Who has more pressure - Tiger or Fringe Player?

[tigerwoo]

Fringe Player:
- pgatour player fighting to make the cut, trying to stay inside the 125 moneylist or go to Q-School, travelling with the public and having to claim your own baggage and/or even vanpooling with other fringe players to tournaments that are clustered together

Tiger Woods: maintaining the #1 status, having to live up to everyone's expectations and surpass Jack's all time records, $100 million sponsorship dollars per year, having to be a spokesman and act a certain way in the public eye.

[Bo the Golfer]

Tiger's life seems pretty nice to me!

[play4him]

I go with the Fringe player. Tiger is already set for life. He can pick & choose when he plays. Most players don't have that luxury.

[tigerwoo]

Yes, but does Tiger feel pressure to maintain his performance level? What if he sags and isn't No 1 in the world? How would his sponsors treat him then? Less money? Less respect? That has to be on his mind.

[JumpHigh_HitHard]

I think Tiger is under considerable pressure (even more than the hard working fringe guys); Tiger just has so many more expectations and commitments to live up to. However; I think Tiger has been programmed since birth to deal with the pressure, and is certainlly more adept at meeting his expectations.

[azgreg]

I think the fringe player. They make 150,000-200,000, but spend close to that on travel and expenses.

[iacas]

I think the fringe player. They make 150,000-200,000, but spend close to that on travel and expenses.

They make $600k if they're a fringe player. If they're making only $100k or $200k, they ain't even CLOSE to keepin' their card. They're way outside the fringe.

And endorsement contracts, the weekly "tee it up" contracts, can just about cover your travel.

[golfchief]

Fringe players have the pressure, working at pizza hut or pro golf tour next year. Tiger can finish in the top thirty and never have to worry.

[aidanmcg33]

Tiger doesnt have to worry about deals and contracts etc. The pressure that tiger is under comes from himself and his own expectations. The fact that he is performing way above everyone else is that he has higher expectations of himself and works harder to achieve his goals.

[powerfade]

The Fringe Player. These guys are grinding it out every tournament they enter to survive so they can make a living doing what some of us would kill for. While $150k-$200k is a nice income for most of us, it's nothing for a PGA Tour Player and will not let them keep their card.

Tiger had the heavy pressure early in his career, but like other's said, he's set now. He can focus exclusively on winning and not worry about anything else.

[TourSpoon]

Tiger seems to thrive under pressure watching everyone else crack. I think he enjoys a challenge. Most fringe players just want it so bad and one shot or missed cut can make the difference in their employment status. That's pressure.

[lewisgl]

Fringe player, without a doubt.

[i-Guy]

My vote goes to the "Fringe Players" becuase when you are standing over a putt that means one of the following which do you think has more pressure:

1) Feed family (pay bills, etc..)

2) Retain your #1 status

I think the first one has more pressure...

My wife and I were just discussing this last night. I was trying to get her to undersatnd the pressures of the Tour life becuase she thinks they all have it so easy and I explained it like this: I go to work everyday and I get paid (salary) whether I perform well or not. What if I had a tournament coming up this weekend and my back was bothering me and we needed the money. I would still have to play and in order to get paid I would have to play very well (with a sore back). Much different pressure then I think most of us realize. However, on the flipside it is this pressure or RISK that allows for the opportunity to make a lot of money. Pay for peformance is risky but can be rewarding if you are willing to face the challenge and succeed. Just my 2 cents

[BritBoy]

I would say they are both under a ton of pressure, but for different reasons. The fringe player is trying to get a pay check. Tiger is trying to live up his and everyone else’s expectations.