64 replies to this topic

[grm24]

Cwebb, on 31 October 2017 - 01:23 AM, said:

grm24, on 31 October 2017 - 01:03 AM, said:

PGArox, on 31 October 2017 - 12:45 AM, said:

I have to go with the 2nd in a major, and here is why -

If you win an opposite field event there is a very good chance that 90% of the golf watching public will not see it.  Furthermore, in playing against such a weak field your victory is not likely to give you the sky-high confidence that contending mightily in a major surely would.

If you finish runner-up in a major you will be watched by millions of people worldwide, and the confidence you would come away with would very likely propel you to that victory you are looking for, so you end up winning twice.

Any example(s) of such a player? Finishing high in a major guarantees nothing.

Jason Dufner.  He lost in a playoff at the PGA Championship....then he won it the following year

Dufner lost to Keegan in 2011 @ The PGA. He then won his PGA in 2013. However Dufner did win twice in 2012 on the PGA Tour. Again any player finishing high in a major or any other professional event guarantees nothing going forward. If it did Rickie Fowler would have more than 4 wins in 8 years on the PGA Tour.

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[joeylough]

I'll just put that 2nd place in the trophy cabinet....oh wait.

[Dave230]

bscinstnct, on 30 October 2017 - 03:36 PM, said:

Dave230, on 30 October 2017 - 03:11 PM, said:

Second in a major every day of the week. Beat 99% of the very best players in the world. The ranking points and respect you gain are greater and if you are capable of finishing second in a major then that must give you the confidence to be able to win regular tournaments. Finishing second at a major is a fantastic achievement.

Of course, if you blew a lead to finish second, that might be less of a nice feeling.

The only 2nd place finisher/situations we remember are the collapses, the heart breakers, Phil, Monty, Spieth, DJ, Sam Snead. Imagine if that was your "best" golf accomplishment?

Hollow, haunting, emptiness that lasts a lifetime....

I gained greater respect for Phil Mickelson when he finished second in The Open last year, because he was probably the greatest second place player of all-time, and would have won 99% of majors with the way he played. Similarly Justin Rose at the Masters this year, and the sportsmanship in his loss will stay in the memory.

Similarly, Jack Nicklaus in the 1977 Open, Rocco Mediate in 2008 US Open etc. If you asked me to name 3 winners of the Sanderson Farms Championship over the last 10 years I couldn't, whereas I could name 3 second places in all of the majors.

It depends though. Are you a complete journeyman or a somewhat established player in this scenario?

Edited by Dave230, 31 October 2017 - 05:04 AM.

[JerseyBoy]

sfiggins, on 30 October 2017 - 06:06 PM, said:

Big fish in little pond is better than little fish in big pond.

Confucius, is that you?

[Boricua Golf]

uuummmm, let me think, I guess I would like to win it?????

[jaymayor]

PGA Tour Winner has a nice ring to it.

[cwglum]

This is a job for the players.  They're not chasing history, they're out there to make money.

High finishes in majors gets you entry into other large tourneys, but a win guarantees your playing privileges for another 2 seasons.
Several more guaranteed opportunities to make additional cash.

Edited by cwglum, 31 October 2017 - 09:42 AM.

[oldschoolrocker]

I would see the win as a Pyrrhic victory.  Won the skirmish, opposite field event, but lost the war, the major.
That doesn’t answer the OP’s question.  Best I can do.  I’m on the fence with this one.

[tbowles411]

DavePelz4, on 30 October 2017 - 01:56 PM, said:

No one remembers the first runner up but you always remember the winner.

Agreed.  We just saw it.  Ryan Armour was your classic struggling and sometimes broke journeyman who changed his life this weekend.  3 years exempt on tour will bring him much more than a solo second at a major.

I'll take the win.

[AutomaticTwoDown]

DavePelz4, on 30 October 2017 - 01:56 PM, said:

No one remembers the first runner up but you always remember the winner.

I was never a fan of that saying. I remember who lost every Super Bowl, and I remember who finished second in a lot of majors.

But I’ve only heard the term ‘first runner up’ used in beauty pageants.  Using pageant speak on a golf forum? Come on Pelz, step up your game.

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[SkiSchoolPro]

tbowles411, on 31 October 2017 - 11:23 AM, said:

...We just saw it.  Ryan Armour was your classic struggling and sometimes broke journeyman who changed his life this weekend.  3 years exempt on tour will bring him much more than a solo second at a major.

One of the reasons I started the post. OTOH, 2nd at a major is more $, more OWGR and Fed Ex points as well as a bigger TV audience (which most sponsors will appreciate).

[Vindog]

I've never heard the saying:

"Coming in second at a good tournament takes care of everything"

[rangersgoalie]

"Official" win
2 years exempt +
In invitationals, PGA Masters?
As a past Champion, you are a lifetime member of the TOUR.  TPC access, pro-am invite$, and bonuses from endorsements.

There are some pretty long term benefits for an unknown that open doors.



I'd take the secondary win

[Golfjack]

Assuming no wins yet, a PGA pro would probably prefer winning an event with the perks it brings.  Each tournament I think is different too though so depends on what that win offers.

[Hankshank]

Whatever pays the best. I need milk for my children.

[new2g0lf]

Win, because except for Jack fans, no one remembers who finished 2nd.

[ks6970]

Win

[disco111]

SkiSchoolPro, on 30 October 2017 - 12:47 PM, said:

Win an opposite field event (under $800 K and 300 Fed Ex Points) OR finish solo 2nd at a major (~$1.3 M & 330 points)?

While a win, in fact any win on the Tour, does not come easy and in truth, may not even have the chance again and it does have that exemption offering to boot, it could just come down to simple dollars. The win may only pay 350-400K for a 800K purse if that, where as 1.3 mil for a second can also be life changing on it's own. My personal preference would be the second place big money return with the major. I'm not sure about that win getting you into anything but normal tour events, but the second at a major most likely would open the doors at other majors. As an addition, knowing the second at the major, against a strong field, should instill more confidence in your game, at least IMO.

[Vardon Grip]

Win.

Because there's never been a post that says: "(Fill in blank) is the worst runner-up in a major".

[chippa13]

Depends on what size ponds you prefer. I'd take second against the best field over being one-eyed man in the land of the blind.

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[sfiggins]

JerseyBoy, on 31 October 2017 - 07:55 AM, said:

sfiggins, on 30 October 2017 - 06:06 PM, said:

Big fish in little pond is better than little fish in big pond.

Confucius, is that you?

Not Confucius, but even broken clock correct two times per day.

[bscinstnct]

chippa13, on 03 November 2017 - 09:18 PM, said:

Depends on what size ponds you prefer. I'd take second against the best field over being one-eyed man in the land of the blind.

"In the land of the blind, the one-eyed man is king"

[grm24]

disco111, on 03 November 2017 - 01:25 PM, said:

The win may only pay 350-400K for a 800K purse if that

Check your facts. Please show all of us where a top level PGA Tour event has an 800k purse. There are none. The smallest purse for 2017/18 on the PGA Tour is $3 million dollars which pays $540k to the winner (standard 18% to the winner) and comes with a 2 year tour exemption. History has shown many players have finished high in a major and have accomplished nothing else on tour. Winning has more privileges on tour in a smaller event than finishing 2nd in a major does. As it should. FTR winning an event with an $800k purse (Web.com level event) nets you $144k as the winner but guarantees nothing for the main tour. JAT.

[Darth Putter]

I'd probably do this...



...to finish second in a major.


I'll take a Barracuda Stableford trophy please.

[justwellsy]

3 words...
“PGA Tour Winner”

[Conrad1953]

Winning!

[disco111]

grm24, on 03 November 2017 - 11:38 PM, said:

disco111, on 03 November 2017 - 01:25 PM, said:

The win may only pay 350-400K for a 800K purse if that

Check your facts. Please show all of us where a top level PGA Tour event has an 800k purse. There are none. The smallest purse for 2017/18 on the PGA Tour is $3 million dollars which pays $540k to the winner (standard 18% to the winner) and comes with a 2 year tour exemption. History has shown many players have finished high in a major and have accomplished nothing else on tour. Winning has more privileges on tour in a smaller event than finishing 2nd in a major does. As it should. FTR winning an event with an $800k purse (Web.com level event) nets you $144k as the winner but guarantees nothing for the main tour. JAT.

Go back to the OP's original post and then get back to us...............

[grm24]

disco111, on 06 November 2017 - 10:58 AM, said:

grm24, on 03 November 2017 - 11:38 PM, said:

disco111, on 03 November 2017 - 01:25 PM, said:

The win may only pay 350-400K for a 800K purse if that

Check your facts. Please show all of us where a top level PGA Tour event has an 800k purse. There are none. The smallest purse for 2017/18 on the PGA Tour is $3 million dollars which pays $540k to the winner (standard 18% to the winner) and comes with a 2 year tour exemption. History has shown many players have finished high in a major and have accomplished nothing else on tour. Winning has more privileges on tour in a smaller event than finishing 2nd in a major does. As it should. FTR winning an event with an $800k purse (Web.com level event) nets you $144k as the winner but guarantees nothing for the main tour. JAT.

Go back to the OP's original post and then get back to us...............

The OP original post said nothing about purse size. The 800k figure he mentioned was about a first place prize not the amount of the purse. Big difference. Do you understand the difference? Appears not from this post you made "The win may only pay 350-400K for a 800K purse if that.

For the record the 2nd tier event in question at the time of the post had a total purse of $4.3 million which paid $774k for first place. You may want to check your facts before posting.

[disco111]

Win an opposite field event (under $800 K and 300 Fed Ex Points) OR finish solo 2nd at a major (~$1.3 M & 330 points)?

So it says under 800K, which I fully understood as a first place finish payment and suggesting that 350-400 was I admit low, but it still could only be half or less that the 1.3 mil for second in a major. The point being that that kind of money can be life altering unto itself and the differential was if the money had more of an influence at that particular time and place. It was nothing more than my opinion on the subject, so get off you high horse, absolutely no reason to run amoke looking for absolute facts about what pays what. Just go with the flow, you'll feel better.........

[Nixhex524]

THE WIN!!!!  Everyday, all the time, no questions asked.  How is this even a thing?!

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