1979 has now been updated. Now to talk about the ranking system.
Starting with 1979, the ATP adopted the star system to be used for their tournaments. The minimum requirement for a tournament to be counted for the rankings was to have at least $25000 prize money. That margin would make the tournament 1 STAR. Every increase of $25000 in prize money would mean 1 new star for a tournament.
For the first time since the ranking system existed, draw size and difficulty would also count for a tournament's category. A draw of 32 players or less would not give the tournament any extra star, 48 players would mean 1 extra star, 64 players would mean 2 extra stars, and, only in the case of Grand Slams, 128 players in the draw, would mean an extra 3 stars. Draw difficulty would count in much the same way. The total entry ranking of the first 20 players inside the draw would be counted (rankings of the first 20 players added), and if the total would make more than 1550, the tournament would not grant an extra star. If the total would be between 850 and 1550, 1 extra star would be given, if the total would be between 450 and 850, 2 stars would be awarded. And if the total would be less than 450, 3 difficulty stars would be given. With this system, Roland Garros was the top tournament of the year, with 21 STARS.
The bonus points system was already restructured since 1978, so, no change was made to it in 1979. Defeating a player ranked 1-8 would award 3 points, one between 9-16 2 points, and one between 17-24, 1 bonus point. Defeating one of the first quarter of seeds would grant 4 bonus points, a player from the second quarter of seeds, 3 points, a player from the third quarter of seeds, 2 points, and finally, a player from the last quarter, 1 point. The bonus points between 1974 and 1977 were only given for defeating ranked players, the double of points awarded for the same thing, after 1978.
The ranking system, ranking bonus and calendar are in the first post, along with the weekly rankings for this year.
A final note, because I've seen everywhere people trying to establish Masters in the 70s, incorrectly. Judging by the stars awarded, I created a tournament ranking, to determine the most prestigious tournaments of the year. I'd say that every tournament with 12 stars or more can be counted as MASTERS SERIES.
TOURNAMENT RANKING 1979