Prior to this decision, the PBA only counted USBC Masters titles as official PBA Tour titles since 1998 as the event has only been part of the Denny’s PBA Tour TV schedule since that year. Now, all PBA members who have won a USBC Masters title since 1959 – the first year of the PBA Tour – will be credited with a PBA Tour title and a Major title.

Bowlers who won the USBC Masters prior to 1959 and amateurs who have won the event will not be credited with a PBA Tour title but will be credited with a Major title.

The BPAA All-Star – the U.S. Open’s predecessor – had also not previously counted as either a PBA Tour title or a Major title. The event became the U.S. Open in 1971, the same year it became an official title. Now, every PBA member who won a BPAA All-Star from 1959 on will be credited with a PBA Tour title and a Major while bowlers who won the event prior to 1959 will be awarded a Major title.

The list of all-time PBA Tour titlists will adjust only slightly due to the change. Walter Ray Williams Jr. still sits atop the all-time titles list with 44 victories, but second-place Earl Anthony now receives credit for his two USBC Masters titles and now has 43. The next three bowlers – Mark Roth and Pete Weber with 34 victories and Parker Bohn III with 31 – remain unchanged but Dick Weber moved up to sixth by receiving four more titles. Weber, who won the BPAA All-Star four times (1962-63, 1965-66), is now credited with 30 titles.

1. Walter Ray Williams Jr. 44
2. Earl Anthony 43
3. Mark Roth 34
Pete Weber 34
5. Parker Bohn III 31
6. Dick Weber 30
7. Mike Aulby 29
Norm Duke 29
9. Don Johnson 26
10. Brian Voss 24