Hi Everybody,
This is long, but organized. And I think you would like to speak on the matter.
I have been in a dialogue with WGT support since
01/07/15. The last reply I received told me to come here and post my ideas and
to get feedback from the WGT community to see what everybody else thinks.
I entered a Master premium bracket on the
aforementioned date (or maybe the day before). In any case, it cost me 100
credits to enter. I made it through the first round, and of course I checked
the brackets to see who my next opponent would be. When I checked it, I found
the player who shot about the same as me. He was listed as a Master level 56,
with a stroke avg. of 68; I’m a level 89 Master with a 64.22 stroke avg. at
this point. However, when we went to the
next bracket before we started playing; he was listed as a Tourmaster. I
thought, he just moved up a tier, he’s a low ranking Tourmaster, so I could
still have a chance if I shoot good enough. So, we play our round on Olympic,
18 holes. I shot a 69 which on Olympic is pretty good for me. However, this
other guy shot a 59. This is when the dialogue started, because I smelled a
rat. Why? He shot about the same as me on the previous round on Pinehurst. So
suddenly, on a harder course he improves by ten strokes. And how did he tier up
and improve his stroke avg. that much?
So I wrote back saying, ‘I was just wanting to know,
is a Tourmaster supposed to be in a Master bracket? I just got pummeled by a
Tourmaster in a Master (money/premium) bracket. His stroke average is 64.9 as a
Tourmaster, and mine is 64.18 as a Master. He beat me by 10 strokes; even on my
A-game, I couldn't shoot that on Olympic. If I get beat in a fair game, I'm cool
with that. But losing to a Tourmaster in a Master bracket, especially when it
cost me 100 credits is not cool. I've never encountered this before, is this a
fluke, or has someone found a way to rack up easy credits? Thanks.’
Their reply, “If a player enters the tournament as a
master; then levels up, they are allowed to finish the tournament in the lower
tier.”
WGT Member Services
I wrote back: Dear WGT Support,
'I understand that it is possible to tier up while playing in a
tournament. However, I smell a rat, and this is why:
1) Two hours after writing you this inquiry, I saw that his stroke
average went from 64.9 to 62.5 as a Tourmaster before the next round; that's a
bit phenomenal don't ya think? And two days before this he was a low
level Master. So, if he levels to a Legend while in this bracket, is he still
allowed to play? This guy is much better than he appears to be.
2) This is a Master bracket. If a person tiers up while playing in a specific
bracket; especially a money bracket, wouldn't it be better to disqualify the
one rather than letting him take the credits and potential winnings
from the other three he is going to face? Now if he was a Tourmaster at the
lowest level of Tourmaster, it wouldn't be a problem; we still have a chance
against him. But this guy is advancing way too fast.
3) This is not an open tier tournament like the monthly virtual
tour, where after the tournament you will be placed in the
appropriate tier and at the appropriate tee boxes, or like tierless
brackets where you know what you’re up against, or non-premium brackets where
it doesn't matter. No, he can keep cleaning house on credits because he
knows that he can tier up and keep playing during the rest of the
bracket. So shouldn't the rule be different in regards to tier specific
money brackets?
Personally, I think he is an experienced player on a different computer with a
different name, and he is running through the brackets (and likely ready go
& match play as well) robbing people of their credits/potential
credits. The least you could do is follow this guy and see if what I am
saying is true. And if it is, block him out of money rounds or
something, to protect the integrity of wgt and the game; not to mention the
other players that will be facing him unaware of his true skill.
Thanks,
Well, then I had
received some credits from a previous bracket; so I went to join another. Out
of curiosity; I check this guy’s stats because he is now in the final round. I write WGT support again:
‘I went to join another bracket, and out of curiosity, I
went and checked this players standing again. He is in the final round of
the aforementioned bracket, and now he is a Level 64 Legend with a 62 Stroke
average with 18+ hours left; I wonder what he will be by then? And still
playing against Masters and stealing their credits and potential winnings. I
hope you can see now why a person should be eliminated from a premium tier
specific bracket if he levels up a tier during play.
1)
It will prevent cheating
2) WGT potentially losing members who are fed up with this loophole that costs
them credit winnings.'
What suggestions do you guys have on this? And, if you agree with my thoughts; what do you think WGT should do about it?
Thank You for your time :-)