Golf's big schism hurts Players' fifth major claim

The ongoing rift in the men’s professional game hurts the PGA Tour’s long-held desire to have its flagship event be considered a major.

ONGOING DIVIDE: Rory McIlroy, of Northern Ireland, hits from the third tee during a practice round of The Players Championship. Pic: Lynne Sladky, AP

For much of its 50 years, the Players Championship has yearned to be considered a peer to the major championships. ‘The fifth major’ has long been its unofficial moniker, with its merits for grand slam inclusion debated ad nauseam year after year.

At age 50 — with an established legacy of delivering high drama and quality champions on a memorable course with a bloated purse — it seemed like a natural landmark moment to potentially codify the Players as truly major instead of major-ish.