Calls grow for major boost to Australian Open golf

Calls are rising louder for the Australian Open to be elevated in world standing in a bid to unify world golf after two years of civil warfare.

Former European Ryder captain Paul McGinley is advocating for the winner of Australia’s flagship occasion to earn entry to all 4 main championships in a approach of strengthening the fields as fewer and fewer LIV golfers qualify.

Presently, gamers from the Saudi-backed insurgent tour are unable to accrue rating factors at LIV tournaments, sending the likes of former world No.1s Dustin Johnson and Brooks Koepka and Australia’s 2022 British Open champion Cameron Smith plunging down the standings.

Johnson’s place as No.312 regardless of being a twin main champion and three-time LIV winner previously 18 months has made a mockery of the rankings.

At world No.68, after being as excessive as second after he triumphed at St Andrews lower than two years in the past, Smith would ordinarily have missed out on a Masters berth this week.

Because it stands, Smith shall be ineligible for the majors as soon as his five-year exemption expires on the finish of 2027.

However McGinley’s proposal, which is drawing assist from fellow commentators and golf aficionados, may show a circuit breaker for the divided recreation.

“The majors are in a little bit of a quandary as gamers slip on these rankings,” he advised the Golf Channel.

“How how do they make sure the fields embody one of the best gamers on the planet?

“The plain reply is that there is received to be a approach for sure gamers in no matter tour they’re taking part in to have the ability to win their approach in.

“Why not make the winner of the Australian Open exempt to all 4 majors? Not simply the Masters.

“You speak about rising the sport, that may convey gamers, a number of the greatest gamers on the planet, to Australia figuring out {that a} win would get them in all 4 majors.

“These sorts of issues to me are extra clear.”

The Australian Open was as soon as considered golf’s unofficial fifth main.

Jack Nicklaus is a six-time winner of the Stonehaven Cup, Gary Participant a seven-times champion and a raft of different all-time greats together with Arnold Palmer, Tom Watson, Peter Thomson, Greg Norman and Gene Sarazen even have their names etched on the trophy.

Former British Open champion Ian Baker-Finch says, whatever the world rankings debate, he would like to see extra of the game’s superstars taking part in within the Australian Open.

As a PGA Tour commentator, Baker-Finch attends all 4 majors yearly and is promising to attempt to lure extra huge weapons down beneath in his new function as incoming PGA of Australia chair.

“If the occasion is admittedly good, they’ll come,” he advised reporters at Augusta Nationwide.

“Rory McIlroy has mentioned to me, ‘Hey, Finchy, you be sure to inform me when we’ll Kingston Heath, I will come down and play’.

“For those who take a look at the gamers’ guides, plenty of them will say their favorite course on the planet is Royal Melbourne or Kingston Heath or someplace within the sandbelt.”

Baker-Finch, although, is not sure how lengthy the LIV Golf tour will even final in its present format.

“I doubt very a lot that LIV, as it’s, survives long-term,” he mentioned.

“I simply do not see shotgun begins, 54 holes. And do not give me ‘develop the sport’ – that is not what they’re doing in any respect.

“It is rising their financial institution accounts.”