14 Comments

1. 

   J Jackson

   Apr 6, 2018 at 5:54 am

   Quite right, when woods isn’t there neither are his fans, in person or watching on television. When they returned so did their misbehavior; on balance golf is better when woods and his fan base are absent.

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2. 

   The Taint

   Mar 14, 2018 at 1:15 am

   I would rather watch bowling than Tiger.

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3. 

   moses

   Mar 13, 2018 at 9:17 pm

   Someone wrote that back in the 1970’s more people watched professional bowling than professional golf. Golf wouldn’t be where it is today if it wasn’t for Tiger Woods.

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4. 

   B40

   Mar 13, 2018 at 10:31 am

   Golf media outlets just don’t seem to have an exit strategy for the eventual end of Tiger’s career. Instead, they just milk the cash-cow for everything they can, while they still can. It’s great for immediate returns, but they don’t seem to recognize that the general public not caring about golf unless Tiger is playing can be problematic long-term – especially since there are multiple reports of interest in golf dwindling. So, to me anyway, these aren’t numbers we should be proud of as hardcore golf fans, whether you love the guy or not. Ultimately, golf will create its own post-Tiger dark ages that it will try to get through by giving us trackman data and slow motion swing analyses of his ceremonial tee shots up until he’s 102 years old.

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   • 

     Jerry

     Mar 13, 2018 at 12:03 pm

     Acting as if there is a strategy to replace a once in a lifetime talent is admirable, but the only way to replace a lifetime talent is with another to lifetime talent to replace him.

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     • 

       B40

       Mar 13, 2018 at 12:18 pm

       I do agree. And these enormous talents are never removed from conversations entirely. The next great one that does finally come along will be prone to the same media over-saturation and comparisons to greats from the past. I guess it’s a cycle that golf (and all sports) has gone through forever – long before my interest in the game, and probably long after.

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   • 

     kevin

     Mar 13, 2018 at 2:00 pm

     There is a big difference between ‘golf is dying without tiger’ and ‘industry revenues are at all time highs with tiger’.

     when tiger finally decides to call it quits there will no doubt be a decline in revenues, ratings, people playing golf, etc….but this is because when a once in a lifetime athlete that drives the market to new highs quits, the market has no where to go but down. but it will still be a healthy market and a better market after having tiger.

     if you want to look at a sport that is truly dying look to NASCAR

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     • 

       JThunder

       Mar 13, 2018 at 9:23 pm

       “There is a big difference between ‘golf is dying without tiger’ and ‘industry revenues are at all time highs with tiger’.”

       A million MBAs just cringed. You’re correct, of course, in a more balanced and intelligent world. But in today’s world, you’re either #1 by a length, or you’re dead. TV shows can have millions of viewers and considered “failures”. A Tour Pro can make millions of dollars every year but lacking a win considered “nobody”.

       The vast majority of people would be living a fantasy to earn what a non-winning middlin’ tour pro makes. The vast majority of businesses would be ecstatic to have the profits the golf OEMs were making in the “dark days” before, between and after Tiger.

       But today, if you’re now growing every year, doubling profits for your shareholders, you’re failing.

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5. 

   acew/7iron

   Mar 13, 2018 at 8:32 am

   He moves it but 2nd will not cut the mustard over the long haul and eventually the gallery will shrink around him if he does not become the HOF player he once was…

   The PGA knows he needs a win to be considered fully TW again and I for one think that it will be much harder to come by than most think esp after Sundays 2nd place finish.

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   • 

     Eric Klebanski

     Mar 13, 2018 at 9:02 am

     Tiger moves my needle if you know what I mean! hehe. I want Tiger to put all of his mustard on my face…@mustardmeup

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6. 

   TexasSnowman

   Mar 12, 2018 at 10:32 pm

   Tiger is an all-time great and people are drawn to watch when he plays. I don’t care if you dislike his personal decisions, etc, etc. Watching Tiger live (or on tv) is as close as most of us will ever get to seeing Hogan, Jones, Snead, et.al.

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7. 

   George lee

   Mar 12, 2018 at 10:08 pm

   Redemption similar to “Hancock” movie.

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8. 

   JJVas

   Mar 12, 2018 at 6:57 pm

   I wouldn’t think anyone doubts he moves the needle. I would say that many, many golfers don’t care that he moves the needle. I’m going to play and watch either way, so if Tiger never existed, my golf life wouldn’t be different at all… maybe less courses open and close, but that’s about it.

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9. 

   dat

   Mar 12, 2018 at 6:12 pm

   queue the haters

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