Where The Masters Ranks Among Golf’s Major Championships

Golf legend Gary Player sparked debate by ranking The Masters last among golf’s major championships – a take that’s raising eyebrows across the sport.

Player, who’s won nine majors including three Green Jackets, argues The Masters should sit behind The Open, US Open, and PGA Championship. His main beef? The other tournaments are older and technically “championships,” while The Masters is just an invitational.

But is he right? Most golf experts don’t think so.

The Masters has something special that sets it apart. It’s the only major played at the same course every year – the legendary Augusta National. That’s created some of golf’s most memorable moments and traditions.

Think about what makes The Masters unique:
– The iconic Green Jacket
– The Champions Dinner
– The Par 3 Contest
– Lifetime exemption for past champions
– Those perfectly manicured azaleas in full bloom each April

Getting tickets to The Masters? That’s harder than making a 50-foot putt. Playing the course? Good luck with that. But that exclusivity just adds to the mystique.

“If you asked 100 players which major they’d most want to win, about 40% would pick The Masters,” says Golf Monthly Features Editor Nick Bonfield. “Another 40% would choose The Open, and maybe 20% the US Open. Nobody’s first choice would be the PGA Championship.”

The Open Championship deserves massive respect as golf’s oldest major. The US Open is famous for being brutally difficult – it’s where golf’s best players go to suffer.

The PGA Championship? It’s a great tournament with lots of history. But let’s be real – it’s everyone’s fourth favorite major.

Some wonder if Player’s got some personal beef with Augusta National. Because ranking The Masters last? That’s about as wrong as using a putter from the bunker.

For most golf fans, The Masters isn’t just another tournament. It’s golf’s Super Bowl – the one everyone circles on their calendar when April rolls around.

Sorry Gary, but on this one, you might’ve shanked it into the trees.