The Comprehensive Case for Elevating LIV Golf Adelaide to Major Championship Status

Each year around this time someone seems to suggest that the Player Championship should be considered the 5th major. This year that conversation has reached new heights (new lows?), with deeply incentivized golf commentator Brandel Chamblee suggesting that not only is it already a major championship, it’s the best major championship.

The way his Golf Central co-hosts were almost able to hide their shock at what they’d just heard come from his mouth reminded me of the look on a TGL player’s face as they watch the simulation of their wedge shot fly 20 yards over the green into the water, when they know they hit their number.

While many of the points he made were riddled with flaws, perhaps the least substantiated was that the hosting of the Golf Channel’s “Live From” pre-round show puts it on par with The Masters or The Open, because they only host those at major championships.

I’ve got a couple of issues with this conversation as a whole, and specifically with what Brandel is doing here. Mostly this stems from taking away from what is one of the really great PGA Tour events. Having this conversation isn’t elevating the event, it’s doing the opposite. It’s forcing the discussion of one of the best events in a direction that requires people to detract from it. Chamblee’s job is to drum up conversation, and he’s done just that, but at what cost?

The second is that the Players Championship is missing three key elements that in my mind completely disqualify it from this conversation.

The Players Championship has no teams, and without teams, there can be no team playoff. Without a team playoff, an event simply cannot be elevated to the 5th major championship. Golf has evolved beyond being an individual sport; we’ve seen this definitively with LIV Golf, and even a little bit with the Ryder Cup. If we are to elevate an event to be considered the 5th major championship, it should be representative of that, and the Players Championship is not.

I know what you’re thinking, “TPC Sawgrass’ 17th hole is one of the most famous in the world!” and I regret to inform you that it does not matter. It doesn’t bring the energy of the Watering Hole. It doesn’t bring the energy that Chase Koepka and Patrick Reed have brought to the greater Adelaide region.

Is it a cool little island-thing they’ve got going on there? Sure. Is it “12th hole at The Grange Golf Club” cool? I think we can all agree that it’s not, and for that reason it cannot be a major championship venue.

This one is self explanatory. That’s not the energy of a major championship.

Even being the hallmark event on the PGA Tour, there will be times where there is live golf being played and no broadcast, no viewing option, no way to watch. Furthermore, you are unable to see every shot from every player. In the year of our lord, 2026, this is unacceptable and immediately disqualifies this event from being considered a major championship. The fans should be able to watch any shot at any time, from every player. At best they are able to see some shots from some players, and follow the rest along on the sometimes functional website. Which doesn’t even really let you see the shots, just where the shots ended up. We have the technology to rectify this issue, but until it’s done, no dice for the Players Championship as a 5th major.

Now, do you know what event does meet all of these criteria?

LIV Golf Adelaide.

I’m not saying that it should count as a major championship this year, but I’m also not not saying that. The point I’m trying to stress here is that it’s got a lot more pieces of the puzzle than the annual TPC Sawgrass hit and giggle.

Now on a more serious note, let’s stop with all of this. There are four major championships. That’s how it’s been for decades, and that’s how it should remain. There’s no need to take away from what these events are by suggesting they’re something that they aren’t.

Enjoy LIV Golf Adelaide this week as it’s the last trip to The Grange Golf Club, a terrific venue. Enjoy The Players in a few weeks time as well, it’s a great event with a lot of history that is always fun to watch.