Is golf really a Global game?  

#1 - Where do most of the players live?

#2 - Where are most of the golf sponsors?

#3 - Where can the tournaments make the most from TV revenue and gate receipts?

There have been WGC tournaments in Australia and Asia, I think. Lots of players didn't go. Without the top players, there really isn't a WGC event.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jspangler 

While watching the WGC on TV today it got me thinking about the majors and wgc tournaments and I wondered why only 2 of 8 (25%) of the world tournaments are played outside the USA. I was just curious why that is. I mean Europe only gets 1 world tournament a year and its the Birthplace of golf. Any thoughts.

Because the United States has a lot of people, and money, for golf.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jspangler 

While watching the WGC on TV today it got me thinking about the majors and wgc tournaments and I wondered why only 2 of 8 (25%) of the world tournaments are played outside the USA. I was just curious why that is. I mean Europe only gets 1 world tournament a year and its the Birthplace of golf. Any thoughts.

Golf is HUGE here in the UK, really big, I live in Wales.. and we have a course every 5 miles easily. If you go up north to Scotland.. It is by far the biggest sport.

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Originally Posted by Jspangler 


Now wouldn't you like to see more than one major tournament around you? The birthplace of golf gets one "big" tournament a year.

Yeah your quite right, Im sure the pga tour players would disagree though! Last August I went up to ST Andrews, it was like 42 degrees F with a stiff breeze hahaha.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jspangler 

This year the tournaments go as such:

WGC #1- Arizona
WGC #2- Florida
WGC #3- Ohio
WGC #4- China

Major #1- Georgia
Major #2- Pennsylvania
Major #3- UK
Major #4- New York

It has also been stated that most Euro players come to the states to play because the big tournaments are played here.

Your second statement makes no sense being there are many companies outside of the states that sponsor tournaments. Do you really think a WGC in South Africa would have trouble finding a sponsor?

Finally does golf not get Televised over seas? I watch the European Tour every week and I'm sure if a WGC was broadcast over there I'd still watch it.

My feeling is if you are going to have so much stock in 8 tournaments maybe they should move to differant areas around the world.

I am assuming you are responding to me, so I'll answer.

Where are the biggest purses? Not in Asia, not in Europe, not in Africa.

Where are the most people who have disposable income who will watch golf on TV, thus allowing the TV networks to charge more for their commercial time? Not in Asia, not in Europe, not in Africa.

Where do the vast majority of golfers who would play in the WGC events live? Not in Asia, not in Europe, not in Africa.

Specifically addressing your question about South Africa: How many of the top 100 golfers in the world (the majority of which reside in the US) would go there to play? Where would it fit into the existing tournament schedule? And if they don't go there to play, who is going to watch the telecast? And who is going to spend the millions of dollars to put commercials on a telecast that few will watch, at times that would not allow for live telecasts back to the US?

The same holds true for Asia.  Sure, you'll get some players who take huge appearance fees to play a couple of tournament in Asia and/or the Middle East outside of the PGA tour season, but you can't pay appearance money to everyone during the season. 

Not saying it won't happen one day (look at the LPGA) but until then the big, important tournaments, aside from the British Open,  will mostly be held in the US.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jspangler 

Majors and WGCs, and The Players I believe has the largest, purses would be the same. Large Corporations will sponsor a "big" tournament no matter where it is. Only 3 of the top 10 largest Corporations are American based, so there is money in the world.

Apple's not going to sponsor a golf tournament. So "the top corporations" don't matter much.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jspangler 

As for SA, I believe Louis, Charl, Brendan Grace, JB Kruger all reside in south africa all within the top 100 and those are just off the top of my head.

 

And a tournament in South Africa would be watched roughly by the few South Africans interested and that's about it. Maybe more would DVR it if Tiger played.

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Originally Posted by Jspangler 

Personally I prefer the European Tour, its not Tiger Wood then cut to Phil for 5 secs then back to Tiger going over his yardage then maybe glance at his playing partner then back to Tiger.

Thats what us Euro's hate about the american coverage sometimes! It seems to be Tiger, Phil, maybe a bit of lee westwood, then straight back to Tiger to see him eat a choco bar! Infuriating! 

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jspangler 

Majors and WGCs, and The Players I believe has the largest, purses would be the same. Large Corporations will sponsor a "big" tournament no matter where it is. Only 3 of the top 10 largest Corporations are American based, so there is money in the world.

As I stated above Top players are forced to live in the US if they want to be close to tournaments. Lee Westwood, Martin Kymer, Nicolas Colserts, etc didn't move to the USA for the scernery.

As for SA, I believe Louis, Charl, Brendan Grace, JB Kruger all reside in south africa all within the top 100 and those are just off the top of my head.

How many of the top 100 players in the world are going to disrupt 2-3 weeks in their playing schedule to fly over to South Africa for one tournament? Bear in mind that there would be no appearance fee for them, and that is a big reason why Woods and others play overseas. I doubt the top players would do that unless there was a guaranteed paycheck, which won't happen for a WGC or PGA tour event, at least not officially.

Again I'll explain what must be hard to comprehend:  Without a LOT of the top golfers in the world (and be honest, how many golf fans could pick #14 Schwartzel, #6 Oosthuizen, #29 Grace or #177 Kruger out of a lineup) what would the TV ratings be?  Probably about the same as for the European Tour on the Golf Channel.  And you haven't seen any of those tournaments on prime time with major network coverage because not very many people watch them.

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Originally Posted by Jspangler 

I watch the European Tour every week its in golf channel,

 

Good for you! You're one of the twelve. Get my point?

 

Eight of the top nine international companies are oil companies. They don't need to advertise via golf.

 

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jspangler 

People will watch a WGC around the world its going to to get the same players.

No it won't. Since it's a WGC they can't pay an appearance fee, and so as was stated above a PGA Tour pro isn't going to disrupt his travel plans to travel to South Africa.

If the Doral event were in South Africa, Tiger would not have played the Honda and probably wouldn't play at Bay Hill. And it's highly unlikely any other PGA Tour player would play the Honda or the Innisbrook events.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jspangler 

Truely what you are saying is nobody will watch unless Tiger, Phil, or Rory is in the field. Because realistically those are the only people casual golf fans tune in to watch. Justin Rose, Luke Donald, Lee Westwood, Brandt Snedecker, Adam Scott, Steve Stricker, and Matt Kuchur are not draws. Also if they were so worried about TV ratings why not cut the season as soon as football starts. What are their ratings going against college and pro football?

 

They're okay for the playoffs and the Ryder Cup. That's why they're changing how the Fall Series operates. They know they won't attract big audiences.

When a tournament in South Africa, Australia or Turkey or wherever, can draw the depth and quality of field that the Players, Doral or the Match Play can, then it would get the coverage. But, until the big networks come over to his way of thinking, Mr. Spangler will have to content himself with watching the European Tour on the Golf Channel.