Should another one of the majors be played outside the US?

[mshills]

I would love to see a properly HUGE tournament at someplace like Royal Melbourne.  I don't know how you anoint it a "major" though.

 

For anyone saying The Players is on the same level of prestige as the PGA, I can't get with that, though I do think what once made the PGA unique was the long-gone match play format, and I do see it at the bottom of the four-major pecking order by a wide margin.

[smashdn]

How about this instead, the National Opens are better promoted so that collectively they all have a little more prestige and are better attended by the best of the best professional golfers?

 

Canadian Open

Irish Open

Scottish Open

Australian Open

Austrian Open

German Open (bring it back in both name and prestige)

French Open

Spanish Open

Italian Open

 

Make those your WGC-type events if you must if you must.

[clinkinfo]

8 hours ago, 4thand11 said:

Saw Paul McGinley make this point on golf channel yesterday.  3 of the 4 golf majors are in the USA.  Obviously US Open and Masters have to be in the US but he suggested having an international rotation for the PGA. 

 

I think it makes sense.  If you look at the tennis majors they are all in different countries.  I wouldn't want 3 of the 4 tennis majors in different US cities.

 

 

Very simply, no.  Why would the US give away one of the golf majors?  Because of the other tour being waved about?  I don’t see the point, no one is really asking for that type of a setup, so why do it?

[bladehunter]

Absolutely not.  I mean good grief.  Build up the current tournaments outside the US first.  

[miamistomp]

 Bring back the Western Open !

[GolfTurkey]

3 hours ago, Ferguson said:

 

What about Australia is British? 

 

 

 

Sadly more than most people realise.
 

Australia is (rather ridiculously) a constitutional monarchy with Queen Elizabeth II as head as state. We have a Governor General at the federal appointed by the queen and each state has a governor with reserve power (ie they can block legislation or whatever). They’re mostly ceremonial appointments but have on very rare occasion exercised their power.

 

It’s only a matter of time until Australia becomes a republic, but until then Australia should clearly get to host the Open for the indignity of having a Pommie as head of state, plus host the US Open as reparation.

[miamistomp]

2 hours ago, GolfTurkey said:

Sadly more than most people realise.
 

Australia is (rather ridiculously) a constitutional monarchy with Queen Elizabeth II as head as state. We have a Governor General at the federal appointed by the queen and each state has a governor with reserve power (ie they can block legislation or whatever). They’re mostly ceremonial appointments but have on very rare occasion exercised their power.

 

It’s only a matter of time until Australia becomes a republic, but until then Australia should clearly get to host the Open for the indignity of having a Pommie as head of state, plus host the US Open as reparation.

 We are still not paying you for the tea !!!

[tiderider]

3 hours ago, smashdn said:

How about this instead, the National Opens are better promoted so that collectively they all have a little more prestige and are better attended by the best of the best professional golfers?

 

Canadian Open

Irish Open

Scottish Open

Australian Open

Austrian Open

German Open (bring it back in both name and prestige)

French Open

Spanish Open

Italian Open

 

Make those your WGC-type events if you must if you must.

that's not the worst idea ... 

[tiderider]

2 hours ago, GolfTurkey said:

Sadly more than most people realise.
 

Australia is (rather ridiculously) a constitutional monarchy with Queen Elizabeth II as head as state. We have a Governor General at the federal appointed by the queen and each state has a governor with reserve power (ie they can block legislation or whatever). They’re mostly ceremonial appointments but have on very rare occasion exercised their power.

 

It’s only a matter of time until Australia becomes a republic, but until then Australia should clearly get to host the Open for the indignity of having a Pommie as head of state, plus host the US Open as reparation.

[Hawkeye77]

4 hours ago, mshills said:

I would love to see a properly HUGE tournament at someplace like Royal Melbourne.  I don't know how you anoint it a "major" though.

 

For anyone saying The Players is on the same level of prestige as the PGA, I can't get with that, though I do think what once made the PGA unique was the long-gone match play format, and I do see it at the bottom of the four-major pecking order by a wide margin.

The Presidents Cups have been pretty big, and always enjoy seeing the course when it hosts. 
 

PGA Championship has been playing great venues and often the toughest field of the majors. I’d rather watch it and always have the last 20 years vs. U.S. Open setups. 

Edited May 24, 2022 by Hawkeye77

[Greg_B]

2 hours ago, miamistomp said:

 Bring back the Western Open !

What happened to the Western Open was a tragedy.  It was one of my favorite events to watch on TV for years, first when it was at Butler National and then at Cog Hill, two great courses.  It always felt like a big event, just a bit below a major. Now Chicago is out in the cold.  

[Hawkeye77]

3 minutes ago, Greg_B said:

What happened to the Western Open was a tragedy.  It was one of my favorite events to watch on TV for years, first when it was at Butler National and then at Cog Hill, two great courses.  It always felt like a big event, just a bit below a major. Now Chicago is out in the cold.  

It really is a shame and you are correct, it was a biggie but not on the level of the four majors for nearly 80 years. 

[widow-maker]

The PGA can hold their Championship anywhere they want.  It's up to them.  I'm pretty sure they've already discussed those possibilities and they keep picking venues in the US.  

 

There should never be a 5th Major.  It would cheapen the accomplishment.   The Players Championship, the Tour Championship,  the Ryder Cup... there's nothing wrong with those events just the way they are.  It's hard to win a Major because you only get 4 chances per year.  There is a lengthy history to it.  

[SE Gamer]

12 hours ago, Hawkeye77 said:

This comes up often and of course, no.

 

It's the PGA of "America" and there is absolutely no reason for it to be played overseas.  

 

 

 

Agreed. As a matter of fact, they should move The Open Championship here. 😆

[HappyGilmoresBoots]

12 hours ago, jmcm87 said:

Just play it on better courses. #hottakeoftheday

And then we can roll back the ball...er...the driver?  Maybe the course itself?  Maybe make the golfers play with sticks tied to their arms?

[buckeyefl]

13 hours ago, 4thand11 said:

 

 

Obviously the PGA is an American organization... however golf is now a global game and it seems odd that 3 of the 4 majors are in the US.   How about instead of the FedEx Cup snoozefest they have a 5th major, played internationally?   LPGA added the Evian in France to the major rotation, and I think it was a welcome addition, on a very scenic and interesting golf course.  Is it so crucial that a major be held in Rochester NY, rather than somewhere in the rest of the globe?

 

Also regarding the PGA being run for the benefit of club pros...  I don't see why a golf major should be scheduled to benefit club pros who are no factor in the actual tournament?  They could fly the club pros off to Europe or Asia or South America, no?  It's still an international field in the tournament so why is it so crucial that it be played on US soil?

How about no.

[MattyO1984]

In theory, having one of the three US majors held outwith the US sounds great. My concern is how it would work out in practice.

[iBanesto]

21 hours ago, 4thand11 said:

Saw Paul McGinley make this point on golf channel yesterday.  3 of the 4 golf majors are in the USA.  Obviously US Open and Masters have to be in the US but he suggested having an international rotation for the PGA. 

 

I think it makes sense.  If you look at the tennis majors they are all in different countries.  I wouldn't want 3 of the 4 tennis majors in different US cities.

 

Tennis has majors in the UK, France, Australia and US is because those countries have had a long tradition and history since the inception of tournaments.

 

[Cincy_Ken]

8 hours ago, widow-maker said:

The PGA can hold their Championship anywhere they want.  It's up to them.  I'm pretty sure they've already discussed those possibilities and they keep picking venues in the US.  

 

There should never be a 5th Major.  It would cheapen the accomplishment.   The Players Championship, the Tour Championship,  the Ryder Cup... there's nothing wrong with those events just the way they are.  It's hard to win a Major because you only get 4 chances per year.  There is a lengthy history to it.  

Wholeheartedly agree.  I'm glad that there's never really been a push for it. As much as I love the Players with the uniqueness of TPC Sawgrass it allows for anyone who's playing well to have a chance and their champions list is just not the caliber of major championships.  Lots of great winners but a decent percentage of Perks, Choi, Funk, etc.

[MattTheTaff]

I would be happy for the Masters and the PGA to lose their Major status.

 

Have one tournament rotating courses in Asia and another tournament rotating courses in in Australasia/Africa.

 

and The Open Championship to expand to courses all over Europe, with the Masters being just another stop on the US open rota.

 

Flame away...

Edited May 24, 2022 by MattTheTaff

[rblmp32]

16 minutes ago, Cincy_Ken said:

Wholeheartedly agree.  I'm glad that there's never really been a push for it. As much as I love the Players with the uniqueness of TPC Sawgrass it allows for anyone who's playing well to have a chance and their champions list is just not the caliber of major championships.  Lots of great winners but a decent percentage of Perks, Choi, Funk, etc.

 

Majors have their fair share of no namers winning too.  Shaun Michel, Rich Beem, Ben Curtis, Todd Hamilton?    Random guys winning isn't a characteristic of the Players, it happens in majors too.  

[bladehunter]

29 minutes ago, MattTheTaff said:

I would be happy for the Masters and the PGA to lose their Major status.

 

Have one tournament rotating courses in Asia and another tournament rotating courses in in Australasia/Africa.

 

and The Open Championship to expand to courses all over Europe, with the Masters being just another stop on the US open rota.

 

Flame away...

The masters is the southern US major.  We rarely see one otherwise unless it’s pinehurst ( boring ) or the once a 10 years Kiawah.  
 

taking that away alienates one of the largest golf populations on earth.  Makes no sense from a game or $ standpoint.  Remove the event that sees the most interest and the largest ticket prices.  

Edited May 24, 2022 by bladehunter

[BlackDiamondPar5]

43% of the world's courses are in the USA. The highest proportion anywhere in the world, so it makes sense that 3 of 4 majors is held here. 

 

Any tournament in consideration for a global rota should be the British Open/The Open. By being global it would remove all doubt about the name being The Open since it would no longer be regularly played on or so close to British soil 🙂

[MattTheTaff]

25 minutes ago, bladehunter said:

The masters is the southern US major.  We rarely see one otherwise unless it’s pinehurst ( boring ) or the once a 10 years Kiawah.  
 

taking that away alienates one of the largest golf populations on earth.  Makes no sense from a game or $ standpoint.  Remove the event that sees the most interest and the largest ticket prices.  

The masters being a 'southern'  US major is not really an argument. You have a national major.

 

Anyway, it was a suggestion. It will never happen.

[bscinstnct]

1 hour ago, MattTheTaff said:

I would be happy for the Masters and the PGA to lose their Major status.

 

Have one tournament rotating courses in Asia and another tournament rotating courses in in Australasia/Africa.

 

and The Open Championship to expand to courses all over Europe, with the Masters being just another stop on the US open rota.

 

Flame away...

 

I think the majors being “majors” developed over decades. First with the Open and US Open. Then the Masters and PGA being the most coveted titles after that. 
 

I don’t think they could declare the Masters or any other of the four to not be a major. 
 

The masters would still be the most desired major by the pros and biggest golf tournament for golf fans. 
 

But the idea of the pga being hosted by other countries would be interesting. Just hard to see how it would come to be

Edited May 24, 2022 by bscinstnct

[mikedellgolf]

23 hours ago, Cincy_Ken said:

3/4 majors feels appropriate for the percentage of golfers, interest, and tour events that are US based.  Regardless the PGA of America probably isn't going to host events outside of America.  Nor is the United States golf Association.  A 2nd non-US major would have to be a 5th major.

 

Oh yes, it will if someone is willing to pay A LOT of money for it. 

[bladehunter]

55 minutes ago, MattTheTaff said:

The masters being a 'southern'  US major is not really an argument. You have a national major.

 

Anyway, it was a suggestion. It will never happen.

Sure it is.  The US geographically is like saying “ Asia “ or “ Europe “. Your want to move the British open to all of Europe , is exactly the same as mine wanting to keep the southern us major.  
 

I’m not demonizing the suggestion.  I’m just saying why it’s really a non starter.  You’ll alienate one of the 3 major golf economies in the US.  California and the northeast being the other two.  Both of which get a US open almost yearly. While we very nearly never do.  

[miamistomp]

 Tradition makes a major- you just don't invent one ( e.g.- Players)

 

 For me- I would like to see the PGA go back to 3 days - 36 holes on the final day- let the iron men win

Nobody cares about Thursday golf -- Fri, Sat 36 on Sunday

 

 

[bladehunter]

1 hour ago, BlackDiamondPar5 said:

43% of the world's courses are in the USA. The highest proportion anywhere in the world, so it makes sense that 3 of 4 majors is held here. 

 

Any tournament in consideration for a global rota should be the British Open/The Open. By being global it would remove all doubt about the name being The Open since it would no longer be regularly played on or so close to British soil 🙂

Couldn’t agree more. Either call it the British. Or move it worldwide.  Can’t be “ the “ until it’s worldwide.  That includes one every 10 years or so in the US or Canada.  

[MattTheTaff]

Who gets to decide if a tournament is a 'Major'? Does it get ratified by an organisation, does it actually exist on paper? Or is it just a social construct that only exist in the heads of the people who say it exists?

 

You know....like.... Canadians, for example.