Jeffries: The Players Deserving of Fifth Major Status
Golf News - Jon Jeffries -
May 12, 2009
The PGA Tour tees it up this week at the TPC at Sawgrass in what should be golf's fifth major.
Why is it not? Well, the heads that run golf are so slow to change, that it's not likely to happen in our lifetime, or our grandchildren's for that matter.
If the NFL and MLB can realign, or change their postseason formats, so too should the world of golf be able to add to the current list of tournaments that are considered "majors" -- the Masters, U.S. Open, British Open and PGA Championship. The Players Championship certainly is worthy.
Its field of players is among the best. It's played on one of the world's best courses. Its purse is the biggest in golf.
The PGA Tour, in an effort to give its premier event more prominence (remember, the four majors are not owned or run by the Tour), moved the date of The Players to early May. It used to be played in March, two weeks before the Masters, which, at least in the Tour's eyes, diminished the perception of its importance.
The 17th hole, with its famous island green, affords a golfer no place to bail. One swing of the stick can decide whether a leader holds on for win or ends up losing.
How many times on a Sunday afternoon, even when the leaderboard is tight, have you seen guys play it safe to pad their finish and their pocket?
This week on No. 17, that is not an option.
Just ask Sean O' Hair, who found the drink two years ago, costing him not only a shot at the championship crystal but also about 750 grand in scratch.
If that's not drama, I don't know what is.
The times are a changin' though, and that's a good thing. The up and coming group of young guns -- Rory McElroy, Anthony Kim, O' Hair and others -- aren't showing the fear when Tiger roars. O'Hair made that clear last week when he won, with Woods lurking, at the Quail Hollow Championship in Charlotte. Should a scenario like that play out this week in Ponte Vedra Beach, perhaps that'd be the best drama of all.
Jon Jeffries is a "Flash" anchor on Sporting News Radio Network.
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