PGA Calender Should Add Two Majors

The golfing world should consider increasing the number of majors from four to six because the interest in weekly non-major golf tournaments is generally not very high unless Tiger Woods is playing.  

The major golfing organizations (in the United States and Europe, in particular) should get together to discuss expanding the majors.  The addition will not dilute the importance of the current four, but rather generate even more excitement for golf.

I would propose that these majors not be played in the United States or Europe. They should be expanded to new continents that do not currently host a major. They should be played during the summer months of December through February in the southern hemisphere nations of South Africa and Australia.

Both countries have rich golfing traditions and have produced many fine golfers during their history, which is quite amazing given their relatively small populations, Australia has about 21 million people, and diverse sporting interests.  

During a large part of its history, South Africa was under apartheid. The game was effectively restricted to the minority white population which today constitutes around 4.3 million people. Despite the negative and controversial history of apartheid, South Africa has produced one of the greatest golf players in history, Gary Player, who won all four majors. Other South African major-winners include Ernie Els, Retief Goosen and Trevor Immelman.

I believe golf players in America and Europe would welcome majors in South Africa and Australia. Many are already playing in golf tournaments in these places. Tiger Woods just won the Australian Masters in Melbourne.

South Africa and Australia deserve to have majors given the popularity of golf in each country, the quality and quantity of golfers each produces and the relatively high number of golf courses each has. In short, South Africa and Australia are important golfing nations and it is mind-boggling that no majors are played there.

Australian golf in particular would receive a much needed boost.  It took a $3 million appearance fee to lure Tiger Woods to the Australian Masters this year but otherwise that tournament's interest and the business of Australian golf in general has been in decline recently.  Golf has an obligation to do what it can to help the game not only survive but also flourish in Australia.   

Possible locations for these two majors. The South African Open which is played on the beautiful Cape Peninsula near Cape Town and the Australian Masters in Melbourne could be converted into majors.   

It is not clear how a major becomes a major, but with universal agreement by top players such as Tiger Woods, major golfing bodies of the world and, of course, American television networks, it would seem that the addition of two majors could be accomplished.