Professional golf is at a crossroads. The sport’s global explosion, fueled by new talent from Asia, Australia, and beyond, demands a bolder vision, but the bitter schism between the PGA Tour and LIV Golf threatens to tear it apart.
The current structure of four majors — the Masters, PGA Championship, U.S. Open, and The Open Championship — is iconic but inadequate to heal golf’s schism, reflect its worldwide growth, or fairly rank its stars. (Does anyone think the OWGR is credible when Brooks Koepka is ranked 286th in the world yet is listed as one of the top-10 betting favorites at next month’s PGA Championship?)
To unify the sport, ignite its global fanbase, create a balanced power structure, and ensure the best players compete head-to-head, pro golf must expand to six majors, contested monthly from March through August.
Elevating The Players Championship at TPC Sawgrass to the fifth major, managed by the PGA Tour, and transforming the Australian Open into the sixth, governed by Golf Australia, would not only mend golf’s divides but also revolutionize player rankings and governance equity.
Additionally, rotating the PGA Championship to an international site every third year would cement a truly global schedule, broadening stakeholder diversity and amplifying golf’s reach. This is the bold reset golf demands.
The Fracturing of Golf and the Case for Six Majors
The PGA Tour-LIV Golf rift has split golf’s biggest names (Jon Rahm, Bryson DeChambeau, and Brooks Koepka on LIV, Scottie Scheffler, Justin Thomas, and Rory McIlroy on the PGA Tour) leaving the four majors as the only reliable stages for head-to-head battles.
Four showdowns a year aren’t enough to satisfy fans or sustain golf’s momentum amid this civil war. The divide has also warped the Official World Golf Ranking (OWGR), with LIV tournaments unfairly excluded from the OWGR system, thus skewing rankings and eroding credibility.
Expanding to six majors would provide six annual opportunities for LIV and PGA Tour stars to compete, ensuring some equity relative to rankings while restoring the rivalries that define the sport.
Beyond unification, six majors would embrace golf’s global surge. Players like Hideki Matsuyama, Min Woo Lee, and Joaquin Niemann reflect the sport’s diverse talent pool, yet the four-major structure remains Western-centric. A major every month from March to August, with the PGA Championship rotating internationally every third year, would create a thrilling, cohesive season, rewarding excellence across varied conditions and amplifying golf’s reach in markets like Asia, Latin America, and Continental Europe.
This isn’t about diluting history — it’s about forging a future where golf unites players and fans across borders and tours.
Crucially, assigning governance of the new majors to the PGA Tour (The Players) and Golf Australia (Australian Open) would balance power among six governing bodies — PGA Tour, Augusta National, PGA of America, USGA, R&A, and Golf Australia — ensuring no single entity dominates and addressing the PGA Tour’s long-standing grievance of feeding marquee talent to majors it doesn’t control.
The Players Championship: The Unifying Fifth Major
The Players Championship at TPC Sawgrass is the undeniable fifth major and a cornerstone of this vision. Held in March, it boasts golf’s deepest field, with PGA Tour stars and, potentially, LIV players if access is opened.
Its Stadium Course — one of America’s most iconic stages, anchored by the heart-stopping par-3 17th island green, is a crucible of skill and nerve, delivering drama that rivals Augusta’s back nine. As a major managed by the PGA Tour, The Players would award significant OWGR points, giving LIV players a fair shot to climb rankings and ensuring the system reflects talent, not tour loyalty.
For years, the PGA Tour has griped that it fuels the majors with top talent yet lacks ownership of one. The Players becoming a major gives the PGA Tour a crown jewel it can proudly steward. With its global broadcast reach and fan-friendly atmosphere, The Players is primed to launch the major season, unifying golf and boosting rankings with a high-stakes, inclusive stage. Denying its major status ignores its power to heal golf’s fractures and empower the PGA Tour.
This is a major in all but name.
The Australian Open: Golf Australia’s Global Beacon
The Australian Open, contested on Sandbelt masterpieces like Royal Melbourne or Kingston Heath, is the ideal sixth major. Australia’s golfing legacy — Greg Norman, Cameron Smith, and Adam Scott, many now on LIV — demands a men’s major to match its passion.
Governed by Golf Australia, an August Australian Open would provide another neutral stage for LIV and PGA Tour players, leveling the OWGR playing field. A win on Royal Melbourne’s strategic fairways could rocket a player up the rankings, ensuring global talent shines.
August’s timing leverages Australia’s mild winter and taps into the Asia-Pacific’s booming golf market. Rotating among Sandbelt courses would showcase their strategic brilliance, rewarding adaptable players.
For Golf Australia, managing a major would elevate its global stature, balancing power among the six governing bodies and ensuring the Southern Hemisphere has a voice. Excluding Australia from the major stage dismisses its critical role in golf’s growth and rankings fairness.
The PGA Championship: A Global Rotation
To solidify the global schedule, the PGA Championship, managed by the PGA of America, should rotate to an international site every third year, partnering with local governing bodies like the PGA European Tour, Korea PGA, or Japan Golf Tour Organization.
This rotation would diversify stakeholders, bringing new regions into the major fold. Potential international venues could include PGA National in Turkey, Real Club Valderrama in Spain, Marco Simone in Italy, and the Jack Nicklaus Golf Club Korea, each offering world-class courses and passionate fanbases.
A new PGA Championship rota could be: Year 1–USA, Year 2–USA, Year 3–International (e.g., France’s Le Golf National), Year 4–USA, Year 5–USA, Year 6–International (e.g., Canada’s Royal Montreal Golf Club).
This rotation would enhance the PGA Championship’s global appeal, test players on diverse layouts, and boost rankings by rewarding adaptability. Partnering with local bodies ensures cultural and logistical alignment, while the PGA of America retains primary governance, maintaining continuity. This move would make the six-major schedule a beacon of inclusivity, showcasing golf’s reach in Latin America, Asia, Europe and beyond.
A Balanced, Unified Governance Model
Assigning The Players to the PGA Tour and the Australian Open to Golf Australia creates a six-major governance structure — PGA Tour, Augusta National, PGA of America, USGA, R&A, and Golf Australia — with equal equity and promotional power.
The PGA of America’s international rotation further diversifies stakeholders by involving local governing bodies every third year. This balanced model prevents any single body from dominating, fostering collaboration and fairness. Each organization would manage its major, share in global promotion, and ensure LIV and PGA Tour players compete together, unifying the sport.
For the PGA Tour, owning The Players as a major fulfills a decades-long ambition, rewarding its role in developing talent. For Golf Australia, the Australian Open major cements its place at golf’s top table, amplifying the sport’s global reach. For the PGA of America, internationalizing the PGA Championship amplifies its worldwide influence.
A Unified, Thrilling Major Season
Imagine this six-major calendar, a six-month saga that unites the sport and captivates the world:
- March: The Players Championship (PGA Tour: TPC Sawgrass, Florida) – Precision and drama kick off the season.
- April: The Masters (ANGC: Augusta National, Georgia) – Tradition and azaleas in full bloom.
- May: PGA Championship (PGAA: rotating U.S./International venues) – A global star-studded battle for glory.
- June: U.S. Open (USGA: rotating U.S. venues) – Golf’s toughest test, open to all.
- July: The Open Championship (R&A: rotating U.K. venues) – Links golf’s timeless challenge.
- August: Australian Open (GA: rotating Australian venues) – A global finale with an Adelaide vibe.
Rankings Revolution
This schedule is a rankings revolution: one major per month, each offering substantial OWGR points and distinct challenges, from Sawgrass’s precision to Melbourne’s strategy. Players face a grueling test of consistency, with six opportunities to earn big-league points against the world’s best, regardless of tour.
LIV players, currently banned from receiving OWGR points, would gain critical exposure, while PGA Tour stars would face stiffer competition, making rankings legitimate. Finally, the Australian Open’s finale would cap the season, locking in a rankings hierarchy that truly reflects the year’s elite performers.
Dismantling the Doubts
Traditionalists will argue six majors dilutes prestige, but golf has evolved before — the PGA Championship’s rise didn’t diminish The Open. The Players and Australian Open are elite events, ready for major status under PGA Tour and Golf Australia stewardship. The PGA Championship’s international rotation builds on this, proving golf’s adaptability.
Far from cheapening the majors, this expansion would raise the stakes, forcing players to peak six times a year and creating more moments like Tiger’s 2019 Masters or Phil’s 2021 PGA — moments that define the sport.
Player fatigue is a flimsy objection. Modern golfers are surrounded by a team of experts — coaches, trainers, doctors, data analysts, media gurus, dieticians — all working in tandem for high-stakes competition. A monthly major is more than manageable, especially with the off-season for recovery.
The current disjointed calendar, with its fractured tours and varied meta tags (regular, signature, opposite-field, playoff, fall series), is less coherent and just as taxing. A six-major season would streamline the sport, giving players a clear path to glory and fans a reason to stay invested.
Skeptics might question the PGA Championship’s international rotation, citing logistical challenges or U.S.-centric tradition. However, the PGA of America’s global brand and partnerships with local bodies like the European PGA or Korea PGA ensure seamless execution. Venues like Valderrama or Narita are major-ready, and the rotation (two U.S. years, one international) preserves the event’s American roots while embracing golf’s worldwide appeal.
Then there’s the economic upside. Six majors would supercharge golf’s revenue — more ticket sales, bigger TV deals, and a massive boost in Asia, Latin America, and Europe markets. The Players Championship already draws huge crowds, and an Australian Open major would unlock new sponsorships and inspire a generation of fans. For rankings, this funds better OWGR infrastructure. Crucially, six majors almost forces LIV-PGA Tour reconciliation, ensuring fans see Rahm vs. Scheffler six times a year, making rankings a true reflection of golf’s elite.
The alternative — fewer marquee events, fractured fields — risks alienating fans and stunting golf’s growth.
A Unified Future Awaits
Golf’s governing bodies — the PGA Tour, Augusta National, PGA of American, USGA, R&A, and Golf Australia — must seize this moment. The Players Championship and Australian Open are worthy candidates to join the major ranks, and the PGA Championship’s international rotation every third year completes a truly global schedule.
This isn’t just about adding events; it’s about saving golf from division, empowering all stakeholders, and ensuring rankings reflect true talent. Six majors, equally managed, would deliver six big-time showdowns, restore rivalries — DeChambeau vs. McIlroy, Rahm vs. Scheffler, give the PGA Tour its long-sought major, elevate Golf Australia’s global role, and make the PGA of America a pioneer of this global golf renaissance
The status quo risks a fractured sport with flawed rankings and disengaged fans. Six majors — from Sawgrass’s island green and Augusta’s Amen Corner to Italy’s majestic vistas and Australia’s windswept Sandbelt, would forge a story of unity, equity, ambition, and global triumph.
The world is waiting. Six majors. One game. The time is now.
