PGA: The 2009 Masters

[firstdown]

One thing I think they do need to change with the master is the life time pass players get if they have ever won the Masters. For example. Gary Players is still playing at his age and he has no chance of ever winning and cannot even make the cut. There are about a dozen of these guys who I think for selfish reasons take up a spot every year. I say they limit them to so many times playing without making the cut and then they are gone. This will open up more spots for younger players that actually have a chance to win. Most older players like Nicholas and Palmer stopped playing when they could not compeate any longer in the Masters but some of these older guys just don't seem to care they are bumping out younger guys trying to make a living.

[FRPLG]

Originally Posted by firstdown

One thing I think they do need to change with the master is the life time pass players get if they have ever won the Masters. For example. Gary Players is still playing at his age and he has no chance of ever winning and cannot even make the cut. There are about a dozen of these guys who I think for selfish reasons take up a spot every year. I say they limit them to so many times playing without making the cut and then they are gone. This will open up more spots for younger players that actually have a chance to win. Most older players like Nicholas and Palmer stopped playing when they could not compeate any longer in the Masters but some of these older guys just don't seem to care they are bumping out younger guys trying to make a living.

It's called the "Masters" for a reason. It is the top tournament in the world for a lot of reasons. Many of those reasons are it's unwavering traditions. They will never get rid of that tradition I'll guarantee it.

[Schneed10]

Originally Posted by FRPLG

It's called the "Masters" for a reason. It is the top tournament in the world for a lot of reasons. Many of those reasons are it's unwavering traditions. They will never get rid of that tradition I'll guarantee it.

Yeah that tradition is cool, IMO. Plus it's not like there's a shortage of quality players in the Masters. Ways to get invited:

- All previous Masters Winners invited
- Last 5 US Open Champions
- Last 5 British Open Champions
- Last 5 PGA Champions
- Last 3 Players Championship winners
- Last year's winner and runner up of the US Amateur
- Last year's British amateur champion
- Last year's US Public Links Amateur champion
- Last year's US Mid-Ameteur champion
- Last year's top 16 from the Masters (including ties)
- Last year's top 8 from the US Open (including ties)
- Last year's top 4 from the PGA (including ties)
- Last year's top 30 on the PGA money list
- Win any PGA event within the last 365 days that awards a full-point allocation in the FedEx Cup race.
- Qualifiers from the previous year's Fed Ex Cup.
- Anyone ranked within the top 50 in last year's world golf rankings.
- And then the Masters Committee can make special exemptions for whoever they want.

That pretty much gets everybody.

[70Chip]

Originally Posted by firstdown

. There are about a dozen of these guys who I think for selfish reasons take up a spot every year. I say they limit them to so many times playing without making the cut and then they are gone. This will open up more spots for younger players that actually have a chance to win. Most older players like Nicholas and Palmer stopped playing when they could not compeate any longer in the Masters but some of these older guys just don't seem to care they are bumping out younger guys trying to make a living.

This is not so. The Masters is an Invitational. They have criteria they use to invite people and you either qualify or you don't. They don't bump people to make room for former champions.

Several years ago Hootie Johnson sent out a letter sugeesting that players over 65 stop competing and it went over like a lead balloon. People like watching the older players.

[skinsfan69]

Originally Posted by firstdown

One thing I think they do need to change with the master is the life time pass players get if they have ever won the Masters. For example. Gary Players is still playing at his age and he has no chance of ever winning and cannot even make the cut. There are about a dozen of these guys who I think for selfish reasons take up a spot every year. I say they limit them to so many times playing without making the cut and then they are gone. This will open up more spots for younger players that actually have a chance to win. Most older players like Nicholas and Palmer stopped playing when they could not compeate any longer in the Masters but some of these older guys just don't seem to care they are bumping out younger guys trying to make a living.

There are plenty of guys that play that have no chance of winning. Fuzzy Z, Crenshaw, Lyle, Omera, Player and on and on. But that's the tradition of The Masters and that's why it's different from other majors. Jack and Arnold kept playing when they had no shot at winning. I remember Arnold's last round and it was just painful. And the TV people eat that shit up. I'm not sure why people that are competitive keep trucking themselves out there when they have no chance of winning.

[hooskins]

Originally Posted by skinsfan69

There are plenty of guys that play that have no chance of winning. Fuzzy Z, Crenshaw, Lyle, Omera, Player and on and on. But that's the tradition of The Masters and that's why it's different from other majors. Jack and Arnold kept playing when they had no shot at winning. I remember Arnold's last round and it was just painful. And the TV people eat that shit up. I'm not sure why people that are competitive keep trucking themselves out there when they have no chance of winning.

There is no chance, but I am sure all the greats think they always have a shot at it no matter what. It is delusional but at that point in their careers money is not an issue.