Does the PGA Tour need Tiger to win a major?

[Elsfan]

Unfortunately yes. American golf is not impressive. Having to rely on guys like Johnson, Watney, and O' Hare does not bode well for the PGA. I am missing Anthony Kim and Ricky Fowler is definitely a bright spot.

[newtogolf]

The PGA needs a Tiger exit strategy. Maybe some of the guys in the 18 to 25 age bracket can step up - they're getting hyped like they already have, so all that's left is the actual doing it.

I agree, although Tiger is still relatively young, but he's got alot of miles on his body, and it's starting to break down. The PGA cannot continue to build or even sustain the sport around Tiger. The NBA tried to with Jordan, and when he fell from superstardom there was a vacuum that no one was able to fill for a few years and resulted in alot of poor ratings because the non-die hard fans weren't interested any longer.

There seems to be alot of young players ready to step up and the PGA needs to start promoting them.

[Tiger Spuds]

You might wanna read up on some of the LPGA threads on this board and realize that it matters A LOT. Even the LPGA was getting "tired" with the asian dominance on their tour since they couldnt sell this to their target audience, loosing sponsors and TV money left & right. They didnt had problems selling it in the asian market, but again, thats not where they make their main money from. In the end its all about marketing and selling it off, and selling a YE Yang (just hypothetical if he would become a dominant force) to a western audience is a lot more challenging (impossible?) than a Mickelson or Woods.

I don't agree at all.Once people get to know those names, see them in a few interviews, see some personality from them, they'll be just as 'marketable' as anyone else.You mentioned Y.E. Yang.His victory in the PGA was one of the most celebrated and popular wins in a long, long time, everybody loved him.Now, he's more marketable than most mediocre American players on Tour.I don't buy that he wouldnt be as marketable as Phil especially, if he'd been around a lot longer and had a few more Majors.It's not who you are, but what you do on Tour that matters.I understand about the LPGA sponsors etc, but to be frank, the LPGA had it's problems well before the perceived current Asian dominance.Could be a convenient excuse for sponsors already looking for a way off a sinking ship.And as for viewers, well I feel sorry for anyone(generalising here, not you) who'd be less inclined to watch the sport they love soley on the basis that who they're watching isn't American.

[ghalfaire]

Regardless of when Tiger leaves (or his game leaves him) the PGA will be OK I believe. Lots of great players coming up and we have Tiger to thank for that. He is the guy that raised the bar. As to the LPGA I don't know why they are having so much trouble. I don't believe it is because of the Asian players. I personally enjoy watching the women play and can relate to their game a easier than to the PGA guys who are just wizards with a stick. Just to be honest the women are better looking too.
As to Tiger I have often wondered just how long he could stay at the peak. He swings so hard it has to be tough on the body. But I am not writing him off as he has had a few dips in his career while he was working on the swing and he came back with vengeance and I believe he has a least one more comeback in his career yet. And yes, it would be good for the PGA to have him winning again.

[jamo]

Why should that matter?Where someone comes from should be the last thing that matters, as long as they have the talent and charisma to stand out.The PGA and European tour are both chock full of mediocre no-name players that'll never do anything major in Golf anyway, so will it really matter if they've been replaced by players from Korea, Japan or China?

Because the PGA TOUR is based in America and draws mainly American viewers. We Americans like the local kids, the comeback story, and the child prodigy. Tiger Woods offers all three. Until he returns to form or is replaced by another prodigy the PGA TOUR won't be the same. That's not to say they NEED Tiger, it is just different. Worse.

[Slammin' Sam]

Tiger has already won several majors and is mentioned by many fans in the same breath as Palmer and Nicklaus. If he never wins another it might be a tragedy for him or his fans but the PGA Tour will survive until the next transcendant figure comes along.

[mtsalmela80]

Golf is a sport that is played by so many millions of people, all over the world, most of whom have a great passion for the game. If Tiger died tomorrow, they would still play, and still watch the next tournament.

Tiger adds to the viewing public for sure, but most of those who watch only for Tiger are not golf enthusiasts themselves.

I would argue that more people play recreational golf for fun than any other sport out there. How many people do you know that buy magazines, subscribe to forums, spend tons on money on lessons, etc.. for something like football or basketball.

[mcfc_nick]

i know it sounds weird but once AK gets back and starts getting into contention for a few tournaments the tour will become more interesting imo, him and Tiger are what makes the tour exciting imo

[newtogolf]

Golf is a sport that is played by so many millions of people, all over the world, most of whom have a great passion for the game. If Tiger died tomorrow, they would still play, and still watch the next tournament.

No question the sport will go forward without Tiger, the question is how many less people will be watching until the next "Tiger" hits the scene. I haven't been to a PGA tournament since Tigers indescretions surfaced, but prior to that, his galleries were 10x the size of anyone elses with maybe the exception of Phil. People I know who didn't follow golf would comment on how he played because it was all over the news. Even my dad who hates golf knew how Tiger was in playing every tournament, that's market influence.

It will be hard to quantify the impact Tiger has had on the sport, how many people are playing today because of him, his impact on television ratings, equipment sales, etc. Nike hasn't had a great selling basketball shoe since the Air Jordan, will they continue to have the market share they do in golf if Tiger isn't out there as their representative?

[senorchipotle]

seriously, you guys are talking about tiger as if he's 47 and hasn't won a tournament in years. the man won 6 tournaments last year! and he's come in top 5 in the first two majors playing the worst golf of his life. of course he'll win more majors! he'll win at the very least 5 more.

[kafka01]

It will be hard to quantify the impact Tiger has had on the sport, how many people are playing today because of him, his impact on television ratings, equipment sales, etc. Nike hasn't had a great selling basketball shoe since the Air Jordan, will they continue to have the market share they do in golf if Tiger isn't out there as their representative?

Actually it isnt - you might check this article

http://www.golf.com/golf/tours_news/...863837,00.html for TV ratings & Tiger Woods. The time when Tiger wasnt playing the TV-ratings were down big time.

[elvis14]

Actually it isnt - you might check this article

And that's exactly why the PGA needs to promote other players more. When Tiger isn't playing ESPN will hardly cover a tournament. Kind of hard to get sports fans to watch a sport when they don't even hear about it. The PGA needs to do a better job of handling the media and promoting the game, the tour and the many interesting players more and Tiger less so they don't end up with these terrible ratings and terrible coverage when the tour is Tigerless (injury times, tournaments skipped, eventual retirement).

[newtogolf]

Actually it isnt - you might check this article

That article is a bit old, since then Golf Magazine published an article stating that Phil helps ratings alot as well. The sport seems to suffer most when both Phil and Tiger aren't near the top of the leaderboard.

[golfro]

seriously, you guys are talking about tiger as if he's 47 and hasn't won a tournament in years. the man won 6 tournaments last year! and he's come in top 5 in the first two majors playing the worst golf of his life. of course he'll win more majors! he'll win at the very least 5 more.

Seriously. what is it with this defeatist attitude?! and whoever said "Mickelson is too old now"...

He just won the damn Masters...what more do you want from him?!

[golfro]

And that's exactly why the PGA needs to promote other players more. When Tiger isn't playing ESPN will hardly cover a tournament. Kind of hard to get sports fans to watch a sport when they don't even hear about it. The PGA needs to do a better job of handling the media and promoting the game, the tour and the many interesting players more and Tiger less so they don't end up with these terrible ratings and terrible coverage when the tour is Tigerless (injury times, tournaments skipped, eventual retirement).

how do you promote "other players" when no other players stick out...?

[sean_miller]

how do you promote "other players" when no other players stick out...?

You just pick someone based on how they dress and especially if they're < 28 - they're doing it already.

[nevets88]

There are no rivalries in golf either, at least where the rivals meet up all the time. Nothing on the order of Federer/Nadal, Yankees/Red Sox, Lakers/Celtics. Of course you can't just manufacture something like that, but if there was one, I'm sure more people would watch.

[alf174]

Of course you can't just manufacture something like that, but if there was one, I'm sure more people would watch.

Come to think of it, that may be the best reason the PGA marketing people would try to manufacture a rivalry.