Quest to make Hall of Fame only gets tougher with time

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Tiger Woods is one of the only players in his generation who's guaranteed to make the World Golf Hall of Fame.

Congratulations to Lanny Wadkins, Jose Maria Olazabal, Christy O'Connor and the late President Dwight D. Eisenhower on their induction into the World Golf Hall of Fame Monday night. Each man, in their own way, promoted the game of golf as players, ambassadors and gentlemen and is deserving of the honor. As with any ceremonial honor there will always be discussion on any individual's qualifications for such an honor. But those conversations should take place prior to induction. Once enshrined, the image and the memory are immortalized.

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Still, it is tough not to make comparisons to those inducted and those who are either awaiting induction or those whose careers brought them to the doorstep of the Hall but fell just short. Take Doug Ford, for instance. The two-time major champion and 19-time winner on the PGA TOUR is not in the Hall and, considering that his last year on TOUR was nearly a half century ago, he probably won't be. Ford certainly fulfills the criteria -- 10 years on TOUR and 10 wins or two majors or PLAYERS Championships. Even if you don't remember Ford you have to appreciate his resume. Furthermore, it stands up handsomely to others who have come since and earned induction.

As far as the Hall of Fame goes, though, Ford had the misfortune to play at the end of the era with Byron Nelson, Ben Hogan and Sam Snead and before Arnold Palmer and Jack Nicklaus era took center stage. Whatever the reason, Ford owns the best record of the 20th century not to be enshrined.

This begs the question about others whose contribution to the game exceeds even their tremendous play. Ken Venturi won the 1964 U.S. Open at Congressional along with a dozen other PGA TOUR events. But Venturi was so much more than the sum of his resume. For several generations, he was the voice of golf on television, spanning from Palmer's time to Tiger Woods' emergence. As the color analyst for CBS Sports, he spoke to fathers and sons, mothers and daughters in their living rooms on Sunday afternoon. He was an ambassador for the game when it needed one most. If the Hall can honor writers, commissioners and architects surely it has room for a man like Venturi, whose voice and image promoted the works of all those who foster the game.

But perhaps the most compelling part of the argument for Venturi and Ford comes from the fact that Tiger Woods, Phil Mickelson and Vijay Singh have gobbled up so many victories over the last 15 years there just aren't going to be that many candidates going forward. Davis Love III will defend his Children's Miracle Network Classic title next week and some would argue that it was the win that ensured him a spot in the Hall. On the PGA TOUR, winning 20 times earns a player a lifetime exemption. Add a major and a couple of PLAYERS titles and Love seems like the head of the next class or the one after that.

Ernie Els has 16 wins on the PGA TOUR and is a lock for the Hall, or at least he should be. He just turned 40 last month so he is eligible for the ballot next year. With three major titles, 24 European Tour wins and countless other wins around the world, Els will likely be inducted as quickly as possible. Beyond him and Love, though, you have a group of great players whose careers may fall short of the Hall.

If there is a real flaw in the Hall's mandate it is this -- their careers are far from over. A player can be eligible for the ballet at the age of 40 and can only be on it for the next 15 years. Remember Tom Watson at the British Open this year? If the Hall is going to recognize career-defining moments perhaps it should wait until a career is closer to over. After all, Vijay Singh, who is already in the Hall, has had a Hall of Fame career since turning 40.

At the beginning of the year Kenny Perry said that his goal was to get to 20 wins before he retired. With just 14 wins, it seems unlikely that Kenny will get to that number as he approaches his 50th year. Without a major championship, his bid for the Hall may be lacking. Corey Pavin has one more win than Kenny and a major. Will that be enough for our next Ryder Cup captain to join the Hall? Mark O'Meara won 34 times worldwide in his career, including two majors and 14 other PGA TOUR events. Will he be the benchmark for his generation?

The only players currently playing who are locks for the Hall and not already inducted are Tiger and Phil. There is a list of active, if not aging players, who have at least 10 wins and a major but still may need to do more. Steve Elkington (10 wins and a major), Paul Azinger and Justin Leonard (12 wins and a major each), Mark Calcavecchia, David Duval and Jim Furyk (13 wins and a major) all have impressive resumes and all have fulfilled the minimum playing requirements for the Hall. But they probably all need to do more even though there are those already enshrined whose careers may not have matched up the men whose names I have just mentioned.

That is the nature of the World Golf Hall of Fame.

Former PGA TOUR player John Maginnes is a columnist for PGATOUR.COM. His views do not necessarily represent the views of the PGA TOUR.