Why the PGA Tour needs Tiger

[juanrjackson]

This article by John Hawkins is a perfect example of why golf needs Tiger.

http://www.thegolfchannel.com/tour-i...-trophy-35345/

Tiger doesn't play for 2nd. He has the killer instinct & plays to win!

After Tiger...there will be a PGA....but unless someone with his talent, killer instinct & ability to win comes along...it will never be the same.

[walk18]

Tiger who?

[Bullitt5339]

I honestly think that golf will be just fine without Tiger. There's some good young talent coming up through the ranks right now.

Michael Jordan was the greatest player ever in the NBA, when he retired, the NBA was still just as popular. Same thing will happen to golf.

[Elvisliveson]

Life goes on. Who wants anything to remain the same forever anyway?

[juanrjackson]

I honestly think that golf will be just fine without Tiger. There's some good young talent coming up through the ranks right now.

The NBA had Koby (4 rings ) & Shack (4 rings) to replace Jordan. Pádraig Harrington has won 3 Majors & Ángel Cabrera has won 2 majors in the last 3 years.....but they do not bring in non-golf fans or increase ratings.

Tiger does what no other golfer does.....bring in non-golf fans & increase ratings. Sports (non-golf) fans won't turn in to watch Ricky Fowler lay up from 210 yards on a par 5.

[Bullitt5339]

The NBA had Koby (4 rings ) & Shack (4 rings) to replace Jordan. Pádraig Harrington has won 3 Majors & Ángel Cabrera has won 2 majors in the last 3 years.....but they do not bring in non-golf fans or increase ratings.

Tiger was also well marketed, which Padraig and Angel aren't. As soon as sponsors find someone who they can market like Tiger, they'll do it, and interest will come back. I had never played golf or thought about playing until this redneck guy like me starting playing on the PGA Tour, drinking beer and smoking on the course. So I tuned in to watch this guy who was different than all the other stuck up, overly proper, boring golfers that were around. Daly brought guys like me into golf back in the early 90's, Tiger brought people who were 10 years younger to golf 10 years later, and someone else will inevitably bring in a new crowd of golfers in soon enough. Who that will be has yet to be decided, but with young, good golfers out there like Fowler and AK, it's just a matter of time before there's another face on Wheaties boxes and making video games. Will they be better than Tiger on the course? Probably not, but personality goes a lot further than pure skill when you're talking about bringing in new crowds. Will it happen this year? Probably not..... but it will happen. It's happened throughout the history of golf, and will happen again, it's just a cycle.

[Rusty Shackleford]

The PGA needs Tiger because he's the best player out there by far. You can't stack up any player out there to Tiger and his records. You would have to combine half the top 15's majors just to equal Tiger's. Until a newcomer or a familier face steps up and starts winning left and right the PGA won't be the same. If you're not a Tiger fan then you might not be a big fan of champions who win everything, but if you are a fan then you get a thrill of your favorite golfer actually winning enough to be worth rooting for everytime.

[juanrjackson]

Tiger was also well marketed, which Padraig and Angel aren't. As soon as sponsors find someone who they can market like Tiger, they'll do it, and interest will come back. I had never played golf or thought about playing until this redneck guy like me starting playing on the PGA Tour, drinking beer and smoking on the course. So I tuned in to watch this guy who was different than all the other stuck up, overly proper, boring golfers that were around. Daly brought guys like me into golf back in the early 90's, Tiger brought people who were 10 years younger to golf 10 years later, and someone else will inevitably bring in a new crowd of golfers in soon enough. Who that will be has yet to be decided, but with young, good golfers out there like Fowler and AK, it's just a matter of time before there's another face on Wheaties boxes and making video games. Will they be better than Tiger on the course? Probably not, but personality goes a lot further than pure skill when you're talking about bringing in new crowds. Will it happen this year? Probably not..... but it will happen. It's happened throughout the history of golf, and will happen again, it's just a cycle.

True about John Daly....before Tiger I was a Shark & JD fan. Most sports fans like players with bravado....& 99% of golfers on the PGA tour lack that. The Shark had Bravado & should have won 5-6 majors instead of only 2.

Nike is trying to promote Lucas Glover & Stewart Cink with those commercials that run on ESPN.....but Glover & Cink (& Most golfers on the PGA) look like they were born on a country club & the avg sports fan cannot make a connection. That is why Tiger & JD are fan favorites. True golf goes in cycles...& there will be other great players....but Tiger is at worst the 2nd greatest player ever behind Jack. What makes Tiger great...because he is not Sergio.....or Phil....or Adam Scott.....all these guys & others were suppose to challenge Tiger...but he basically just knocked them all down. Other players might on a hot streaks where they win for a year or so...but Tiger has basically been #1 in the world for the last 10 years. Out of the young guys I think AK & Fowler would be the easy to promote than most others. Here would be a good question....since Tiger has been #1 in the world.....how many poeple have made it to #2 or #3 in the world? 10 or 20 players?

[shaun]

Out of the young guys I think AK & Fowler would be the easy to promote than most others.

You're forgetting McIlroy, who (I think) will be better than either Fowler or Kim -- certainly, his swing is better, anyway. I can't see why he'd have any problems promoting himself.

[Jay-Bird]

Why the PGA need Tiger -

$

[Blades4me]

The only reason the PGA needs Tiger is about money/greed. The PGA will go on with or without Tiger. It is interesting to note that just before Tiger went on the PGA tour there were 9 millionairs, now there are something like 91 milliionairs, so I can see why many of the players want Tiger back. So it comes across to me as, its all about the money and nothing else. LOL, that is sooooooo American.

[Shorty]

I never thought I would think it, but at the moment, Tiger seems to be "so last decade". He almost seems irrelevant. Of course, I want to see him back, but with exciting players like Villegas, McIlroy and Fowler finding their way to the top of the leaderboards, the game is in great shape. The game survived before Tiger, it survived after Nicklaus. It will survive and although, in the short term purses might go down, but is that really a bad thing? I would have thought that if the first prize for a regular tournament was $100,000 rather than a million, there would still be incentive for players to want to make a living at it. Guys like Fowler and Dustin Johnson turn up ready to win - and that is something different which is very positive. It's actually scary how Tiger seems to have just blended out of the picture. Comforting at the same time.

[juanrjackson]

The only reason the PGA needs Tiger is about money/greed. The PGA will go on with or without Tiger. It is interesting to note that just before Tiger went on the PGA tour there were 9 millionairs, now there are something like 91 milliionairs, so I can see why many of the players want Tiger back. So it comes across to me as, its all about the money and nothing else. LOL, that is sooooooo American.

True.....Tiger makes everyone...the PGA tour & other players more $$$$. That's the bottom line......bigger TV contracts...sponsors paying more $$$ for tournaments. Think about it. Most things in life.....are about $$$$. Epecially if it is your job....like the PGA tour is for these guys.

For example, I used to go to the McDonald's LPGA major at Bulle Rocke golf course in Maryland. They are moving the tournament for this year....why??? They said they can make more sponsor $$$ some other place. Everything business related revolves around $$....& golf is a business.

[juanrjackson]

I never thought I would think it, but at the moment, Tiger seems to be "so last decade". He almost seems irrelevant. Of course, I want to see him back, but with exciting players like Villegas, McIlroy and Fowler finding their way to the top of the leaderboards, the game is in great shape. The game survived before Tiger, it survived after Nicklaus. It will survive and although, in the short term purses might go down, but is that really a bad thing? I would have thought that if the first prize for a regular tournament was $100,000 rather than a million, there would still be incentive for players to want to make a living at it. Guys like Fowler and Dustin Johnson turn up ready to win - and that is something different which is very positive. It's actually scary how Tiger seems to have just blended out of the picture. Comforting at the same time.

Fowler...really...is that why he laid up from 210 yards? He could have went for the green & eagle.....now that would have been playing to win. He played not to lose.

Tiger is playing for his place in history...most PGA wins & most majors. He has more $$$ than he could ever spend in 5 lifetimes. Players from the 60-70s....like Jack & Arnie played to win.....now guys are just happy to finish near the top & collect a big payday.

[MSDOGS1976]

The PGA needs Tiger because he's the best player out there by far. You can't stack up any player out there to Tiger and his records. You would have to combine half the top 15's majors just to equal Tiger's. Until a newcomer or a familier face steps up and starts winning left and right the PGA won't be the same.

I'm not a fan of Tiger because of his cussing, beating clubs on the ground etc etc etc..... As far as not being a fan of champions, I followed the Celtics for years as a kid(60's) and enjoyed watchign them winning year after year. So not pulling for Tiger because he wins all the time, has nothing to do with it. I simply do not like his character. I do respect his golfing skills, but that does not make me pull for him.

[sean_miller]

If hardcore golf fans will give up the game and/or change the channel because Tiger's not in the field, that's a problem. I'm not seeing hardcore fans turn away from the game, but maybe it's because the networks have decided that the show goes on without Tiger, and people who make the choice to tune in anyway deserve to be entertained.

I personally don't miss Tiger Woods - yet. Partly because it's still hockey season, but more because Tiger probably wouldn't have teed it up yet anyway.

Speaking of hockey, the NHL has been trying to draw in non-hockey fans for 40 years and it doesn't work in the long term. Focus on giving the hardcore fans what they want - what they deserve - and the game will thrive.

[juanrjackson]

If hardcore golf fans will give up the game and/or change the channel because Tiger's not in the field, that's a problem. I'm not seeing hardcore fans turn away from the game, but maybe it's because the networks have decided that the show goes on without Tiger, and people who make the choice to tune in anyway deserve to be entertained.

Hardcore golf fans like hardcore hockey fans will never quit watching. Every sport is always trying to expand their fan base. The king of American sports is the NFL. They rule the TV ratings game.

Hockey like golf is more if a nitch sport. Hockey has to compete against the NBA, NCAA hoops, & shortly baseball. I'm a big college hoop fan (KY wildcat). I've been to a few hockey games & always had a great time....but it is hard to watch on TV. Golf competes against Baseball, NASCAR, & Football (starting in Aug)....tough competition. Once the NFL starts I mostly watch the NFL on Sunday unless Tiger is in the field.

[DavidFehertysBike]

Through all of the tiger wanting, i belive he will probably be a pariah for the rest of his career, with most of the golfing folk begrudgenly accepting his sucesses on the course. I think he will be kind of like the Barry Bonds of golf, where people are wishing he would just go away. In the future i think were going to see tiger demphaszied and we are going to see more ridiculous reaches on young or "family centric" players in promotions. When Ricky Fowler wins ( and he will soon) its going to be like he just won 40 majors at once as far as the pro golf sphere is concerned.