Golf: Defender Perks rejects 'fifth major' call

PONTE VEDRA - New Zealanders Craig Perks and Michael Campbell have joined the chorus of those who disagree with The Players Championship becoming golf's fifth major.

The perennial question of whether the Players, won brilliantly last year by the Louisiana-based Perks, should become a fifth major is again cause for debate as competitors prepare for tomorrow's start in the US$6 million ($11.02 million) event at the TPC Sawgrass course in Ponte Vedra, Florida.

Perks tees up as defending champion after his stunning three-hole finish to clinch the US$1.08 million first prize cheque and his first and only United States PGA Tour title.

The 36-year-old New Zealander's photograph and name have now joined other Players champions, including Jack Nicklaus (1974, 1976 and 1978), Lee Trevino (1980), Fred Couples (1984 and 1996), Greg Norman (1994) and Tiger Woods (2001), on 1.8m-high banners lining TPC Boulevard leading to the Sawgrass clubhouse.

Perks told international media yesterday that "it's a thrill to be back" at the venue where he twice chipped in on the final three holes before winning the prestigious title.

"Even driving down the street and seeing my ugly face on all the posters is just great," he said.

For the opening round Perks has been grouped with prolific winner Vijay Singh and American Davis Love III, winner of last month's AT and T Pebble Beach pro-am.

But debate still rages as to whether the event should be classed as a major.

Tim Finchem, the US PGA Tour Commissioner, was certain to ruffle many non-American administrators when he said "there is not anything stopping us" from recognising the Players as a fifth major.

"The day will come when we do that. We haven't made that determination, but that's not to say we wouldn't, at some point, take that step," Finchem said.

"The Players Championship is now the same age as the Masters was in 1964, when Arnold Palmer won for the fourth time in eight years.

"I think we would all agree that the Masters was considered a major by that point and the Players has matured, it's got some significant history, and I get the feeling that in the last five or six years it has made its most significant movement in overall stature."

Ken Schofield, his counterpart on the European Tour, doesn't agree and he is joined by the first and second-ranked players, Tiger Woods and Ernie Els.

"No, I don't think so," Woods said of the idea.

Els, who has withdrawn from the event though injury, was more forthright in saying: "It's not a major, never will be."

Perks added: "The four majors already have a lot of tradition, and that tradition has been developed over many years.

"We all know as players that the Players is a great tournament, attracting probably the best field in golf, but I don't believe it needs to be known as a major.

"It's already known as the unofficial fifth major and that's enough recognition."

Campbell agreed, saying: "The Players is a great event, but it just doesn't have that feel a major has, and that's the only thing going against it."

- NZPA

* Live coverage of the TPC begins on Sky Sport One at 5am tomorrow.