Second Thoughts

A major is a major, Player says

Gary Player, right, watches Jack Nicklaus' tee from the first hole during the par three competition before the Masters golf tournament Wednesday, April 10, 2013, in Augusta, Ga.
Gary Player, right, watches Jack Nicklaus' tee from the first hole during the par three competition before the Masters golf tournament Wednesday, April 10, 2013, in Augusta, Ga.

Berhard Langer earned his ninth senior major title Sunday, winning the Kitchenaid Senior PGA Championship at Trump National in Virginia.

Langer passed Jack Nicklaus for the most senior titles with Sunday's victory.

However, Gary Player disputes that fact.

Player won the Senior Open championship three times before it was officially considered a major by the Champions Tour in 2003. He won three of the other four senior majors at the time. Langer has won all five.

"What I would say, is that every tournament has to start somewhere, and then it evolves," Player told Golf Digest. "The Masters in 1934 was not what it would become, but every player who has won it is recognized as a major winner.

"I remember Arnold Palmer, using his word, telling me it was 'b * * * * * * * ' that the Senior Open Championship wasn't a major. He so regretted not winning the championship when he was playing senior golf because playing on an old links where golf began was very special for him. I wonder, what would the status of the championship be if Arnold had won it three times?"

Kyle Porter of CBSSports.com agreed with Player, calling his points valid.

"In 100 years, people will remember that Player and Langer were both spectacular golfers who played as well or better on the senior circuit as they did on the regular one," Porter wrote. "Mostly because of superior fitness."

Said Player, to Golf Digest: "My nine majors and career grand slam on the senior tour outrank my nine majors and career grand slam on the regular tour. It took the world a long time to realize how tough the competition was on the senior tour, and so winning all the majors in a shorter window of time is a great accomplishment."

photo

AP file photo

Michael Vick is shown in this 2014 file photo.

Vick floats idea

Few people likely thought Michael Vick would ever be an Atlanta Falcon again -- in any capacity for any length of time.

But the quarterback apparently has given it a lot of thought.

A day after telling an Atlanta radio station that he has talked with the Falcons about signing a one-day contract and officially retiring with the team, Vick clarified by saying he has not spoken with anyone from the organization.

But he told ESPN he's hopeful it will happen.

"Well, I haven't talked to anybody about it specifically," Vick said. "It's something that I've really been thinking about trying to get done. I was asked the question the other day is that what I want, and I said, 'Yeah.'

"So, yeah, I think in due time, it's something that can potentially happen."

The Falcons have not publicly commented on the idea.

The Falcons released Vick in 2009 after he served 19 months in prison for his role in an illegal dogfighting operation in Virginia.

He later played for the Philadelphia Eagles, New York Jets and Pittsburgh Steelers. He has not played since 2015.

Vick told ESPN's Josina Anderson in February that he is retired.

He played six seasons for the Falcons, leading the team to two playoff appearances and one NFC Championship game.

Sports on 05/30/2017

Upcoming Events