Posted on 10/11/2006 11:52:00 AM PDT by wagglebee
MADRID, Spain (AP) - Technology, money and Tiger Woods are hurting golf, according to two-time British Open winner Greg Norman.
The Australian, who is playing in this week's Spanish Senior Open, said Tuesday that golf will be in major trouble if the U.S. PGA Tour doesn't manage the sport more carefully. "With fewer and fewer people watching golf in America, the sport has become stagnant," Norman said.
Some U.S. tour events this year reportedly saw significant declines in American television viewership from 2005, such as a 56 percent drop for the Bob Hope Classic, a 50 percent decline for the season-opening Mercedes Championship and a 37.5 percent drop for the Pebble Beach National Pro-Am.
Some analysts have said that Woods being in contention is a major factor in ratings, such as the 22 percent increase in August for the final round of his U.S. PGA Championship victory, but ratings when he successfully defended his title at Doral were still off by 16 percent.
(Excerpt) Read more at msn.foxsports.com ...
Some do and some don't. The smart ones do. Tiger is in the smart catagory.
"Depending upon whose version you believe, it was either a doctored scorecard or he was made a scapegoat for a tour official's error.
In any event, he was accused of cheating and banned from tournament golf for two years.
Singh was more or less blacklisted. He could not play and every job he applied for was denied until he caught on at a golf club that may be considered the most remote frontier in golf, the Keningau Club deep in the rain forests of Borneo where American oil workers went for rest and relaxation."
yitbos
Golf's first Billion-Dollar Man
~snip~
"In the furious run-up to Woods' "Hello World" news conference on Aug. 28, 1996, many agents estimated that the three-time U.S. Amateur champion might get $6 million a year in deals. IMG got twice that by bringing into the talks Nike, a company that in 1996 had very few golfers on staff and no golf equipment to sell. They were, as Johnston said, "the right people." At a stockholder meeting in 2000, shortly after Tiger's deal with Nike was increased to $20 million a year for five years, Phil Knight, the co-founder and then CEO, was asked if there weren't a better way for the company to spend $100 million. Knight replied simply: 'No.'"
"Five years later, Woods is on the verge of becoming golf's first $1 billion player, and perhaps the first billionaire to accumulate his wealth as an athlete."
"Woods is No. 1 among the Golf Digest 50, an all-encompassing world-earnings list that includes every dollar tour players earned on and off the golf course in 2005 (see accompanying chart), heading the list as he has every year since its inception in 2004. Woods earned almost $12 million in prize money last year and another $75 million off the course to increase his career income to more than a half-billion dollars."
"In little more than nine seasons as a professional, Woods has earned $66 million in prize money worldwide, some of it as unofficial earnings. Research by Golf Digest revealed that over that same period Woods has earned another $481.8 million in endorsements and appearance fees. Assuming Woods continues on the same earnings trajectory, Golf Digest projects that Woods will reach the $1 billion mark in career earnings by the end of 2010. According to financial experts, Woods' net worth should surpass $1 billion by 2013, if not sooner."
yitbos
Pro golf has alot of talent but very little personality these days. Most of the players are stiff and boring. Guys like Lee Trevino, Lanny Wadkins, Fuzzy Zoeller all brought something more than just a good swing to the game.
More than 83 on The Tour will make more than a million bucks.
#83 Jesper Parnevik $1,015,759.
#84 Craig Barlow $997,476
#85 Frank Lickliter $996,869
#86 Nick O'Hern $995,236
yitbos
I've never had any interest in golf, but I think you're correct. You have to have some drama for a sport to be interesting, and the fact that there were several charismatic players competing made it interesting. The most popular time for boxing was when Ali, Foreman, Norton and Frazier were all fighting. The problem isn't Woods, it's that there isn't another charismatic player out there to challenge him, making a great duel.
Money, TV, and celebrity status will do that "these days."
TV puts the spotlight on anyone with a PGA card. Remember the guy who sued the PGA so he could ride around on a golf cart? And he wasn't a senior.
yitbos
I don't watch nearly as much golf as I used to. Reasons:
I think it was Letterman who commented that in America our best rapper was white and best golfer black
Actually I was glad they eventually gave in and let him ride. He wasn't looking to gain an advantage and he wouldn't have received all the attention if the PGA didn'tmake an issue out of it. The guys I mentioned were winners too! Maybe not as much as Tiger and I stand in Awe of his talent. But those guys made the TV game fun to watch too.
They changed the name of The Byron Nelson Open. He died.
yitbos
Power hath its privileges.
Payne Stewert, Ian Woosnan. David Duval, Mr. Yips. Jasper Parnivek, Mr. fashion statement.
Golf always has/had plenty of character and characters.
yitbos
Fascinating. Thanks for the information. Neither version of the story would really surprise me, or change my opinion of Mr. Singh at this distance.
Payne Stewart maybe but the others just good sticks.
Do you know why it is called golf?
All the other 4 letter words were taken.
Pinehurst #2 is probably the best course in the country and from what I've been told, Pebble Beach is the most beautiful. I've known a few people who played Augusta National and they say the "thrill" of playing there is simply incredible.
I view endorsement contract figures with the same scepticism as I view sports contracts and per movie pay figures for actos. Each of them are inflated for maximum publicity.
If Golf Digest is correct, Tiger must have a tremendous tax accountant and agents who work for nothing.
I view endorsement contract figures with the same scepticism as I view sports contracts and per movie pay figures for actos. Each of them are inflated for maximum publicity.
If Golf Digest is correct, Tiger must have a tremendous tax accountant and agents who work for nothing.
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