| Jay Haas celebrates his "major" win at Oak Tree. Scott Halleran/Getty Images |
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Rumor has it there was a major golf tournament held last weekend. Let's see ... the U.S. Open doesn't begin until June 15, and the McDonald's LPGA Championship is June 8.
Hmm ... oh, yeah, the Senior PGA Championship traipsed around Oak Tree Country Club in Edmond, Okla. Jay Haas earned his first "major" win.
"I tried my darnedest to win a major on the PGA Tour at the PGA, the Masters, U.S. Open, British Open, whatever, but it didn't happen," Haas said. "But this is ... I won't even say it's the next best thing. This is just like one of them to me."
Sure, Haas is happy over the effort, but respectfully, it's not like one of them.
Meaning, nice win. But major win? Hardly. It's laughable that just a few months ago, everyone was debating whether the Players Championship was a major. If the Players doesn't make the grade, why anoint any Champions event?
Now, this isn't to criticize the geezers' golf abilities. They still have game, would trounce mere scratch golfers and graciously satisfy countless public relations requests to promote the Tour. Maturity does that.
Yet, in positioning the professional golf events, who believes the Champions Tour is a can't-miss watch? Just for grins, let's rank in order the various pro golf stratas by must-see worthiness:
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1 |
The Masters, U.S. Open, Ryder Cup, British Open, PGA Championship, Players Championship |
2 |
PGA Tour events with Tiger Woods |
2.5 |
Tour events without Tiger but with Phil Mickelson |
3 |
Presidents Cup |
4 |
Tour events without Woods or Mickelson (e.g. Colonial, MCI Heritage) |
5 |
LPGA Majors |
6 |
Alternate PGA Tour events (e.g. Valero Texas Open, Reno-Tahoe, B.C. Open) |
7 |
LPGA non-majors |
8 |
U.S. Amateur |
9 |
Champions Tour majors, European Tour events, Nationwide Tour |
10 |
Champions Tour non-majors |
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At least with the alternate PGA Tour events or even Nationwide stops, one might catch an unpolished gem about to sparkle. Maybe the latest Jason Gore or Chris Couch will spring from the cocoon.
The latest Champions winner isn't going to spring onto the PGA Tour. Haas may hybrid between Tours, but he seems awfully comfortable with his peers. The typical Champions player merely continues as a good player and raking promised coin. Not that there's anything wrong with that.