As Tiger Woods Fades, a Fear That Revenue Will, Too [NYT]

[dkolo]

Even if Rory were to win 14 majors....and I honestly do think he can do it......he's still not going to move the needle like Tiger did. I think he needs a rivarly with someone, kinda like Jack had Arnie and Watson, to really push the game more. Like iacas said, I don't think it'll ever peak to where Tiger had it and we'll never see a player dominate like that again when he was in his prime, and if anyone is waiting for that to happen, they'll be waiting into their next lifetime and then some. The best we can hope for is an American figure to really step up and challenge Rory's game...someone with a personality and flare about them. Jordan Spieth is a great player, but I'm not sure he has that flare about him to motivate people to watch him on TV.

Look at tennis with Federer, Djokovic, and Nadal breaking all kinds of records. But people just don't care in America like they did when it was Sampras and Agassi.

[inthehole]

totally agree - used to play a lot of tennis & was a huge tennis fan in the 80's & 90's ... ever since there were basically no dominating Americans, I lost interest and rarely watch now.    I may be a fair weather fan, but I bet I'm not alone ...

[RussUK]

I find it unlikely that any player (American or European) will dominate the game to the extent Tiger has. He kind of re-made the mold when it came to what a tour player should be like with regards to Fitness and dedication to the game.

If you look at a lot of the players who were around when he burst on to the scene, they would have a drink or two in the bar after a tournament (John Daly springs to mind, and Sam Torrence a little earlier). Fitness regime were dirty words to many back then as well.

Look at F1. Senna would often finish a race exhausted while Schumacher would be as fresh as when he started. Because of him drivers now have to be uber fit.

Golfers had to follow Tigers lead and get into shape to keep up. Lee Westwood is a case in point. He was never regarded as being in shape but he turned into a fitness freak.

Im sure there will be the odd year when a player dominates a higher percentage of the year but the gap between players now is closed that when Tiger was in his prime

[ChrisP]

Look at tennis with Federer, Djokovic, and Nadal breaking all kinds of records. But people just don't care in America like they did when it was Sampras and Agassi.

Good comparison. It's a shame with tennis, too, because men's tennis has probably never been better with the Federer, Nadal and Djokovic rivalries and their domination but most people don't have interest because it's not Sampras vs. Agassi.

[phan52]

Good comparison. It's a shame with tennis, too, because men's tennis has probably never been better with the Federer, Nadal and Djokovic rivalries and their domination but most people don't have interest because it's not Sampras vs. Agassi.

Federer is arguably the best ever but we here in the States still yearn for the days of Sampras and Agassi, even going back as far as Connors and McEnroe. Rory may end up better than Tiger but I agree that he doesn't bring the same juice. Jingoist homer attitude, IMO.

It would help if the best players played more. Their schedules are cut way back from the pre-Tiger days, probably because of the money.

[newtogolf]

Tiger moves the needle for all the reasons @iacas listed.  It seems each generation gets one standout player that elevates the popularity of the sport, Hogan, Arnie, Jack, Tiger.   Rory could be this generations standout but in terms of the PGA Tour he may never rise to the levels of those aforementioned because he's not from the US.

Golf ratings are usually slow until the Masters, so it's too early to tell what the impact of Tigers decline will have on it.  It's certainly not helping the Phil is struggling and this is the first week Rory is playing.  So far in 2015, Reed, Walker, Haas, Koepka, Day, Snedeker and Hahn have won.  They may all be good golfers but with the exception of Reed who's as infamous as he is famous and Snedeker (some might know his name from the commercial), none of these guys move the needle in the US.

One look at the players page on the PGA Tour website says it all.  There's a large picture of Tiger, and two smaller photos, one of Phil the other Rory.  Tiger and Rory don't even have a FEDEX Cup Ranking and Phil is 179th.

[Torres9]

Just think. If Tiger Woods somehow makes it back and wins a major? It would be pandemonium. He's an exciting figure and folks quickly forget how completely dominant he was for so long. I'm just thankful to have witnessed it.

[rkim291968]

Tiger moves the needle for all the reasons @iacas listed.  It seems each generation gets one standout player that elevates the popularity of the sport, Hogan, Arnie, Jack, Tiger.   Rory could be this generations standout but in terms of the PGA Tour he may never rise to the levels of those aforementioned because he's not from the US.

Golf ratings are usually slow until the Masters, so it's too early to tell what the impact of Tigers decline will have on it.  It's certainly not helping the Phil is struggling and this is the first week Rory is playing.  So far in 2015, Reed, Walker, Haas, Koepka, Day, Snedeker and Hahn have won.  They may all be good golfers but with the exception of Reed who's as infamous as he is famous and Snedeker (some might know his name from the commercial), none of these guys move the needle in the US.

One look at the players page on the PGA Tour website says it all.  There's a large picture of Tiger, and two smaller photos, one of Phil the other Rory.  Tiger and Rory don't even have a FEDEX Cup Ranking and Phil is 179th.

Rory just missed a cut (erratic performance compared to Tiger of young) and he seems to have a blend personality.  I just don't see how he can move the needle or be the generation player.    And he is not from the US as you stated.  I just don't see any golfer replacing Tiger.   I am just glad I enjoyed watching Tiger play, being a witness to the legend in making.

[skydog]

Like I said here http://thesandtrap.com/t/76466/rory-has-no-star-power I don't think Rory is capable of anchoring the game here over the next 10 years. No doubt golf is going to be hurting without Tiger...I really hope the sport doesn't fade into tennis like obscurity following Samras/Agassi but at this point it's hard to envision a winning, magnetic American to step up and take the torch. The game endured a slump in US star power in the late 80s/early 90s (Faldo, Norman era) and I think we're destined for the same now.

[cedrictheo]

IMO Tiger Woods was able to make golf cool and athletic. And I don't think a short Irish kid is going to make anyone change thier mind about whether golf is cool no matter how well he plays. Perhaps all these athletic players nowadays can keep golf from shrinking... But to grow the game again golf needs someone that brings something fresh, unique, and exciting to the sport and interests a new demographic of players.

[Spitfisher]

Golf is in somewhat of tail spin, and has been for well over a decade and only recently has really been ratchet down.....I don't blame tiger. Tiger got purses to grow, tiger brought professionalism to the game, Tiger prospered as multimedia and the Internet prospered allowing golf to be come much more global including Tiger. Tiger got a lot of people to watch golf, but not play golf. it's an urban myth. Now before you flame me, yeah some played, mostly men, many do not play anymore. Many went to driving ranges, the same as if they went to a batting cage. People that came into the game- an equal number basically stopped playing It's not tigers fault, it's a market correction, it's over building of courses, its too much equipment and companies. it's cost, it's rules, it takes too long, it's tough to learn, it's not taught in public schools, amongst other things. Golf will correct itself...I'm certainly looking forward to it.

[rkim291968]

Golf is growing in the rest of the world, Asia in particular.   Then there is 2016 Olympics.  Can the golf population growth outside of US keep the golf revenue stream going strong?

LPGA is a good example of this.   When Korean ladies came to LPGA in droves, some folks blamed it for LPAG's decline.    Well, since then, LPGA became a global tour, purses have grown, number of events (in Asia particular) increased, and it is enjoying a bit of comeback.  It may still not be popular in US but it has gained momentum in Korea, Thailand, China, and more.

[Lihu]

Golf is growing in the rest of the world, Asia in particular.   Then there is 2016 Olympics.  Can the golf population growth outside of US keep the golf revenue stream going strong?

LPGA is a good example of this.   When Korean ladies came to LPGA in droves, some folks blamed it for LPAG's decline.    Well, since then, LPGA became a global tour, purses have grown, number of events (in Asia particular) increased, and it is enjoying a bit of comeback.  It may still not be popular in US but it has gained momentum in Korea, Thailand, China, and more.

It's really big with the rich people in China, and now the growing middle class is starting to pick it up.

[Spitfisher]

I believe the next Tiger, not in record breaking form but in a marketing form, will be Chinese over 6 feet 2" tall and 200+ pounds, they'll be something special about him that will make people recall tiger and his influence.

[jamo]

I believe the next Tiger, not in record breaking form but in a marketing form, will be Chinese over 6 feet 2" tall and 200+ pounds, they'll be something special about him that will make people recall tiger and his influence.

Okay.

[ghalfaire]

Look at tennis with Federer, Djokovic, and Nadal breaking all kinds of records. But people  just don't care in America like they did when it was Sampras and Agassi.

I am older but you should mention John McEnroe and Jimmy Connors too.  One thing all of those players had was they were great at tennis and had personalities that stirred interest.  Like Tiger the discussion wasn't always about tennis but it did keep the interest in the sport up.  Your point is well taken however that Tiger revitalized golf as something young Americans wanted to do.  I would suspect he also stirred the interest of Europe and the world youth.   Not sure where the next "hero" comes from but golf needs one.

[skydog]

I am older but you should mention John McEnroe and Jimmy Connors too.  One thing all of those players had was they were great at tennis and had personalities that stirred interest.  Like Tiger the discussion wasn't always about tennis but it did keep the interest in the sport up.  Your point is well taken however that Tiger revitalized golf as something young Americans wanted to do.  I would suspect he also stirred the interest of Europe and the world youth.   Not sure where the next "hero" comes from but golf needs one.

All true. Veering slightly OT, but I think part of the problem is that 'kids these days', i.e. Rory, Spieth, etc. have grown up in the digital age of 24/7 media/tv/internet and it's made them too polished, normal, and boring for lack of a better word. They are well spoken and 'good' in front of the camera, but they aren't interesting or capitivating. They lack any of the individuality that drew us to guys to Connors, McEnroe and Agassi- guys who let us see their natural personality, not one that had been molded and diminished by watching others on the tube their whole lives. Just my $0.02.

[ghalfaire]

All true. Veering slightly OT, but I think part of the problem is that 'kids these days', i.e. Rory, Spieth, etc. have grown up in the digital age of 24/7 media/tv/internet and it's made them too polished, normal, and boring for lack of a better word. They are well spoken and 'good' in front of the camera, but they aren't interesting or capitivating. They lack any of the individuality that drew us to guys to Connors, McEnroe and Agassi- guys who let us see their natural personality, not one that had been molded and diminished by watching others on the tube their whole lives. Just my $0.02.

You're correct.  Today's superior players are just too polished. You don't ever hear a "bad" word or see anyone slam a club on the ground or berate an official.  Regardless of their skill level they are just sort of bland most of the time in interviews and on the course,  e.g. they are uninteresting outside of the fact "these guys are really good".  To be a big star you need to be a 'personality" too.  My 2 ¢.