The Players Championship had the feel of a Major
The Players Championship has long been promoted by the PGA Tour as a tournament worthy of being considered a major championship, alongside the U.S. Open, The Masters, The Open Championship, and the PGA Championship. For a tournament to be considered a major, it should possess tradition, be played on a respected and difficult course, produce quality champions, and create an atmosphere filled with drama and excitement, especially over the closing holes.
TPC Sawgrass has hosted the championship since 1982 and has established itself as a stern test of golf. The list of winners has generally been made up of players who have also won major championships or accumulated multiple PGA Tour victories. Except for the occasional rare upset—such as victories by Jodie Mudd, Craig Perks, K. J. Choi, or Tim Clark—the champion of The Players has typically had an impressive résumé. Over the past twenty years especially, the drama coming down the stretch has often been akin to what the back nine on Sunday produces at the Masters Tournament.
So, does that make it a major? Ultimately, the sportswriters and the golfing public will be the determining factors. The Masters Tournament, originally known as the Augusta National Invitational Tournament, was once just another tournament until television exposure and the charisma of Arnold Palmer helped elevate its stature. The U.S. Open has long been considered the premier championship in the world. The Open Championship, often referred to in America as the British Open, was not highly regarded in the 1950s. Few American professionals were willing to cross the Atlantic to compete for a relatively small purse, even into the 1960s. Palmer's commitment to playing the event helped elevate its status, and today it is often viewed as golf's true "world championship."
The PGA Championship, which is run by the PGA of America rather than the PGA Tour, has been contested since 1916 and possesses both tradition and longevity. However, questionable course selections and unfavorable scheduling at times have diminished some of its prestige.
In the end, I am not in favor of adding more majors, as doing so could lessen the value of those already established. Still, it is possible that over time one tournament may begin to rival another in importance. Whether The Players Championship eventually reaches that level will be decided not by proclamation, but by history and by the respect it earns from players, fans, and the game itself.
But this year's Players Championship certainly felt like a major. It had a great leader board, exciting drama coming down the stretch and with plenty of volatility and lead changes.
This tournament was Ludvig Aberg's championship to win. He had many chances to greatly distance himself from the field, but he couldn't do it. Then when the going got tough, his "perfect" swing collapsed. Ludvig arguably has the best swing currently on the tour. It is so good that he makes every shot look easy, even when it isn't. However, he has not learned how to play the game of golf! He has the swing, the shots and therefore all the tools to win but not how to use them to win. He has a great demeanor and perspective, but he needs to sit down with someone like Raymond Floyd and have him teach him to use his God-given talent to better use.
I thought the best player the last day was Matthew Fitzpatrick. He kept hitting quality golf shots, while Cameron Young was fighting to stay in the battle all day. A poor tee shot on 16 by Matthew was his first slip, but he still took a one-shot lead into the 17th hole. Then greatness appeared with Cameron's brilliant iron shot and birdie putt to pull even on 17. I question the judgement to hit driver on 18 by both players. Cameron's drive on 18 might be the best driver swing under pressure that I have witnessed in recent memory. The margin of error on a 370 yards drive to that fairway with water left and trees and trouble left was miniscule. Matthew's drive was not that far off, but the hitting area needed perfection and that aggressive play cost him the tournament.
The final round this year showed exactly why The Players Championship deserves to be mentioned alongside the game's biggest events. Played on the demanding stage of TPC Sawgrass, it produced a leaderboard filled with elite talent, dramatic swings of momentum, and moments of brilliance under the greatest pressure. When a tournament consistently brings together the best players in the world and delivers the kind of tension and unforgettable shots we witnessed from players like Cameron Young, it begins to take on the very qualities that define a major championship. Whether or not it is officially given that designation, this year's Players proved that in spirit and competition, it already plays like one.
