Club Pros deserve every spot they get in PGA Championship

[buckeyefl]

> @ilikegolf26 said:

> Nah, maybe give them like 5 spots. No reason for 20 of these guys to show up, shoot a couple 76s and then go back to selling sleeves of ProVs and trying to bag member Mrs. Jones by the weekend.

 

The ignorance of some people is always impressive.

[buckeyefl]

> @OldTomMorris said:

> They should consider creating an exemption category for up to 4 amateurs - US winner & runner-up, British winner and Asian winner. I don't think its a good look for one major to exclude amateurs.

 

How about No.

[buckeyefl]

> @ilikegolf26 said:

> > @legitimategolf said:

> > If anything, there should be more PGA pro's in the field! Fill it up! As someone else pointed out, the PGA Tour has their own tournament, the Players Championship. Why should they get so many spots in the PGA of A's own tournament? What have they done to bring new people into the game? etc.

> >

> > They could put like 70 PGA pros in the PGA Championship and it would still be a stronger field than the Masters!

>

> Uhhhh, Tiger alone has brought more “new people into the game” than all 20 club pros that started in this field.

 

Two for two. Don't stop now

[CT007]

Club pros deserve a shot, the 20 spots don’t effect the field enough to matter. A few of the club pros can play and while not at the elite level , can play at the 125-150 ranking of pros. My club pro played 2x, each time hit it with JB Holmes on the measured drive holes. They get to experience these conditions 1x a year, pretty tough to prepare (score) for that.

 

The move to May is irrelevant to the club pros that can quailify , may be better. These guys work 70 hours a week from Memorial Day to Labor Day, hard to prepare/leave in short season up north for the PGA when it was in August.

[iteachgolf]

> @CT007 said:

> Club pros deserve a shot, the 20 spots don’t effect the field enough to matter. A few of the club pros can play and while not at the elite level , can play at the 125-150 ranking of pros. My club pro played 2x, each time hit it with JB Holmes on the measured drive holes. They get to experience these conditions 1x a year, pretty tough to prepare (score) for that.

>

> The move to May is irrelevant to the club pros that can quailify , may be better. These guys work 70 hours a week from Memorial Day to Labor Day, hard to prepare/leave in short season up north for the PGA when it was in August.

 

The club pros absolutely cannot play at the level of 125-150th pros. If they could with any consistency they wouldn’t be club pros. I respect the club pros a ton and feel they earn the right to play, but you are significantly underestimating the talent level of the 150th ranked player

[BNGL]

> @CT007 said:

> Club pros deserve a shot, the 20 spots don’t effect the field enough to matter. A few of the club pros can play and while not at the elite level , can play at the 125-150 ranking of pros. My club pro played 2x, each time hit it with JB Holmes on the measured drive holes. They get to experience these conditions 1x a year, pretty tough to prepare (score) for that.

>

> The move to May is irrelevant to the club pros that can quailify , may be better. These guys work 70 hours a week from Memorial Day to Labor Day, hard to prepare/leave in short season up north for the PGA when it was in August.

 

Club pros cannot play to the 125-150 level...if so they wouldn’t be working in a club. 125-150 is still insanely good

[Texsport]

I know a pro in a northern state who has qualified for the Club Pro Championships a number of times, and holds several course records.

 

His course was not even open when the tournament was played this year.

 

He told me that unless the Championship is moved back to the fall, where it belongs, he won’t even try to qualify any more. He’s not going to spend the money to enter and travel across the country to play in an event where he has no chance to play well. Makes no sense what the PGA did this year!

 

Texsport

[cdnglf]

> @iteachgolf said:

> > @CT007 said:

> > Club pros deserve a shot, the 20 spots don’t effect the field enough to matter. A few of the club pros can play and while not at the elite level , can play at the 125-150 ranking of pros. My club pro played 2x, each time hit it with JB Holmes on the measured drive holes. They get to experience these conditions 1x a year, pretty tough to prepare (score) for that.

> >

> > The move to May is irrelevant to the club pros that can quailify , may be better. These guys work 70 hours a week from Memorial Day to Labor Day, hard to prepare/leave in short season up north for the PGA when it was in August.

>

> The club pros absolutely cannot play at the level of 125-150th pros. If they could with any consistency they wouldn’t be club pros. I respect the club pros a ton and feel they earn the right to play, but you are significantly underestimating the talent level of the 150th ranked player

 

What do you think the real number is? 500? Are the best club pros as good as web.com players? Asian tour?

[iteachgolf]

> @cdnglf said:

> > @iteachgolf said:

> > > @CT007 said:

> > > Club pros deserve a shot, the 20 spots don’t effect the field enough to matter. A few of the club pros can play and while not at the elite level , can play at the 125-150 ranking of pros. My club pro played 2x, each time hit it with JB Holmes on the measured drive holes. They get to experience these conditions 1x a year, pretty tough to prepare (score) for that.

> > >

> > > The move to May is irrelevant to the club pros that can quailify , may be better. These guys work 70 hours a week from Memorial Day to Labor Day, hard to prepare/leave in short season up north for the PGA when it was in August.

> >

> > The club pros absolutely cannot play at the level of 125-150th pros. If they could with any consistency they wouldn’t be club pros. I respect the club pros a ton and feel they earn the right to play, but you are significantly underestimating the talent level of the 150th ranked player

>

> What do you think the real number is? 500? Are the best club pros as good as web.com players? Asian tour?

 

No. Or they’d be playing those tours. Ben Polland finished 2nd in PGA National Championship in 2015 and 13th in 2016 and won the Assistants Championship in 2016. Played in 2 PGA Championships. Decided to play full time and is ranked 958th in the world. He’s VERY VERY good but missing more cuts than he’s making on the Web.com Tour. And that’s after 2.5 years of playing golf full time. A top club pro while still working 40+ hours a week isn’t close to the average Web.com Tour player.

[ilikegolf26]

> @buckeyefl said:

> > @ilikegolf26 said:

> > Nah, maybe give them like 5 spots. No reason for 20 of these guys to show up, shoot a couple 76s and then go back to selling sleeves of ProVs and trying to bag member Mrs. Jones by the weekend.

>

> The ignorance of some people is always impressive.

 

Ignorant (not sure you are even using the word correctly here) or the truth? 3 out of 20 "club pros" making the cut this week was the most since 2006! And Marty Jertson is not an actual club pro, he is VP of Design for Ping. Only 1 made the cut last year, 1 made the cut the year before that (Omar Uresti who all the "club pros" complained wasn't actually even a club pro). So sure, you can say it is "ignorant" to disagree with you but at the end of the day just 15% to make the cut being the high point in the last 13-14 years doesn't say much for your point.

[OldTomMorris]

> @BNGL said:

> > @OldTomMorris said:

> > They should consider creating an exemption category for up to 4 amateurs - US winner & runner-up, British winner and Asian winner. I don't think its a good look for one major to exclude amateurs.

>

> Why is it a bad look that the Professional Golfers Association of America’s crown jewel has no amateurs in the field?

>

 

My answer was in my statement, it's just my opinion.

 

Professional Golfers Association of America clearly has big ties with amateur golf, the majority of their members will teach amateur golfers I think it's weird that it's the only major that has no amateur representation. Its like when this tournament is on amateur golf doesn't exist.

 

Lots of tournaments worldwide run by different professional golf bodies have amateurs in the field.

[OldTomMorris]

> @tiderider said:

> field is limited to pros ... amateurs get into the masters ... pga is for pros ...

 

I know that but it doesn't have to be.

[golfortennis]

> @ilikegolf26 said:

> > @legitimategolf said:

> > If anything, there should be more PGA pro's in the field! Fill it up! As someone else pointed out, the PGA Tour has their own tournament, the Players Championship. Why should they get so many spots in the PGA of A's own tournament? What have they done to bring new people into the game? etc.

> >

> > They could put like 70 PGA pros in the PGA Championship and it would still be a stronger field than the Masters!

>

> Uhhhh, Tiger alone has brought more “new people into the game” than all 20 club pros that started in this field.

 

Really? So where have they gone? Golf participation is back to 1990 levels. "Golf is dying" is a bi-weekly headline. Seems to me if Woods had the impact you are saying he has, this wouldn't be happening/

[Jc0]

> @OldTomMorris said:

> > @BNGL said:

> > > @OldTomMorris said:

> > > They should consider creating an exemption category for up to 4 amateurs - US winner & runner-up, British winner and Asian winner. I don't think its a good look for one major to exclude amateurs.

> >

> > Why is it a bad look that the Professional Golfers Association of America’s crown jewel has no amateurs in the field?

> >

>

> My answer was in my statement, it's just my opinion.

>

> Professional Golfers Association of America clearly has big ties with amateur golf, the majority of their members will teach amateur golfers I think it's weird that it's the only major that has no amateur representation. Its like when this tournament is on amateur golf doesn't exist.

>

> Lots of tournaments worldwide run by different professional golf bodies have amateurs in the field.

 

The point of the PGA Championship is to celebrate professional golf from both a playing and teaching perspective. Allowing amatures on goes against this idea. The PGA is supposed to be just for pros, every other event allows amatures.

[buckeyefl]

> @ilikegolf26 said:

> > @buckeyefl said:

> > > @ilikegolf26 said:

> > > Nah, maybe give them like 5 spots. No reason for 20 of these guys to show up, shoot a couple 76s and then go back to selling sleeves of ProVs and trying to bag member Mrs. Jones by the weekend.

> >

> > The ignorance of some people is always impressive.

>

> Ignorant (not sure you are even using the word correctly here) or the truth? 3 out of 20 "club pros" making the cut this week was the most since 2006! And Marty Jertson is not an actual club pro, he is VP of Design for Ping. Only 1 made the cut last year, 1 made the cut the year before that (Omar Uresti who all the "club pros" complained wasn't actually even a club pro). So sure, you can say it is "ignorant" to disagree with you but at the end of the day just 15% to make the cut being the high point in the last 13-14 years doesn't say much for your point.

 

Oh I used it correctly. Go back and read those two posts you made, specifically the first one, and you should realize I was being kind based on your comments.

[buckeyefl]

> @Jc0 said:

> > @OldTomMorris said:

> > > @BNGL said:

> > > > @OldTomMorris said:

> > > > They should consider creating an exemption category for up to 4 amateurs - US winner & runner-up, British winner and Asian winner. I don't think its a good look for one major to exclude amateurs.

> > >

> > > Why is it a bad look that the Professional Golfers Association of America’s crown jewel has no amateurs in the field?

> > >

> >

> > My answer was in my statement, it's just my opinion.

> >

> > Professional Golfers Association of America clearly has big ties with amateur golf, the majority of their members will teach amateur golfers I think it's weird that it's the only major that has no amateur representation. Its like when this tournament is on amateur golf doesn't exist.

> >

> > Lots of tournaments worldwide run by different professional golf bodies have amateurs in the field.

>

> The point of the PGA Championship is to celebrate professional golf from both a playing and teaching perspective. Allowing amatures on goes against this idea. The PGA is supposed to be just for pros, every other event allows amatures.

 

Maybe we have to start putting professional in caps?

[BNGL]

> @OldTomMorris said:

> > @BNGL said:

> > > @OldTomMorris said:

> > > They should consider creating an exemption category for up to 4 amateurs - US winner & runner-up, British winner and Asian winner. I don't think its a good look for one major to exclude amateurs.

> >

> > Why is it a bad look that the Professional Golfers Association of America’s crown jewel has no amateurs in the field?

> >

>

> My answer was in my statement, it's just my opinion.

>

> Professional Golfers Association of America clearly has big ties with amateur golf, the majority of their members will teach amateur golfers I think it's weird that it's the only major that has no amateur representation. Its like when this tournament is on amateur golf doesn't exist.

>

> Lots of tournaments worldwide run by different professional golf bodies have amateurs in the field.

 

You’re totally right. Even better than letting amateurs in we should change the format to identify the best pga professional. It should only be pga professionals with an amateur partner except the Am is the only one that plays and he’s getting a playing lesson from the pro. Lowest scoring am obviously has the best pga pro!

[OldTomMorris]

> @Jc0 said:

> > @OldTomMorris said:

> > > @BNGL said:

> > > > @OldTomMorris said:

> > > > They should consider creating an exemption category for up to 4 amateurs - US winner & runner-up, British winner and Asian winner. I don't think its a good look for one major to exclude amateurs.

> > >

> > > Why is it a bad look that the Professional Golfers Association of America’s crown jewel has no amateurs in the field?

> > >

> >

> > My answer was in my statement, it's just my opinion.

> >

> > Professional Golfers Association of America clearly has big ties with amateur golf, the majority of their members will teach amateur golfers I think it's weird that it's the only major that has no amateur representation. Its like when this tournament is on amateur golf doesn't exist.

> >

> > Lots of tournaments worldwide run by different professional golf bodies have amateurs in the field.

>

> The point of the PGA Championship is to celebrate professional golf from both a playing and teaching perspective. Allowing amatures on goes against this idea. The PGA is supposed to be just for pros, every other event allows amatures.

 

It was just a suggestion and everything evolves if they stuck to the original setup it would basically be all US players and matchplay format. It's only fairly recently that they "opened" it up to international players.

[OldTomMorris]

> @BNGL said:

> > @OldTomMorris said:

> > > @BNGL said:

> > > > @OldTomMorris said:

> > > > They should consider creating an exemption category for up to 4 amateurs - US winner & runner-up, British winner and Asian winner. I don't think its a good look for one major to exclude amateurs.

> > >

> > > Why is it a bad look that the Professional Golfers Association of America’s crown jewel has no amateurs in the field?

> > >

> >

> > My answer was in my statement, it's just my opinion.

> >

> > Professional Golfers Association of America clearly has big ties with amateur golf, the majority of their members will teach amateur golfers I think it's weird that it's the only major that has no amateur representation. Its like when this tournament is on amateur golf doesn't exist.

> >

> > Lots of tournaments worldwide run by different professional golf bodies have amateurs in the field.

>

> You’re totally right. Even better than letting amateurs in we should change the format to identify the best pga professional. It should only be pga professionals with an amateur partner except the Am is the only one that plays and he’s getting a playing lesson from the pro. Lowest scoring am obviously has the best pga pro

 

Great idea, love it.

[KillerPenguin]

> @Texsport said:

> I know a pro in a northern state who has qualified for the Club Pro Championships a number of times, and holds several course records.

>

> His course was not even open when the tournament was played this year.

>

> He told me that unless the Championship is moved back to the fall, where it belongs, he won’t even try to qualify any more. He’s not going to spend the money to enter and travel across the country to play in an event where he has no chance to play well. Makes no sense what the PGA did this year!

>

> Texsport

 

Tex, the last thing the PGA was thinking about were club pros when they made the decision. The PGA is trying (and failing) to find a way to improve its stature vis a vis the other three majors as well as avoid getting swallowed up by the Olympics again. Personally, I like the move as it is likely to bring some more southerly courses into play in decades to come, but the move to May doesn't look to have moved the needle anymore than an August date would have. Time will tell.

[Golfer4Life]

I can’t wait for PGA Tour players to start playing in the LPGA Tour events. :*

[James the Hogan Fan]

> @OldTomMorris said:

> > @BNGL said:

> > > @OldTomMorris said:

> > > They should consider creating an exemption category for up to 4 amateurs - US winner & runner-up, British winner and Asian winner. I don't think its a good look for one major to exclude amateurs.

> >

> > Why is it a bad look that the Professional Golfers Association of America’s crown jewel has no amateurs in the field?

> >

>

> My answer was in my statement, it's just my opinion.

>

> Professional Golfers Association of America clearly has big ties with amateur golf, the majority of their members will teach amateur golfers I think it's weird that it's the only major that has no amateur representation. Its like when this tournament is on amateur golf doesn't exist.

>

> Lots of tournaments worldwide run by different professional golf bodies have amateurs in the field.

 

Does anyone know if an Am would receive the exemption to the PGA if they were to win one of the tour events during the season? Suppose Mr. Mid-Am wins the Masters. (yeah, sure) But does he get the auto-bid to the PGA or do they say, sorry but you've beaten the system and we cannot have you? It's a legit question, I always thought that would be the only way for an Am to make the PGA.

[iteachgolf]

> @"James the Hogan Fan" said:

> > @OldTomMorris said:

> > > @BNGL said:

> > > > @OldTomMorris said:

> > > > They should consider creating an exemption category for up to 4 amateurs - US winner & runner-up, British winner and Asian winner. I don't think its a good look for one major to exclude amateurs.

> > >

> > > Why is it a bad look that the Professional Golfers Association of America’s crown jewel has no amateurs in the field?

> > >

> >

> > My answer was in my statement, it's just my opinion.

> >

> > Professional Golfers Association of America clearly has big ties with amateur golf, the majority of their members will teach amateur golfers I think it's weird that it's the only major that has no amateur representation. Its like when this tournament is on amateur golf doesn't exist.

> >

> > Lots of tournaments worldwide run by different professional golf bodies have amateurs in the field.

>

> Does anyone know if an Am would receive the exemption to the PGA if they were to win one of the tour events during the season? Suppose Mr. Mid-Am wins the Masters. (yeah, sure) But does he get the auto-bid to the PGA or do they say, sorry but you've beaten the system and we cannot have you? It's a legit question, I always thought that would be the only way for an Am to make the PGA.

 

Almost all ams who win a PGA Tour event turn pro. Phil stayed an AM and as a result did not play in the 1991 PGA.

[James the Hogan Fan]

> @iteachgolf said:

> > @"James the Hogan Fan" said:

> > > @OldTomMorris said:

> > > > @BNGL said:

> > > > > @OldTomMorris said:

> > > > > They should consider creating an exemption category for up to 4 amateurs - US winner & runner-up, British winner and Asian winner. I don't think its a good look for one major to exclude amateurs.

> > > >

> > > > Why is it a bad look that the Professional Golfers Association of America’s crown jewel has no amateurs in the field?

> > > >

> > >

> > > My answer was in my statement, it's just my opinion.

> > >

> > > Professional Golfers Association of America clearly has big ties with amateur golf, the majority of their members will teach amateur golfers I think it's weird that it's the only major that has no amateur representation. Its like when this tournament is on amateur golf doesn't exist.

> > >

> > > Lots of tournaments worldwide run by different professional golf bodies have amateurs in the field.

> >

> > Does anyone know if an Am would receive the exemption to the PGA if they were to win one of the tour events during the season? Suppose Mr. Mid-Am wins the Masters. (yeah, sure) But does he get the auto-bid to the PGA or do they say, sorry but you've beaten the system and we cannot have you? It's a legit question, I always thought that would be the only way for an Am to make the PGA.

>

> Almost all ams who win a PGA Tour event turn pro. Phil stayed an AM and as a result did not play in the 1991 PGA.

 

I realize that it's a practical impossibility, but since the PGA says the last 5 Masters winners get in, if that winner were an Am and kept their Am status, would the PGA still not let them in. I don't know if Phils 1991 win was enough in and of itself to qualify him for the PGA at the time.

 

(Suppose an Am won the masters and for sake of argument was allowed into the PGA. The am then wins the PGA, which would mean a lifetime exempt player at the PGA is an Am. Weird to think about.

[Darth Putter]

> @"James the Hogan Fan" said:

> > @iteachgolf said:

> > > @"James the Hogan Fan" said:

> > > > @OldTomMorris said:

> > > > > @BNGL said:

> > > > > > @OldTomMorris said:

> > > > > > They should consider creating an exemption category for up to 4 amateurs - US winner & runner-up, British winner and Asian winner. I don't think its a good look for one major to exclude amateurs.

> > > > >

> > > > > Why is it a bad look that the Professional Golfers Association of America’s crown jewel has no amateurs in the field?

> > > > >

> > > >

> > > > My answer was in my statement, it's just my opinion.

> > > >

> > > > Professional Golfers Association of America clearly has big ties with amateur golf, the majority of their members will teach amateur golfers I think it's weird that it's the only major that has no amateur representation. Its like when this tournament is on amateur golf doesn't exist.

> > > >

> > > > Lots of tournaments worldwide run by different professional golf bodies have amateurs in the field.

> > >

> > > Does anyone know if an Am would receive the exemption to the PGA if they were to win one of the tour events during the season? Suppose Mr. Mid-Am wins the Masters. (yeah, sure) But does he get the auto-bid to the PGA or do they say, sorry but you've beaten the system and we cannot have you? It's a legit question, I always thought that would be the only way for an Am to make the PGA.

> >

> > Almost all ams who win a PGA Tour event turn pro. Phil stayed an AM and as a result did not play in the 1991 PGA.

>

> I realize that it's a practical impossibility, but since the PGA says the last 5 Masters winners get in, if that winner were an Am and kept their Am status, would the PGA still not let them in. I don't know if Phils 1991 win was enough in and of itself to qualify him for the PGA at the time.

>

> (Suppose an Am won the masters and for sake of argument was allowed into the PGA. The am then wins the PGA, which would mean a lifetime exempt player at the PGA is an Am. Weird to think about.

 

Bobby Jones won the US Open and British Open and was not eligible to play in the PGA.

 

If an amateur won one of the other majors and inexplicably remained an amateur in this day and age, I imagine the PGA would let the player play in their tournament.

 

The only possible scenario I could see is a college player winning The Masters and wanting to stay an amateur to win the NCAA with his team six to seven weeks later. If he got in the PGA, he would have played Monday through Sunday (with a made cut) in the last week with Regionals. That is a very tall order, I just don't see it ever happening.

 

One other change that happened this year with the schedule change was the lack of a Senior PGA Champion. This created one more spot for a regular tour pro. The 2019 Senior PGA Champion will compete in the 2020 PGA.

[tiderider]

> @OldTomMorris said:

> > @tiderider said:

> > field is limited to pros ... amateurs get into the masters ... pga is for pros ...

>

> I know that but it doesn't have to be.

 

the tournament is run by the PROfessional Golfers Association, and is their championship, so it is limited to PROfessional golfers ... so, yes, it does ... i'd say most PGA pros aren't as good as the top amateurs, but they play at some level as a PRO ... their livelihood is attached to the game in some way, and they compete for money ... this is a nod to them, and them only ...

[OldTomMorris]

> @Golfer4Life said:

> I can’t wait for PGA Tour players to start playing in the LPGA Tour events. :*

 

Brilliant thats exactly what I was alluding to.

[MountainGoat]

> @Golfer4Life said:

> I can’t wait for PGA Tour players to start playing in the LPGA Tour events. :*

No, that slot is reserved for Tony Romo.

 

 

[Golfer4Life]

> @MountainGoat said:

> > @Golfer4Life said:

> > I can’t wait for PGA Tour players to start playing in the LPGA Tour events. :*

> No, that slot is reserved for Tony Romo.

>

>

 

Excellent! Lol.....