Ranking the Majors

[bscinstnct]

Venue is secondary to the actual action that plays out. The aura and history of the venue are fleeting.

 

The Open, for example, carries a strong character, its history and unique attributes provide an appetizing prelude to Thursdays. I feel like having a full UK breakfast and a pint as first tee time approaches. 
 

So I get all that lol

 

But it’s a sporting event so it’s the actual play on the course that is paramount to how “favorite” it ends  up being, 

 

Off the top of my head the most memorable majors with the best action in relatively recent history are

 

This years PGA Championship 

 

2019 Masters

 

Spieths 2017 Open

 

Then going back we had some excellent Opens with Paddy, Phil, Darren, Tiger 

 

Masters with Phil, Angel, Bubba, Adam

 

All Rory’s wins were cool

 

Majors are always great to watch. But whichever Major you look at has equal opportunity to be memorable….or not. 

[MountainKing]

Masters

Open

US Open

PGA

 

US Open sometimes hits last when it falls on one of those years where the USGA decides it would prefer to be the story with mini golf setups.

[billyspan]

On 5/20/2024 at 2:10 PM, Birdman62 said:

 

Every 4 years it would have to be moved for the Olympics, such as this year.

 

Question about the (British) Open: are there top-notch courses in the UK which are NOT links courses per se, but have no chance of entering the rota precisely because of their non-links nature?  Sure would be nice to vary things once in awhile.

Sunningdale GC

There is a Willie Park Jr and Harry Colt course on the property.

One of the earliest non-links courses...opened 1900.

 

Yes, the British Open is exclusively held at links courses.  Unsure if that is a written rule though...

[billyspan]

On 5/20/2024 at 3:25 AM, gato_plomo said:

You just pissed off some Europeans 

Indeed, I pissed myself off...

 

My "Open" is the Spanish Open.  😉

[Dan33185]

Masters

U.S. Open

The Open

PGA

[LYG]

Was Jack ranking them by: prestige or difficulty or what metric/adjective?

 

Thanks for mentioning this quote by him, very interesting.

 

 

[FootWedge16]

Masters

US Open

PGA

Players

API

Memorial

Puerto Rico Open

The Open Championship

[Mr.Cleeks]

I’d argue the US Open has been the best from a straight up entertainment standpoint recently. The last 3 us opens have been down to the wire and have had top players in the mix

[st1800e]

There can be 24 different ranking orders for the 4 majors. If enough people post, we’ll likely see all of them.  

[tbowles411]

The Open Championship

The U.S. Open

PGA Championship

The Masters

[J-Blade]

3 hours ago, LYG said:

Was Jack ranking them by: prestige or difficulty or what metric/adjective?

 

Thanks for mentioning this quote by him, very interesting.

 

 

I'm not sure what the context of his ranking was. It seemed to me like he was ranking them in terms of importance. I'll try to find the quote in his autobiography that I read. 

[DutchGolf]

Best golf tournaments of the year in my book: 

 

Ryder cup: Most entertaining

Open / Masters: Masters is the season opener at a great course, the Open is the 'best' major due to history, courses, weather

US Open: Some good, some less, but usually very tight and entertaining

Genesis: Love this golf course so much. 

The Players / Memorial / BMW PGA: Usually very entertaining, strong courses

PGA Championship: No character, very underwhelming courses. Would never get the 'major' label if handed out today. They should go international on this one. Australia, South Africa, Korea. 

Edited May 24, 2024 by DutchGolf

[manku]

Masters is number one because you've got a free meal lined up every year, even if it is only burgers and fries some years 🙂

 

What other tournament offers a lifetime annuity like that!

[StoutKing]

1 hour ago, DutchGolf said:

Best golf tournaments of the year in my book: 

 

Ryder cup: Most entertaining

Open / Masters: Masters is the season opener at a great course, the Open is the 'best' major due to history, courses, weather

US Open: Some good, some less, but usually very tight and entertaining

Genesis: Love this golf course so much. 

The Players / Memorial / BMW PGA: Usually very entertaining, strong courses

PGA Championship: No character, very underwhelming courses. Would never get the 'major' label if handed out today. They should go international on this one. Australia, South Africa, Korea. 

I have to say - I used to love the Ryder Cup.  Nowadays it feels way too commercialized and the players act childish.  It's better than the Presidents but just barely.

Edited May 24, 2024 by StoutKing

[billyspan]

On 5/24/2024 at 5:13 AM, DutchGolf said:

Best golf tournaments of the year in my book: 

 

Ryder cup: Most entertaining

Open / Masters: Masters is the season opener at a great course, the Open is the 'best' major due to history, courses, weather

US Open: Some good, some less, but usually very tight and entertaining

Genesis: Love this golf course so much. 

The Players / Memorial / BMW PGA: Usually very entertaining, strong courses

PGA Championship: No character, very underwhelming courses. Would never get the 'major' label if handed out today. They should go international on this one. Australia, South Africa, Korea. 

I like where you are going with the international PGA Championship. However,this would probably require the PGA of America relinquishing some control, prestige and $$$.  Britain, Australia, Korea and South Africa (actually most golf playing countries) all have their own national PGA Championships.  Perhaps the Olympics fills that spot...?

[Mr.Cleeks]

An international PGA would be cool. Would love to see Australia/Asia get a major

[PSUJJH86]

On 5/23/2024 at 11:06 AM, tbowles411 said:

The Open Championship

The U.S. Open

PGA Championship

The Masters

In the heck?!

[CanFred]

1a - Masters 

1b - Open (basically tied when at TOC or a “traditional” open course)

2 - US Open

4 - PGA (I’d put the players up here some years 🤷‍♂️) 

[kwcsports]

U.S. Open

The Open

Masters

PGA

[CanFred]

3 hours ago, stinger_gc said:

An international PGA would be cool. Would love to see Australia/Asia get a major

Yes please and thank you!!!

[pdxhak]

1. US Open

2. MASTERS

3. OPEN

4. PGA

Edited May 26, 2024 by pdxhak

[OBbogey5]

The Masters ranks first for me, because of the prestige, the life long club, the champions dinner. 
 

Next the British Open. This is a recent one for me. I feel like “The Open” has upped its game over the past 20 years.

 

And the US Open has done everything to ruin its. I hate that the USGA refuses to recapture its identity. They could easily go for an over par champion every year. 
 

The PGA may have the best field, but I’d rather win one green jacket than three PGAs.

[Duct Tape]

US Amateur

US Mid Am.   🤓😀

 

 

Masters - spring has finally arrived. History and tradition. Sunday back 9 (until they screwed up 13). Birdies and eagles. Crowd roars. True golf fans know every hole and every shot. Azaleas. Negatives? - Butler Cabin and the pretentious “patrons”

 

US Open - America’s professional championship. America’s greatest golf courses. Nuff said. 
 

Open  - history and tradition in spades. Some of world’s greatest courses. Golf as the ball lies. Rub of the green. Awards true shotmakers. Who cares if winning score is -20.

 

PGA - Valhalla (times 4), PGA Frisco (2027), moved to May. Nuff said. 
 

 

 

 

Edited May 31, 2024 by Duct Tape

[Soloman1]

i’d rank them

a, b, c, d

 

a - augusta

b - british open (the open for the prim and proper)

c - crazy hard (us open)

d - drug by his car and ruined my pants.

[Guest]

On 5/15/2024 at 6:57 AM, NetBogey said:

Masters

The Open

Pga Championship 

US open 

In light of current events I am readjusting my rankings. I am also making the Players an official major (I am saying this because I get more expected for the players than I do the us open and pga.  😂

 

Masters 

The open 

Players

Us Open 

PGA Championship 

Edited June 4, 2024 by Guest

[Mr.Cleeks]

On 5/31/2024 at 10:10 AM, NetBogey said:

In light of current events I am readjusting my rankings. I am also making the Players and official major (I am saying this because I get more expected for the masters than I do the us open and pga.  😂

 

Masters 

The open 

Players

Us Open 

PGA Championship 

The Players is a better tournament than the PGA Championship IMO. Sawgrass has an actual identity and it’s consistently one of the most entertaining events of the season. The 2024 Players was the best final round since the 2022 Open

[Hankshank]

Kaymer winning on this same Pinehurst was the biggest Mayor yawn save maybe last year´s BO. The course on which it's played makes one hlluva difference. Rose winning on Merion the year before was one ot the best tournaments I've seen.  Lovely, lovely golf course. 

 

Pinehurst was pretty ok when Campbell won. 

 

 

Edited June 4, 2024 by Hankshank

[potfh]

1.  The Open

2.  The Open

3.  The Open

4.  the masters

[StoutKing]

5 hours ago, potfh said:

1.  The Open

2.  The Open

3.  The Open

4.  the masters

Glad to see the British Open #1 :)

[ProStryker]

Masters

US Open

Open Championship

PGA Champ.