Why Tiger Woods Struggling Is The Best Thing To Happen To Golf

[kybobcat_rivals185207]

Link.

Though Woods is approaching irrelevancy, golf is the most exciting and interesting it has been in years, and this Sunday’s PGA Championship proved that. There’s a new wave of talented golfers, and for the first time in my lifetime, golf tournaments are finally competitive.

Players like Rory McIlroy, Dustin Johnson, Jordan Spieth and now Jason Day lead the pack for more enjoyable Sundays.

Rory McIlroy has been crowned the next big thing. He is one of three golfers to win three majors by the age of 25. The other two golfers are Tiger Woods and Jack Nicklaus. McIlroy is one of the highest-paid athletes on the planet, and outside of Tiger, he’s the most recognizable.

I personally love him because he broke up his engagement with professional tennis player Caroline Wozniacki over the phone. That’s 100 percent something I would do after becoming the number-one golfer in the world.​

 

[gamecockcat]

TV ratings still don't bear out that sentiment. One of the great things about the 'Tiger Era' was that he was so dominant that everyone was gunning for him. Fans, in general, love to cheer on greatness and want to see it challenged. After a few years of greatness, however, we want to see the King of the Hill get knocked down a peg or two. Golf has a ton of elite, young players right now. However, if there are 10-15 of them, I don't think it will be the draw for the casual fan that Tiger was. Someone needs to rise to the top and let everyone else come hard after him. The overall quality of the game is super. Still need that transcendant superstar to appeal to non-golfers, imo.

BTW, a 380 yard drive by Day is just ridiculous. 99.9% of hard-core golfers cannot relate to the game these guys are playing. They've always hit the ball longer than amateurs. But, 80+ yards longer? Nine irons from 190 yards? Only time I've ever hit a 9 even close to that involved a cart path.

 

[sluggercatfan]

TV ratings still don't bear out that sentiment. One of the great things about the 'Tiger Era' was that he was so dominant that everyone was gunning for him. Fans, in general, love to cheer on greatness and want to see it challenged. After a few years of greatness, however, we want to see the King of the Hill get knocked down a peg or two. Golf has a ton of elite, young players right now. However, if there are 10-15 of them, I don't think it will be the draw for the casual fan that Tiger was. Someone needs to rise to the top and let everyone else come hard after him. The overall quality of the game is super. Still need that transcendant superstar to appeal to non-golfers, imo.

BTW, a 380 yard drive by Day is just ridiculous. 99.9% of hard-core golfers cannot relate to the game these guys are playing. They've always hit the ball longer than amateurs. But, 80+ yards longer? Nine irons from 190 yards? Only time I've ever hit a 9 even close to that involved a cart path.

Body is breaking down from all the steroids

 

[TruBluCatFan]

BTW, a 380 yard drive by Day is just ridiculous. 99.9% of hard-core golfers cannot relate to the game these guys are playing. They've always hit the ball longer than amateurs. But, 80+ yards longer? Nine irons from 190 yards? Only time I've ever hit a 9 even close to that involved a cart path.

They play such a different game. I'm the shortest hitting golfer on the paddock but I would have to crush my drive and pure my 8 iron to move the ball 380 yards. It's just crazy how long these guys are.

And still yet, if you don't have a great short game you aren't going to win much.

 

[cole854]

The Wyndham sold $40K in tickets on Friday alone after Tiger semi-committed to the tourney. Go ask the sponsors if they want this irrelevancy to continue...probably.

 

[mrhotdice]

The Wyndham sold $40K in tickets on Friday alone after Tiger semi-committed to the tourney. Go ask the sponsors if they want this irrelevancy to continue...probably.

Go back to the equipment of wood drivers and steel shafts, make the ball follow specifications of the past, and the game becomes more normal. I remember john, jimmy, and Bjorn saying if tennis racquets were still wood they could have played another 5 or 10 years.

Pros always hit it longer than duffers. Haha

 

[Larry00]

Nine irons from 190 yards? Only time I've ever hit a 9 even close to that involved a cart path.

[laughing][roll][laughing]

 

[Anon1640710541]

tigers fine. probably has 5 or 6 major wins left in him. maybe 7.

 

[RacerX.ksr]

Was the Senior Tour part of that bet?

 

[TruBluCatFan]

Go back to the equipment of wood drivers and steel shafts, make the ball follow specifications of the past, and the game becomes more normal. I remember john, jimmy, and Bjorn saying if tennis racquets were still wood they could have played another 5 or 10 years.

Pros always hit it longer than duffers. Haha

Ok but what does that possibly have to do with Cole854's post?

 

[Catfan in Tn.]

tigers fine. probably has 5 or 6 major wins left in him. maybe 7.

Tiger missed the cut in 3 out of 4 Majors. 1 more Major at this point would be a miracle.

 

[ukalumni00]

Tiger looking pretty good this week. Let the "he is back" talk start again (until he has another bad round).

 

[TruBluCatFan]

Tiger looking pretty good this week. Let the "he is back" talk start again (until he has another bad round).

When he wins another regular tournament and contends regularly I might believe it. Otherwise I'm withholding judgment.

 

[Ukbrassowtipin]

I dunno, non golf ppl tuned in to see tiger, and they still follow him on holes when he's not in contention.

But Spieth, day, watson, roey, etc are awesome to watch if you like the game.

Plus Phil still gets up and down like no one ever will.

 

[TruBluCatFan]

Put 2 good rounds back to back. First 36 hole lead since 2013 WCG Bridgestone which is also his last win.

Interesting tidbit. Sam Snead won his 80th PGA event at this event in 1960. Tiger is sitting on 79. Be kind of neat if he notched his 80th here too.

 

[ukalumni00]

Wyndham should pay Tiger very nicely for just showing up. Ticket sales way up and ratings will be high this weekend with folks seeing if Tiger can win again.

 

[anthonys735]

Um Tiger still moves the needle more than anyone. Spieth is doing well in marketability but nothing like Tiger. Just watch golf channel... they analyze Tiger more than anyone. Not even close.

He may not ever win a major but he'll get back to being relevant. My guess is he wins at least 1 more.

 

[Bigtyrone]

Link.

Though Woods is approaching irrelevancy, golf is the most exciting and interesting it has been in years, and this Sunday’s PGA Championship proved that. There’s a new wave of talented golfers, and for the first time in my lifetime, golf tournaments are finally competitive.

Players like Rory McIlroy, Dustin Johnson, Jordan Spieth and now Jason Day lead the pack for more enjoyable Sundays.

Rory McIlroy has been crowned the next big thing. He is one of three golfers to win three majors by the age of 25. The other two golfers are Tiger Woods and Jack Nicklaus. McIlroy is one of the highest-paid athletes on the planet, and outside of Tiger, he’s the most recognizable.

I personally love him because he broke up his engagement with professional tennis player Caroline Wozniacki over the phone. That’s 100 percent something I would do after becoming the number-one golfer in the world.​

The best thing that could happen to golf is an extinction level event.

 

[ukalum01]

Tiger struggling wasn't/isn't good for golf. With that said, Tiger being out of the spotlight for a bit allowed the media to concentrate on/give attention to the next generation. Those guys filled the vacuum (media and popularity-wise) that wouldn't have been available if Tiger hadn't slipped.

 

[TruBluCatFan]

Tiger struggling wasn't/isn't good for golf. With that said, Tiger being out of the spotlight for a bit allowed the media to concentrate on/give attention to the next generation. Those guys filled the vacuum (media and popularity-wise) that wouldn't have been available if Tiger hadn't slipped.

Best golf post on here in a while.

 

[RacerX.ksr]

Who's to say people aren't tuning in to watch him fail? People that understand and play golf know that when courses were "tiger proofing" their tracks, they were actually "tiger improving" the layout. Most of the changes were disadvantageous to the normal PGA pro.

Dude was a wizard, no doubt. ONE of the best ever. Add a pint of melanin to Speith and no one would think of Tiger again. He has knowingly cheated in every aspect of his life, including on the course.

Golf doesn't build character, it reveals it.

 

[ukalumni00]

Tiger struggling wasn't/isn't good for golf. With that said, Tiger being out of the spotlight for a bit allowed the media to concentrate on/give attention to the next generation. Those guys filled the vacuum (media and popularity-wise) that wouldn't have been available if Tiger hadn't slipped.

Good post. Tiger revolutionized the game in every way. Courses were altered, younger generations of golfers are much more athletic than in the past, better equipment, much higher purses, list goes on. Every single pro on tour owes him a great deal of gratitude for what he has done for the tour and the game in general. Now, there is a ridiculous amount of young talent on tour now and you can bet a younger generation coming up that will make some noise in years to come. His struggles has allowed a lot of other players to build their resumes that has greatly helped the game market a new crop of talent. Him regaining a form of his old self would be tremendous for the game and in some ways a payback to him for what he has done for the game even though he has had several missteps in the process.