The Round Table: Should the Players be the 5th major?
Each week, we ask our panel of writers, PGA members and golf industry experts to weigh in with their views on the hot topics of the day.
The WM Phoenix Open is usually talked about for its massive crowds and rowdy 16th hole, yet the last four holes at TPC Scottsdale might be the best finish in pro golf. There are opportunities for eagles and also for disaster with water on three of the four finishing holes. The giant stadium surrounding the 16th hole isn’t any reprieve either. Perhaps only Augusta National and the Stadium Course at The Players rival it for excitement and lead changes at the end. Can you think of another four-hole finish on Tour that generates as much excitement?
Jim Deeks, Fairways Magazine (@jimdeeks): Nope, nothing comes to mind. Maybe the Bear Trap at PGA National in Palm Beach, but I don’t think there’s a permanent tournament there anymore. 17 and 18 at Pebble Beach are great finishers, but that’s only two holes. Ditto 17 and 18 at Sea Pines, but again, two only. For me, the last NINE at Augusta are exciting, especially on a Sunday afternoon in April.
Craig Loughry, Golf Ontario (@craigloughry): In addition to the stretch mentioned, although not a 4-hole stretch, the Snake Pit comes to mind (Copperhead Course – Valspar, 16-17 and 18). That’s more carnage/destruction and hang on than it is producing birdies, but there are lead changes on that stretch, usually with players falling apart.
Michael Schurman, Master Professional / Hall of Fame Member, PGA of Canada: Both PGA National and TPC Sawgrass have demanding finishing holes. Locally, The National is pretty good too. I am not a fan of water as a hazard. I think a good architect can design a better hole using grass, bunkering and green undulations. I prefer a player to have some opportunity for extraction which I think is more exciting. A water penalty is final, ending the drama.
Peter Mumford, Fairways Magazine: Although they don’t use it any longer, Glen Abbey had a pretty good finishing run, with plenty of opportunities for birdies. Nothing beats Augusta for drama, nostalgia and atmosphere but I think the finish at TPC Scottsdale has better holes for gains and losses and the giant crowds make it even more exciting.
Last week the OWGR announced that LIV Golfers would receive World Ranking points for the first ten finishers and ties in each of their tournaments. The rationale for not going deeper was that LIV tournaments were classified as “small-field tournaments” and not worthy of full OWGR points. Many LIV players were unhappy with this outcome. Do you think OWGR got this right?
Deeks: As you might expect, I don’t think LIV players should get OWGR points at all. Aren’t their events team play, and wouldn’t team play influence their performance, making their efforts different from “normal” 72-hole medal events? What do I know? The only attention I pay to LIV is to dislike and disdain it.
Loughry: Uh, so they demanded to get OWR points, they get them (with indeed limited field events and access to the Tour in general), and they complain about it. They’re lucky to even have been awarded OWR points. I don’t think that the OWR got this right, I don’t believe this Tour deserves any points, its Tour and fields are weaker than last year due to the players that just left LIV. They have some talented players, I think OWR is just trying to make it easier for the top LIV Players to be included in Majors through their points.
Schurman: I agree. This is a victory for LIV; they should be thankful for small gains. That doesn’t mean they should quit their pursuit; it means there is a chance for more in the future as they continue to improve.
Mumford: There’s no doubt in my mind that with some of the world’s best players, it was hard to ignore LIV Golf and they deserved some points. I like the rationale OWGR used and think it’s fair. As time goes on though, it’s likely LIV Golf’s status will decline as they’re not signing any established stars, and it may be a while before the college kids make a splash. They should keep their whining to themselves and be grateful for what they got.
Golf Channel analyst Brandel Chamblee (pictured above) is at it again, this time making an argument that The Players Championship should not just be accorded “major” status but that The Players is actually better than the other four. What do you make of Brandel’s claim?
Deeks: I’d love to see the Tour and the world of golf declare TPC an official fifth major. Who says there has to be four? I don’t agree that it’s “better” than the other four — each has its own flavour, history, and prestige.
Loughry: Not for me. It’s a great field, and nice tournament, but doesn’t have the same feel/exposure as a Major (as close as you can get though). For example: peak viewership at The Players Championship in 2025 was 6.2 million, The Masters 19.5 million, and the US Open 9 million. Uh, Brandel, did you check those numbers? So, if it’s better than all the Majors, why isn’t the audience showing the same kind of interest as it does for Majors?
Schurman: Did you ask this question for me? Growing up with four majors always provides fond memories. How can anything outperform the Masters and Augusta National, the purity of the US Open, the 2nd strongest field in golf of the PGA or the history of The Open? I start looking forward to these events weeks before they are played. However, the Players is at least equal to the four championships. First, the course; is a terrific championship design, every bit as exciting as Augusta National. The field is the strongest in all of golf and it is a 144 full field. Historically, 2026 is the 50th year of play on the TPC course creating a fine reputation of consistency, excellence and quality play. During that time, stories have been written and great performances have been posted. There isn’t one criterion of measurement this championship fails in. It is the 5th or maybe the top major.
Mumford: Five years ago, I would have agreed with Chamblee that The Players deserved to be a major, although not the best one. Since then, the tournament has banned LIV players and can’t claim the best fields in golf anymore. Chamblee has a PGA Tour bias and never hesitates to take a shot at LIV Golf. This is a backhanded way of doing that. Until you see Jon Rahm, Bryson DeChambeau, Cam Smith and a handful of others at Sawgrass, the tournament can’t be considered a major. In player’s minds, winning The Players is special but doesn’t compare with either Open or The Masters.
