Brandel Chamblee’s claim that The Players Championship is more prestigious than all four majors has been a hot topic in the lead-up to this year’s event at TPC Sawgrass.
Few would dispute that The Players Championship holds a significant place on the golf calendar.
While Chamblee went as far as calling it the “best major” in golf, it still doesn’t carry official major status.
If The Players were ever recognised as a major, plenty of players would climb up the all-time rankings. Jack Nicklaus and Tiger Woods, who have multiple wins at Sawgrass, would only strengthen their cases as two of the greatest to ever play.
But even without that status, there are still plenty of reasons why it stands out in its own right.
Rory McIlroy has said he doesn’t believe The Players should be made into a major, arguing that its unique identity is part of what makes it special.
That’s an honest stance from McIlroy too, especially since he’d benefit personally if things changed. He’d go from five to seven majors if The Players were ever added to the list.
The Players Championship and the impact on all-time major leaderboard
Both Rory McIlroy and world number one Scottie Scheffler, along with Phil Mickelson from LIV Golf, have all claimed wins at the Players.
Keep in mind that The Players only began in 1974, so legends like Walter Hagen, Ben Hogan, Bobby Jones and Sam Snead never had a chance to add it to their résumés.
Nicklaus claimed The Players title three times, while Woods, Scheffler and McIlroy have each won twice at TPC Sawgrass.
If we did count The Players as a major title, Jack Nicklaus would extend his lead over Tiger Woods in the standings. In fact, Rory McIlroy would jump to seventh place all-time.
Jack Nicklaus would move even further ahead of Tiger Woods at the top. Meanwhile Rory McIlroy would also climb into third place in his own right.
Scheffler’s two victories at The Players would also see him rise into joint 10th position on seven major championships alongside Arnold Palmer and Tom Watson.
Adding major status to The Players Championship would be a mistake
But the four existing majors have something the Players doesn’t—decades of tradition and history behind them.
McIlroy pointed out that the Players already stands out on its own, and there’s no real need to rebrand it as a major.
If golf ever did consider adding a fifth major, tournaments like the Australian Open or the BMW PGA Championship would make more sense from a global perspective.
Three of the four current majors are based in the US, and with golf being such an international sport now, spreading them out could only help grow interest around the world.
The uniqueness of having only four is part of what makes them so meaningful. Sometimes, leaving things alone is what keeps them great.
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