During the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am, the debate on which events should be majors came up. All the events are strong contenders to keep their positions, but there are some who think there should be another on the lineup. The Players Championship is held in March at the TPC Sawgrass. Rory McIlroy weighed in on the debate, and despite its positives, he disagrees with the idea.
Why Make The Players Championship A Major
At its current venue, the Players Championship offers a decent challenge for the players who are involved. The Sawgrass has been used for the tournament since it was built in the early 80s. It was built specifically for this tournament and has been used ever since, even after schedule changes. It was rough when it was first built, but those initial issues were ironed out in the following years. The course itself has its own iconic holes and features, like the Island Green, which is in a pond that has claimed many golf balls. Players have said the event has a strong identity and is held in high regard, despite being a regular PGA event, not even a major. Despite its rough start when the course was originally built, the event is called one of the best in the world by Rory McIlroy.
Rory McIlroy On The Players Championship
During the Pro-Am, Rory McIlroy was asked his opinion on the idea of a fifth major. His response was full of praise for the Players Championship, but ultimately, it sounds like a misguided idea.
“The Players is one of the best golf tournaments in the world.” McIlroy said, “I don’t think anyone disputes that or argues that. From a player’s perspective, it’s amazing. From an on-site fan experience, it’s amazing. It’s an amazing golf course, location, venue. But I don’t — like again, I’m a traditionalist, I’m a historian of the game. We have four major championships. If you want to see what five major championships looks like, look at the women’s game. I don’t know how well that went for them. But it’s The Players; it doesn’t need to be anything else.”
McIlroy goes on to agree that it has more of an identity than say the Players Championship has more of an identity than say the PGA Championship, but reclassifying it as a major doesn’t add or remove anything from the tournament. He stated that the event stands on its own perfectly fine.
McIlroy Not Holding Out For Fifth Major
Despite the suggestion for what the Players Championship could be, McIlroy is not confident in it being a major. The tournament has a lot to offer the fans and players, even being called one of the best on the calendar. It has a solid identity with its course and the challenge it offers the players. The argument for turning it into a major is there, along with enough support for the change. At the same time, it can stand on its own and be its own event.
Main Photo Credit: © Kiyoshi Mio-Imagn Images
