re: Ranking the 4 Golf Majors

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if the masters weren't the first major every year would the ranking change for anyone?


i think a lot of the allure of the masters is the build up to the first major

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Masters has several things going for it. This may be one, but I don't think it's too determinative. Others would be:

Exclusivity - Hard to play the course, impossible to get membership, potentially the hardest and most expensive ticket in sports.

Venue - Only major that doesn't move. While this could be a negative to some, I think the familiarity for casual golf watchers helps. Everyone in the South watches the Masters. Most sports fans watch some of it, and all golf fans watch it. So unlike rotating venues, especially where the layouts are more difficult to recall or follow (Most Open courses and Merion come to mind), a lot of casual fans can picture iconic holes at Augusta and it makes following rounds easier. It also helps the average viewer to understand challenges and what constitutes amazing play.

Consistency and Aesthetics - It's like a green carpet, and it is always perfect. There aren't mud pits. There isn't a bunch of scrub grass. The weather isn't usually problematic, and it's gorgeous on TV.