The move by the LPGA Tour in 2013 to add the Evian Masters as a fifth major doesn’t make sense. You can’t attach major status to a tournament just by adding prize money and calling it a major. It’s clear they’re trying to generate interest in a product that’s suffering from a dearth of star power. Last week’s Ladies U.S. Open was pretty much of a snoozer with a very unglamorous leader board. The PGA Tour’s highest purse is paid for the Player’s Championship ($9,500,000) and it is still not regarded as a major, and try as some might to elevate, it will never gain major status, and it shouldn’t. Too many majors water down the value of the current set.
The Solheim Cup is arguably the most compelling women’s event with the match play format generating genuine interest and passion. Rather than add a fifth major with a largely unrecognizable field, the LPGA should consider an additional match play event pitting the United States against players outside of Europe, similar to the President’s Cup for the men. The television audience would identify with all the best American players and get introduced to the growing number of talented Asian stars.
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