Norman warns PGA Tour's future in trouble (Blames Tiger Woods)

Fox Sports ^ | 10/11/06 | AP

[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.

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Great nic btw.

[eyedigress]

I believe it is also obvious the scorekeeper wanted to maintain his employment! (given the benefits and all)

[photodawg]

It's a chase according to points for events for the season, similar to the Nextel Cup for NASCAR.
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I understand all of that. My point is that playing his existing schedule of fedX events, he will easily garner enough point to win the 10 mil. He has won over 50% of the fedx events he has played in thus far. He owns the format. He won't have to play extra events to get this done.