2022 PDGA Champions Cup - 4th Pro Major

[ToddL]

https://www.pdga.com/news/pdga-champions-cup-set-run-fourth-pro-major-april-2022

MPO/FPO Major
4 rounds of stroke play
Top 4 players of each MPO and FPO play single-elimination, bracket style Match Play to determine top 4 spots.

 

[Pevio]

Interesting plan. I'm a big fan of having four majors every year, but I don't know if this is the best way to execute it. Going to IDGC for the first year is the right call, though.

 

[biscoe]

Hopefully it stays at IDGC in perpetuity. I'd like to see more than 2 rounds of match play but not my circus not my monkeys.

 

[araytx]

I've always liked the idea of majors with different formats. If we can zero-in on "the grand slam of disc golf" then we have a legit way to compare champions. Like the way we compare Tiger's 15 majors to Jack's 18. Or Federer & Nadal at 20 with Djoker at 17. To win in multiple kinds of major events really showcases true talent.

 

[ballgolfconvert]

I've always liked the idea of majors with different formats. If we can zero-in on "the grand slam of disc golf" then we have a legit way to compare champions. Like the way we compare Tiger's 15 majors to Jack's 18. Or Federer & Nadal at 20 with Djoker at 17. To win in multiple kinds of major events really showcases true talent.

I completely disagree that a different format is a plus for a major. None of the majors you quote is of a different format from each other. They have different style courses/courts but the formats are identical. Using match play event as a major will just diminish majors in disc golf and make any comparisons to other sports mute.

 

[ballgolfconvert]

Interesting plan. I'm a big fan of having four majors every year, but I don't know if this is the best way to execute it. Going to IDGC for the first year is the right call, though.

Agree with a 4th major and IDGC but completely disagree with the format. Someone can win the 4 rounds by 20 shots and still lose the tourney which wouldn't reward the deserving champion. Ask PGA pros if they would like their majors to be like this and you would have 100% answers in the negative.

"I grew up a huge fan of traditional golf and didn't really miss a major for ten years starting with the 1997 Masters," Heinold reflected following the Board's approval. "When I got interested in disc golf I felt that if I was to ever get into the administrative side of the sport, I would push to make things more professional and standardized by trying to get the PDGA schedule to include four consistent majors each year.

Going to a 4 person match play is not professional and not anything like what got him so excited as a kid. this is a travesty and the players will kill it after one season imo. Match play of any sort does not belong in the Majors category.

 

[DavidSauls]

I like it. I've always felt that match play would be an more engaging spectator format. Or, at least, refreshingly different. How "Major" it is remains to be seen; like creating something new and calling it at "Classic" from the outset, I sort of feel that events need to earn their way to major status -- at least, major in the sense of part of a Triple Crown or Grand Slam.

 

[biscoe]

Going to a 4 person match play is not professional and not anything like what got him so excited as a kid. this is a travesty and the players will kill it after one season imo. Match play of any sort does not belong in the Majors category.

The players will like it as long as the money is there.

IMO the fans will like it even more.

 

[Horsman]

The players will like it as long as the money is there.

IMO the fans will like it even more.

I thik this is the first time I am going to agree with the convert but I think this will also die very quickly. Matchplay is really boring to watch imo. Money might keep he players involved but it just gets old to watch when you dont have to compete against a lot of people. Thumbs down from me

 

[ballgolfconvert]

The players will like it as long as the money is there.

IMO the fans will like it even more.

Why would a 4 person match play bring more money to the purse? Just play the tournament and skip the match play part and I have zero issues. No point in having a 4th major if you are going to devalue it in this way.

PGA has a match play event and the Ryder Cup. Each has it's own prestige without taking away from the majors.

 

[ejvogie]

Show me where he said it would "bring more money to the purse".



I'll wait opcorn:

 

[_MTL_]

Why would a 4 person match play bring more money to the purse? Just play the tournament and skip the match play part and I have zero issues. No point in having a 4th major if you are going to devalue it in this way.

PGA has a match play event and the Ryder Cup. Each has it's own prestige without taking away from the majors.

First off, this is not a new. There was an entire match play major in 2011.

However, as the TD, I'm confident that this format absolutely will make fundraising easier.

I'm not arguing from a fairness perspective of the format sharing my opinion on the format - the Majors committee and board voted on this and while I knew of the many options discussed, including the one that was landed on - I knew it wouldn't be standard stroke play when I accepted the TD role.

However, when I heard this was the format, I immediately knew fundraising would be easier. What are you more likely to watch live on DGN and on JoMez post? Paul with a 9 shot lead in final round a match play round? We have completely eliminated the concern every time you do something like this - what happens if someone is having a victory lap in the final round?

I've read match play is boring. Yeah, it can be. Someone hits the first tree and the competitor parks it, they both pick up and yeah that's boring. But what's not boring is when someone is 200 feet out when they normally lay up and now being forced to go for it.

So when I Start pitching to sponsors, I can guarantee the final day of matches will have at least some drama in the round. Sure it might be a blow out and create the same ending as someone with a 10 shot lead, but at the start of it it won't be.

That's a very easy sell to sponsors. I started these conversations a month ago - I know sponsors are in love with the format.

 

[Horsman]

Show me where he said it would "bring more money to the purse".



I'll wait opcorn:

Isnt that heinolds whole shtick. Throw a bunch of money at people and then expect people to like his ideas. Hes where he is today because of money and how that money can influence people.

 

[Pevio]

The DGPT Finale, while not match play, does reset after each round, and it gets plenty of viewership. While I agree with that format over strict match play, both nearly guarantee it will come down to the last few holes.

 

[gr8flkev]

The PGA Championship (golf's 4th major) was a match play event for much of it's history. It was changed to stroke play after pressure from the TV networks. Match Play is a perfectly acceptable format for a major, and I don't think the major networks will pressure PDGA otherwise.

 

[_MTL_]

I'll also clarify -

let's say there are 100 MPO players. 5th - 40th are still going to get payout like they would if the event was 4 rounds of just stroke play.

The only adjusting will be the match play results of the top 4.

So 5th will still get 5th place money and an official 5th place finish.

 

[Ryan P.]

Agree with a 4th major and IDGC but completely disagree with the format. Someone can win the 4 rounds by 20 shots and still lose the tourney which wouldn't reward the deserving champion. Ask PGA pros if they would like their majors to be like this and you would have 100% answers in the negative.



Going to a 4 person match play is not professional and not anything like what got him so excited as a kid. this is a travesty and the players will kill it after one season imo. Match play of any sort does not belong in the Majors category.

Most pro sports don't award the true winner consistently. The Bucs are playing in the super bowl but won less games (including the playoffs) than the Packers. The format is what it is; it's about who brings their A game at the right time. No one is going to complain about having more disc golf to watch. I don't like (or think the pros will like) having to play 5-6 rounds to win the tourney, but it's more DG to watch.

 

[ToddL]

#1 seeds get bounced early from the NCAA basketball tournament all the time.
Top seeds lose in the early rounds of tennis tournaments on a regular basis.

 

[Ryan P.]

Isnt that heinolds whole shtick. Throw a bunch of money at people and then expect people to like his ideas. Hes where he is today because of money and how that money can influence people.

I think you're oversimplifying what Heinold brings. He has the baseline attribute of someone who understands what other people want (example: he was an excellent TD for many big tournaments), he knew how to get attention (example: he ran an event that for multiple years had a huge payout and still continues to), and he understands sales, which the PDGA and many DGers value so that the sport grows (example: he is an insurance salesman and has been instrumental in the growth of DG the past few years). His ability to fundraise is a plus, but not the only thing.

 

[Dcinmd]

So 5th will still get 5th place money and an official 5th place finish.

Are you saying 5th thru 8th place will continue play once they are eliminated? Or is there a different method for determining placing?