Why the PGA Tour needs Tiger

[Randy4h]

What the PGA Tour needs are competitors who are willing to win . Not just place in the top 10 or top 20, collect a 6-figure check, and finish in the top 125 for the year. Tiger, Phil, and just a few others have that mindset, along with the game to make it happen. Some others are getting it, like Harrington. But there is a dearth of top-level talent with the desire to be the best in the world. At least right now.

In my opinion, the 2 biggest talking points this year (aside from TW) have been 1) the Couples-Watson shootout on the Champions Tour and 2) why everyone with a chance to win on the PGA tour laying up.

When the new TV contract is negotiated and purses decline, and some tournaments drop out of the schedule, maybe we'll see the go for broke attitude become more the norm than the exception. I hope so.

[sean_miller]

In my opinion, the 2 biggest talking points this year (aside from TW) have been . . .

May I submit a few more popular points of discussion (wrt the PGA tour): 1.) the groove rule, which includes whether or not Hunter Mahan did use them, whether or not Padraig would use them, and how after Phil used them how some golfer I didn't even know was still playing called him a cheater. Or did he?!?!? 2.) How much celebrity Pro Ams suck in general, but especially when you've never heard of the "celebrities". 3.) Rickie Fowler's clothing choices - that's a very large hat you have there sonny. 4.) That Tiger Woods robot looked almost real - good job.

[O.B. Right]

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.

I agree with your last statement very much. Last week it almost seemed like the announcers, etc, were pulling for Fowler to win over Mahan. If I recall correctly, they pretty much admitted it . .saying it would make the "most compelling story".

However, I disagree with your first statement. Unless Tiger keeps messing up publicly, I think the attention-span of the nation is short enough that this will be a non-issue within 6 months of his return to play. Projecting whatever behaviour traits you want onto a sports star is dangerous. Saying a golfer is "family-centric" is just as likely to be false as true. Just because they seem that way for the few very structured minutes you see them on TV doesn't mean they really are that way. I am a jazz fan and I like to use the example of the saxophonist Stan Getz. Listen to his rendition of "The Girl From Ipanema". Now realize he was a drug using, alcoholic wife beater who was, on his best days, extremely unpleasant to be around. It doesn't make him less of a musician, though. For all I know, Kenny Perry might be a meth-fueled satanist (ok, maybe not).

[DavidFehertysBike]

I agree with your last statement very much. Last week it almost seemed like the announcers, etc, were pulling for Fowler to win over Mahan. If I recall correctly, they pretty much admitted it . .saying it would make the "most compelling story".

God i cant stand stan getz. Everyone under the sun as a redition of girl from ipanema going but the gilberto verison will always be my favorite...but thats another topic...

Projecting is exactly what happens in golf though. Just look how everthing is deified. From golf courses to the personalties. Tiger has never been a open or submissive figure and in alot of ways i think his hyper aggression on the course emasculates alot of the baby boomers that hold on to the "old lore" of the game. . Alot of fans never connected to the "im going to beat your face in" attitude in how woods plays. The whole thing with the cheating just gave many disgrunted over tigers prominence in the game validation for whatever resentments they may have already had. Going forward, i think that resentment will become more vocal and only casual golfing fans will except tiger unconditionally from his course performance.

[Randy4h]

God i cant stand stan getz. Everyone under the sun as a redition of girl from ipanema going but the gilberto verison will always be my favorite...but thats another topic...

Just an FYI: The saxonphone on the Gilberto version WAS Stan Getz.

http://http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=n...o&sprefix;=getz

[DavidFehertysBike]

Just an FYI: The saxonphone on the Gilberto version WAS Stan Getz.

Thats not the one im talking about, though it is the most famous verison. There is accapella type verison by gilberto/gilberto

[Randy4h]

God i cant stand stan getz. Everyone under the sun as a redition of girl from ipanema going but the gilberto verison will always be my favorite...but thats another topic...

Sorry. Wrong Link.:

http://www.amazon.com/Getz-Gilberto-...7725011&sr;=8-1

[Randy4h]

Thats not the one im talking about, though it is the most famous verison. There is accapella type verison by gilberto/gilberto

Never heard that one. Looked for it on Amazon, but the only one other than the Getz/Gilberto version was some disco-sounding version by Astrud. Regardless, bossa nova is great to have on your ipod when hitting balls on the range. The rhythm......aaaaaah.....

[DavidFehertysBike]

Never heard that one. Looked for it on Amazon, but the only one other than the Getz/Gilberto version was some disco-sounding version by Astrud. Regardless, bossa nova is great to have on your ipod when hitting balls on the range. The rhythm......aaaaaah.....

Oh its the best. its just joao on guitar and astrud sings. Very simple with no clutter. I think that version is on an extended getz/gilberto realese.

[sgtgolfer]

He is god and (good) for busineess. Plain and simple!

[sean_miller]

He is god and (good) for busineess. Plain and simple!

This was an interesting first post.

[Shorty]

He is god and (good) for busineess. Plain and simple!

Not that simple. He is certainly not "god", whatever that means, and there are quite a few businesses who have dumped him because he is bad for their business.

[DocWu1948]

Well, the big guys like Tiger and Phil can go for it because they know they will have a few million coming in this year no matter what happens. A journeyman or rookie doesn't have the absolute confidence yet that he won't be at Q-school next year. Why not place in the top 10, and get the ticket punched for another year. Maybe that attitude has destroyed what some want to see in pro golf? Blame the advertisers and sponsors and PGA. Go back and open the the field again for Monday qualifiers. and see if you don't get some desperate and hungry golfers.

Watching Tiger is manufactured excitement anyway. When he is ahead by six, he is playing it as safe as anyone else. I just don't watch much golf on TV.

[Chas]

Not that simple. He is certainly not "god", whatever that means, and there are quite a few businesses who have dumped him because he is bad for their business.

Careful there Shorty, you may incite the wrath of the golfing (and forum) g**s. Trust me I know whereof I speak.

[juanrjackson]

Well, the big guys like Tiger and Phil can go for it because they know they will have a few million coming in this year no matter what happens. A journeyman or rookie doesn't have the absolute confidence yet that he won't be at Q-school next year. Why not place in the top 10, and get the ticket punched for another year. Maybe that attitude has destroyed what some want to see in pro golf? Blame the advertisers and sponsors and PGA. Go back and open the the field again for Monday qualifiers. and see if you don't get some desperate and hungry golfers.

True now about Tiger & Phil....but even when Tiger first came on the tour he played to win. Tiger was a child prodigy that lived up to the hype. He became #1 on the world ranking within a year of turning pro. Would the Tiger haters be happier if Tiger ended up like another golf prodigy....Ty Tryon..remember him?

[mizuno4life]

Belive it or not, golf was played before Tiger. I personally would love for Tiger to take a permanet haitus. Ever since he came on the scene and got this humble sport thrust into the mainstream, nothing good has come of it. Higher greens fees, everyone and there mom invading the courses screaming "I am Tiger Woods", the commercialisation of the sport, not too mention having to listen non stoop drooling from Johnny Miller about Tigers "bulging bicepts" and "powerfull thrusting thighs"

[Chas]

I hear what you're saying and sympathize to an extent, but really ..... you can't blame Tiger Woods for the attitude many people have towards him, including some of the more foolish commentators (or rather media barons who call the shots).

It's all about the money, i.e. "the more hype the better" in some people's minds. Not good from the point of view of someone like you or me, but again - I don't blame Tiger for this. In fact that he has tried to avoid this sort of exploitation, with his very private lifestyle (that he is even now struggling to maintain).

[The Recreational Golfer]

I don't miss him at all, and if he never plays again, that will be all right, too. What needs to happen if for the rest of the touring pros to develop a personality for us to identify with so we'll stay interested in watching. I mean Geoff Ogilvie is an outstanding golfer, but a dreadfully dull man. Stewart Cink? Steve Stricker? Dull, dull, dull. Padraig is fun to listen to, I expect to hear him any second ask where he can find his Lucky Charms. But really. Golf on TV isn't really that interesting. What makes it fun is when the contest is between people who made you be interested in them. The entire Tour is riding on Tiger's coattails and collecting big paychecks for just being around. Sports is entertainment! Sports is show biz! Some of these guys have to start showing a little pizazz.

So to answer the question, the PGA Tour doesn't need Tiger if other golfers will step up.