Back when I was a sports columnist in Jacksonville, Fla., I eventually banned myself from writing about The Players Championship and the "major" issue: when, if and how the tournament was a major or ever likely to become one.

I seem to recall using the phrases "beating a dead horse" and "for God's sake, people, give it a rest!" See, I was a wildly creative artist even back then.

But since I'm such a rebel, I'm breaking my self-imposed ban - besides, I've figured the whole thing out and feel the need to share.

You may ask: How does a major become a major? The original majors were the British Open, the British Amateur Championship, the U.S. Open and the U.S. Amateur.

Of course, there aren't any amateurs around today. Oh, there are? Name one.

Also, the Western Open snuck in the major club for a few years there before people came to their senses.

Anyway, it's generally acknowledged that in the early '60s Arnold Palmer had a hand in conferring major status on the Masters and the PGA Championship.

Now, certain segments of the media for years have been saying The Players Championship should be considered the fifth major. Richest purse, strongest field, all that.

However, an investigative study by WorldGolf.com has revealed that PGA Tour Commissioner Tim Finchem owns those media members; he buys and sells these guys like the Pentagon buys and sells TV generals. Besides, nobody listens to the media.

So, the obvious conclusion is that The Players will become a major only when Tiger Woods says it is.

Phil Mickelson has already said it, but Mickelson is only a few rungs above the media.

And how does EL Tigre feel about The Players? Not so good. He won it in 2001, but hasn't done squat there since. No top-10s in his last six starts. Out of the top 20 his last three starts. Missed it this year because of knee surgery.

The world-famous island green 17th? The hole the pros dread and fans love? Tiger doesn't think much of it. A gimmick, he thinks.

Unfortunately for The Players, the only chance the tournament has of getting away from its "minor major" status is if Woods starts to dominate here the way he does everywhere else. It wouldn't hurt if he birdied 17 a few times.

That's why WorldGolf.com has also discovered, in that same investigative study, that starting next year, Finchem will institute a mulligan rule at No. 17 for all Nike-sponsored, American golfers of African/Asian descent who are married to Swedish women.

As always, WorldGolf.com welcomes your comments.

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