DChawk says:
Really sorry about the 3 day delay, my mom had went in for unexpected surgery and I just haven't been home much between being with her and work.
To get this thing started, i'll go with the British Open. Known as simply the Open to avid golfers or sports fans it has the most history and most allure of any of the 4 majors. Sure the Masters has Augusta and its fame and glory, but the Open has a cycle of historic courses; some that date back centuries
sorry again for the delay, hopefully we can wrap it up in a day or two
So sorry about your mother, our thoughts are with her...
I thought you might go with the U.S. Open, but I like the British Open pick. The U.S. Open is the toughest tournament and most rewarding to complete. The British has the longest-running history (1860!) and rotates among some of the most storied links-style courses. No matter what way you cut it, all four of the Majors are incredible and have something unique to offer. However, no tournament touches the Masters.
Started in 1934, Augusta National was started by legend Bobby Jones, who enlisted Alister MacKenzie, the famed course architect, to design it. The Masters tournament benefits from the fact that the tournament is held in the same location every year. It has built the aura and prestige of the tournament and made it easily the most memorable. Even members of the exclusive club are only allowed to play the course for two months out of the year, directly following the tournament. After that, more than 9 months of preparation goes into making the course one of the most beautiful and awe-inspiring landscapes in the world. Every hole is named after a particular tree planted on it since the founding of the club. The beauty of the course strikes players and patrons alike every time they see it.
The Masters got off to a roaring start in 1935 with Gene Sarazen's double eagle on the par-5 15th, catapulting him into a playoff which he would later win. In the following decades, Nicklaus and Palmer would stamp their legacies on the 18th of Augusta. No other course could confound players the way Augusta does. Greg Norman's legendary collapses cemented the reputation of "Amen Corner" as being one of the most harrowing stretches of holes in all of golf. A quick look at the list of champions confirms it as the premier tournament in golf. Jack Nicklaus is a 6 time winner. Tiger and Arnie have won 4 times. The whole golf world prepares for the Masters and looks with an anxious eye every year. Those that attend are deafened by the "back nine roars" that have become so commonplace through the years. The Green Jacket distinguishes the Masters in tradition and in prestige.
When asked which tournament means the most to him, Geoff Ogilvy responded, "I would be lying if I said anything other than the Masters. I spend every moment from the end of the PGA Championship in August until April preparing for Augusta. For every other Major, I begin thinking about them after the previous one is finished."
And Ogilvy is not alone. Players throughout the PGA and the world look forward to that special week in April when the most coveted trophy and green jacket in all of sports could be theirs.
I will give you that the Masters is awesome for the Green Jacket, and that it may be one of the most coveted articles of a championship in any professional sport. But to a lot of players, there is nothing more exciting than trying to roll a 45 footer through the Valley of Sin on 18 at St. Andrews to capture the Claret Jug. Sure they may be no better scenery than the azealas in Augusta, but there are many things as of late that are causing Augusta to lose its luster.
First off, they are starting to change the course from it's traditional ways. Each of the past few years have seen yardage extensions that are unwelcomed by most. And while the trees are another great object of scenery, there have been many more planted that is starting to give augusta the feel of Augusta National Forest. While some may counter that the British has more links style courses with few trees, it is much less tampered with than Augusta; that is, playing St. Andrews or Carnoustie now would be similar to playing it 50-75 years ago.
Also, with a rotating cycle of venues, the Open boasts opportunities galore for different types of players to win it (a.k.a. give tiger a run). With only 2 par 5's on the whole course, this year's Open at Royal Birkdale will benefit who may not have such a heavy big stick but more with the shorter sticks; as well as the every important flat stick. There are 9 courses currently in rotation, meaning that within a decade a player has 9 different shots at 9 different courses to be successful, unlike Augusta where if a player knows he does not play well there, he has no choice because the Masters is never (hopefully) moving.
And on top of all of that..who wouldn't want to be presented a trophy by someone with a British accent? :)
Thanks again for the thoughts, she is recovering really well and is doing great except for minor loopiness from the drugs but that's normal of course hah.
Glad to hear about your mother and that she is getting better.
I agree that there is a certain aura about winning in the "home country" of golf. It's easy to see how one could feel the weight of all golf history on their shoulders as they tread through the British Open. I do think, though, that the appearance of the courses has more significance than most people realize. It seems ridiculous to say that just because the courses are drab and amorphous that they are somehow less significant or grand. That is not exactly what I'm saying. But the British Open loses some interest for many people because of the simply isn't as awe-inspiring to look at. Being able to use a putter from 100 yds out in the fairway turns some people off, warranted or not. This attraction for the fans is reflected in the TV viewership for the tournaments:
Nielsen Ratings:
2007 Masters - 7.6 (11.9 million avg. viewers)
2007 British Open - 4.1 (6.4 million avg. viewers)
The Sunday of Tiger's first Masters win in 1997 drew in an all-time golf record of over 20 million viewers!!
Clearly, many more people tune into the Masters for SOME reason. It holds a certain special place in the world of golf that cannot ever be replaced. A good question to ask is this: if one of the nine courses in rotation for the Open were destroyed, what would be the consequences? Simple. They would find another great British course to fill the void, or they would rotate among the eight existing courses. However, would would happen if Augusta were destroyed. I think it might be a little dramatic to say that the golf world would come to a end, but it certainly would never be the same.
This is true that the major championships would have a difficult time recovering from the loss of Augusta...but it would suffer equally as much if not more if a historic landmark like St. Andrews or Carnoustie. It is the only of the four majors that is played outside of the United States, which gives it more of an international appeal, even if that means losing some of its American support. Players come from all over the world to attempt to qualify for this tournament, and it is seen as an official event on the PGA Tour, the European Tour, and even on the Japanese Tour.
While i could not find any ratings for the two in Britain, I found that the Masters has only been on tv in the U.K. since 1986!
Unlike Augusta, the courses that are used for the Open also reserve public tee time slots once every week or so to allow yourself the chance to come roaring like Tiger or go down splashing like Jean Van de Velde. Augusta does not boast this opportunity unless you are a member which is something most average people can not afford. The field also allows for more amateurs to get their chance
And not only for the fans view of it but for the players, there is something different about being able to travel somewhere historical to golf's homeland of Scotland and England than travelling to the same place every year like just another stop on a cross country tour. "There is nothing like the golf over here," Faxon said. "There are so many options. It's really neat. The history. I think the players owe it to themselves to come over here and do this."
While putting on that green jacket at Augusta would be something unforgetful and a perfect picture to hang in the front room, winning the Claret Jug (or lose in the case of Van de Velde) some (potentially) 5,000 miles away from your home, in a setting that has more history surrounding it than can be understood would be much more memorable and a story to pass on for generations to come.
Let me boil down your argument for the Open down to the two main points you are making:
1) It's exotic. It's played way over in Great Britain and therefore holds more mystique.
2) The average golfer can play it.
Neither of these points contribute to making the Open the best tournament. Faxon's quote is right on, "There is nothing like golf over here." That's true. The links-style play is very different and interesting to watch, but because it is so different it loses some appeal. That the courses are open to the public once a week doesn't really mean anything. I think it is cool that people can get on and play, but I have had the opportunity to play at Pebble Beach and let me tell you, that course is worse off letting people run roughshod over it all the time. The course looked similar to the Muni courses throughout L.A. that have 7 foursomes on a hole at one time driving their carts all over the fairways.
Augusta is better for having such limited access. The first time I went to Augusta, I was 8 years old. Walking down Magnolia Lane to the clubhouse (which we did not have access to), I could feel the presence of all the legends that had walked the same path.
That weekend was unlike any other, because I got to see Sam Snead hit the honorary tee shot. Then I saw Jack Nicklaus and Arnold Palmer walk up the 18th, knowing they were not making the cut, but getting a seemingly never-ending standing ovation. Finally, I got to see my favorite golfer, Freddie Couples, take home the green jacket.
I realized what made the Masters so special. You mentioned above how the Open has people all over the world attempting to qualify. And because of that, the Open has some of the top golfers AT THE MOMENT competing, making for a challenging and excellent field. But that's just what sets the Masters apart. It is an invitation only field. Therefore, every winner automatically receives a spot for life. This makes for some of the most memorable and emotional moments, when Arnie, Jack, Gary Player, and even Sam Snead(!) can be seen walking the ground they walked so many years earlier when they took home their green jacket. You won't see that anywhere else.
The fact remains that the Masters is the most watched tournament out of all Majors. The fact also remains that all players want to win the Masters more than any other. Golf expert Steve Eubanks, "Plus, ask the players what tournament they want most and the majority will pick the Masters." From the history of champions to the lightning-quick greens to the unparalleled beauty of Augusta National, no other Major measures up.
As Gary Player famously said, "If there's a golf course in heaven, I hope it's like Augusta National."
