especially with top fields involved?

Shiraz 4.99

Slicemeister wrote: »

With the amount of New courses in China I'd love to see one held there. Can only be good for the game with a huge audience on the doorstep.
End this western dominance of the Majors. Needs someone like Ecclestone or Barry Hearne to springboard the concept. What's to say there couldn't be 7 or 8 Majors- surely the sheen wouldn't be taken from a win, especially with top fields involved?

Like 5 different champions never took the sheen off boxing.
Mother of jaysus.

death1234567

Slicemeister wrote: »

What's to say there couldn't be 7 or 8 Majors

Common Sense.

Sean_pop

saintastic wrote: »

I generally think the USPGA is a trumped up PGA Tour event.

Golf Digest reported last year that have taking the USPGA abroad starting in 2020 if the idea takes off. I think having the USPGA in December in somewhere like Royal Melbourne would be fantastic. That course looked brilliant last week for the Asia Pacific Amateur Championship.

Agree with you on the USPGA Championship. There is no reason why they cant move this somewhere else in the World.

However I think there should only be 4 majors championship. It would make them less significant if you start having 7 or 8 majors in a year.

It would also take away from the history of the 4 majors that already exist.

The Masters should never be played outside Augusta
The US Open cant be played outside America.
The British Open cant be played outside of Britain.

nomunnnofun

Sean_pop wrote: »

Agree with you on the USPGA Championship. There is no reason why they cant move this somewhere else in the World.

However I think there should only be 4 majors championship. It would make them less significant if you start having 7 or 8 majors in a year.

It would also take away from the history of the 4 majors that already exist.

The Masters should never be played outside Augusta
The US Open cant be played outside America.
The British Open cant be played outside of Britain.

Isn't this being played in Northern Ireland shortly? I know it is a bit pedantic but it isn't strictly Britain. Could the US open be played in Canada which is part of North America?

Sean_pop

nomunnnofun wrote: »

Isn't this being played in Northern Ireland shortly? I know it is a bit pedantic but it isn't strictly Britain. Could the US open be played in Canada which is part of North America?

Yes but Northern Ireland is under the British Empire which means it is still Britain. It has already been in Northern Ireland before

As for the US Open it is the United States Open Championship, therefore I don't think Americans would approve of it been been played outside the states.

GreeBo

nomunnnofun wrote: »

Isn't this being played in Northern Ireland shortly? I know it is a bit pedantic but it isn't strictly Britain. Could the US open be played in Canada which is part of North America?

Its part of the same state (United Kingdom of Great Britain & Northern Ireland)

United States is the country where the US open is played.

North America is the continent where United States & Canada are. (& 39 other countries)

RikkFlair

Just call it the PGA Championship and move it around the world. USA has 3 of the 4 majors, 2 is enough, its about time the international strength of world golf is recognised. The days of just a handful of non-USA players playing the Masters and US Open are long gone.

nomunnnofun

Certainly, it is part of the same state but it is not part of Britain and although it may be deemed British by some, so are many places around the world including a region of the Antarctic and the Cayman islands which is part of North America. Can't see The Open ever being played there..
I do agree though that US open will never be played in Canada or outside of US. Was just using it for arguments sake.

With regard to moving the PGA outside of US, I don't think this is necessary or would be good for golf. USPGA is the only major that is consistent with how golf is played 90% of the year round.

Augusta is a one off major of a different kind on a closed course
US open is played on courses manicured to their most difficult
The Open is generally played on Links
PGA is played on excellent different courses where players play consistent to other tour events. '' Hit high and score low'' .

Russman

I'm not sure events being designated as majors purely based on the relative strengths / weaknesses of the sport at a given point in time is a good idea. I think the current 4 bookend the meat of the season quite nicely, do we really need a 12 month long season ?

IMO, the 4 majors are the pinnacle and most important events, even if the tours came together and called some random event a major, I don't think anyone would really regard it as such (the winner might of course !). Its not like the ladies tour which essentially mixes and matches based on sponsors, they called the British Open a major a few years ago, and more recently decided the Evian could be one too - IMHO that's a joke.

The men's major events all have the history and tradition that makes an event a major. Yes, I know the SA and Australian Opens etc have great history, but they're still not majors and never will be. As far as I know nobody ever decided to give these events (the existing majors) the name "Major", its something that just evolved over the years.
Just like the WGC events, for all their strong fields, massive prize money etc., will always be a step below the majors, even though on paper they may well be better events. Its actually another reason I don't think pro golf should be in the Olympics, but that's another argument .

mike12

Sean_pop wrote: »

Agree with you on the USPGA Championship. There is no reason why they cant move this somewhere else in the World.

However I think there should only be 4 majors championship. It would make them less significant if you start having 7 or 8 majors in a year.

It would also take away from the history of the 4 majors that already exist.

The Masters should never be played outside Augusta
The US Open cant be played outside America.
The British Open cant be played outside of Britain.

As far as i'm aware it is the Open Championship not the British open so it can be played anywhere.

The PGA are looking at Portrush if the Open isn't played there. They are the ones that will eventually move from the USA i reckon and go every second year some where else in the world.

Sean_pop

mike12 wrote: »

As far as i'm aware it is the Open Championship not the British open so it can be played anywhere.

The PGA are looking at Portrush if the Open isn't played there. They are the ones that will eventually move from the USA i reckon and go every second year some where else in the world.

You are correct it is the Open Championship.

thewobbler

Let's look at this straight.

The golf authorities didn't create the majors. Neither did marketing people.

Both have a hand in furthering the ideal, but no person and no organisation can take control of or decide what it is that constitutes a major.

The best players of their time set this concept in motion many decades ago. And it will always be this way until the players decide they no longer want to be compared against Snead, Jones, Hogan, Palmer, Nicklaus, Ballesteros and Woods.

Which will never happen.

Embrace tradition. We all own it, and it's a wonderful thing.

Norfolk Enchants_

Sean_pop wrote: »

You are correct it is the Open Championship.

He is and he isn't, it still is the British open, rebranded as "The Open Championship" a few of years ago.
A clever move on the part of the RANDA it has to be said.

unattendedbag

The top golfers can't and won't play 12 months of the year. They plan their schedules and events so they reach peak performance during the majors. Come September and after the fed-ex cup or ryder cup they are only too glad to pack away the club's till late january bar playing the odd tournament to prevent rust setting in.

I agree with moving the pga championship to another country maybe on a bi-annual basis but it would have to go to a spectacular course and be a sell out.

Slicemeister

death1234567 wrote: »

Common Sense.

Very constructive. Save the thanks whoring for AH.

It's gonna happen, the likes of China, India maybe even Russia are going to get their major some day in the next 15 to 20 years. Their market potential demands it.

rrpc

Slicemeister wrote: »

Very constructive. Save the thanks whoring for AH.

It's gonna happen, the likes of China, India maybe even Russia are going to get their major some day in the next 15 to 20 years. Their market potential demands it.

They'll get a big championship to rival the likes of the BMW PGA or the WGC events but they won't have a major.

As thewobbler said, major status is something that only history can bestow.

callaway92

unattendedbag wrote: »

The top golfers can't and won't play 12 months of the year. They plan their schedules and events so they reach peak performance during the majors. Come September and after the fed-ex cup or ryder cup they are only too glad to pack away the club's till late january bar playing the odd tournament to prevent rust setting in.

I agree with moving the pga championship to another country maybe on a bi-annual basis but it would have to go to a spectacular course and be a sell out.

This pretty much.

Once Fed-Ex Cup is over, things are packed up till the new season bar the odd one to prevent rust setting in.

I like the way the majors are set up myself. There's enough WGCs worldwide to fit the gap while getting huge recognition. Having a major somehwere like China would devalue it way too much, from viewing figures to the culture difference. Anyway, I doubt at this stage the timing of majors will ever be changed again. From a fans' perspective, I love the way they seem bunched together. Once April hits I'm in full golf mode for about 4 months. Love it.

blackwhite

Norfolk Enchants_ wrote: »

He is and he isn't, it still is the British open, rebranded as "The Open Championship" a few of years ago.
A clever move on the part of the RANDA it has to be said.

It's always been called either "the Open" or "the Open Championship" on this side of the pond, and "the Open Championship" has always been the official name.

The PGA Tour used to refer to it as "the British Open" but once the R&A changed the entry rules to allow for qualification through wins of certain tournaments on the US circuit the PGA Tour have started using the official name.

saintastic

callaway92 wrote: »

Anyway, I doubt at this stage the timing of majors will ever be changed again.

The USPGA in 2016 is going to be moved to July because of the olympics but I agree with your point. It won't move but I would love to see it happen.

What about even moving the USPGA to January/February to have it in Australia? Would be a good way to start the season.

Norfolk Enchants_

blackwhite wrote: »

It's always been called either "the Open" or "the Open Championship" on this side of the pond, and "the Open Championship" has always been the official name.

Yes it would seem that way now, but it's actually a quite recent thing relatively speaking, as there used to be an English open.
The now "Open Championship" used to be known as the The British Open or "The British" for short if you like.
You are sorta correct about the Yanks, but it's more "the press" were trying to demean it as they tend to do with all things non US, the players (for the most part) and PGA always gave it the respect it deserved.

blackwhite

Norfolk Enchants_ wrote: »

Yes it would seem that way now, but it's actually a quite recent thing relatively speaking, as there used to be an English open.
The now "Open Championship" used to be known as the The British Open or "The British" for short if you like.
You are sorta correct about the Yanks, but it's more "the press" were trying to demean it as they tend to do with all things non US, the players (for the most part) and PGA always gave it the respect it deserved.

You'd want to check your sources.

The official names hasn't been changed - what the UK/European media may have colloquially referred to it as may have changed over the years, but the official name has always been "The Open Championship."

BigChap1759

Norfolk Enchants_ wrote: »

He is and he isn't, it still is the British open, rebranded as "The Open Championship" a few of years ago.
A clever move on the part of the RANDA it has to be said.

Where did you see that?

BigChap1759

Slicemeister wrote: »

Very constructive. Save the thanks whoring for AH.

It's gonna happen, the likes of China, India maybe even Russia are going to get their major some day in the next 15 to 20 years. Their market potential demands it.

I honestly don't understand this thinking - why does their market potential demand it???

By all means move one of the majors ie PGA to China once in a while but golf is a game of traditions adding majors with no pedigree or history will add nothing to the game IMO, quite the opposite.

The reason The Masters gives such anticipation is because it's been so long since the last major - the OP seems to be wanting year round majors, sorry but that isn't the game of golf I know.

Norfolk Enchants_

blackwhite wrote: »

You'd want to check your sources.

The official names hasn't been changed - what the UK/European media may have colloquially referred to it as may have changed over the years, but the official name has always been "The Open Championship."

I checked with my source and he said you should get your source to check back with his source as the information they are giving you may be fictitious.
The official name is "The British Open Chamionship" and always has been and I'd say it always will be, branding and merchandising in recent years has clearly moved towards "The Open Championship", and perhaps that's where your confusion lies.

BigChap1759

Norfolk Enchants_ wrote: »

I checked with my source and he said you should get your source to check back with his source as the information they are giving you may be fictitious.
The official name is "The British Open Chamionship" and always has been and I'd say it always will be, branding and merchandising in recent years has clearly moved towards "The Open Championship", and perhaps that's where your confusion lie.

I think you are wrong but happy to see something to back up your argument?

Norfolk Enchants_

BigChap1759 wrote: »

I think you are wrong but happy to see something to back up your argument?

I think you are wrong too and would be quite happy to see something to back up your claim aswell.

BigChap1759

Norfolk Enchants_ wrote: »

I think you are wrong too and would be quite happy to see something to back up your claim aswell.

OK Boss - have mailed The R&A, will let you know what they come back with

Norfolk Enchants_

BigChap1759 wrote: »

OK Boss - have mailed The R&A, will let you know what they come back with

Good lad, I look forward to the apology.

neckedit

Norfolk Enchants_ wrote:

I checked with my source and he said you should get your source to check back with his source as the information they are giving you may be fictitious. The official name is "The British Open Chamionship" and always has been and I'd say it always will be, branding and merchandising in recent years has clearly moved towards "The Open Championship", and perhaps that's where your confusion lies.

When do you believe this rebranding took place? I've always known it as "The Open Championship" My understanding is the Media, usually US based, called it The British Open not to confuse it with the US Open Golf Championship. I belive its been called The Open Championship since the second time it was played at Prestwick and it was decided the tournament should be "Open" to all players. if you you tube the older tournaments you'll see the Open Championship on the Score Boards or Flags. Normally depicting the Number i.e.
114th Open Championship.

Rikand

I always remembered it being "the British Open" long before I remember it becoming "The Open Championship"

arkslippy123

25 years playing and watching golf and it's always been refered to as "The open championship" in Europe. Americans call the US open "the open", and the Open as "British open", same as they refer to football as soccer, it's a localisation thing.

As for moving the majors, the Masters is privately run and dates set, the US open tends to fall on fathers day weekend in the US traditionally and they won't change that. The open is traditionally in that window of time as it's the best time for the mix of weather and coure changes.

The USPGA I've always liked as it has a lot of its own tradiations and most top players see it as the last chance to have a good year, and it tends to carry form from players peaking gfrom the Open, The weather chänge usually hits shortly afterwards and kind of marks end of summer, same as the masters does for spring.

As for moving the USPGA as a roving major, I'd be against that as it would weaken the fifield as lots of US and European players wouldn't want to play in Australia in the height of their Summer or Russia or China, especI ally if it means taking prestige from the US tour. Besides the whole "China and Russia potential" is pure bull. Their tour events are poorly attended and player bases are restricted to very rich people. It's not a public sport like here.

I would maybe create a bigger gap between the last two maybe.

GreeBo

arkslippy123 wrote: »

25 years playing and watching golf and it's always been refered to as "The open championship" in Europe. Americans call the US open "the open", and the Open as "British open", same as they refer to football as soccer, it's a localisation thing.

As for moving the majors, the Masters is privately run and dates set, the US open tends to fall on fathers day weekend in the US traditionally and they won't change that. The open is traditionally in that window of time as it's the best time for the mix of weather and coure changes.

The USPGA I've always liked as it has a lot of its own tradiations and most top players see it as the last chance to have a good year, and it tends to carry form from players peaking gfrom the Open, The weather chänge usually hits shortly afterwards and kind of marks end of summer, same as the masters does for spring.

As for moving the USPGA as a roving major, I'd be against that as it would weaken the fifield as lots of US and European players wouldn't want to play in Australia in the height of their Summer or Russia or China, especI ally if it means taking prestige from the US tour. Besides the whole "China and Russia potential" is pure bull. Their tour events are poorly attended and player bases are restricted to very rich people. It's not a public sport like here.

I would maybe create a bigger gap between the last two maybe.

I've never heard the US Open referred to as "The Open", always "US Open"
With the British you regularly hear both, though typically "The Open" is said by Brits.

FixdePitchmark

The British Open makes more sense.

I know that is wrong. But everyone knows what they mean.

People are a bit pedantic about it.

Slicemeister

Their app is known as The Open too

JasperGeorge.

The PGA tour seem to have the unintended consequence of a bottom-heavy schedule, in which two majors, a World Golf Championships event and four playoff events are crammed into the season’s final nine weeks, is that it is going to hurt the top. Players disappear between October when the season starts anew and the Florida swing in March. I would imagine golf pros find it tough and tiring. Playing so many events at that level in such a short space of time I imagine takes a toll.

But, look how poorly the FedEx Cup TV playoffs fared. All the biggest names (except Tiger) couldn't move the needle for the Tour's playoff scenario.

abff

Norfolk Enchants_ wrote: »

He is and he isn't, it still is the British open, rebranded as "The Open Championship" a few of years ago.
A clever move on the part of the RANDA it has to be said.

As far as I know, it's always been called The Open Championship and there's no question of the R and A rebranding it. The Americans refer to it as the British Open in order to distinguish it from the U.S. Open.

blackwhite

Norfolk Enchants_ wrote: »

Good lad, I look forward to the apology.

http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=2057329664





Time for some humble pie?

GreeBo

blackwhite wrote: »

http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=2057329664





Time for some humble pie?

Please dont try to stir, thanks.