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.

[wagglebee]

I only watch it on Sunday afternoons WHEN SOMEONE GOOD IS WINNING. Twenty years ago, nobody EVER watched golf except for the majors.

[what's up]

But Norman himself didn't blame Tiger in the story.

This was just the writer's spin.

Shouldn't add words to the headline that aren't supported in the story.

[carton253]

Whore hounds run in packs...

[AJ504]

In the past, here in Augusta, you could get on the course during the practice rounds on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday before the Masters.

Now, you have to get into a lottery for practice round tickets. Before the lottery, this town was crawling with fans waiting to see the pros. Now? ...forget it.

[wagglebee]

I didn't add words to the story, I put them in parentheses, there is a huge difference.

[ErnBatavia]

falling down the stairs at 2:00am

Have you tried running down stairs, with a woody and your pants around your ankles? It ain't easy!

[rawhide]

Sorry, I am not used to that word, and I hope I never get used to hearing it. I still cringe when I am around people who feel they have to use that word and other profanity. It just goes to show that they have a small mind and limited vocabulary.
With that being said, Tiger has a big-time profanity problem, and there is no excuse for it, none. The major networks have to be on guard when he is playing because they can never tell when he will lose it and let out a few choice words.

[zarf]

You want some good golf? Let's see them play for some of their own money in the pot!

Of all the sports, golf is the game where the players have to win to survive.

[Laserman]

"Tiger is by far the best thing that has ever happened to golf in terms of boosting its popularity."

I agree. Tiger is one of the major reasons I watch golf. I never used to watch golf on TV. Sounds to me that Greg Norman is eating sour grapes.

[Moby Grape]

I don't know....I think watching golf to see IF someone can beat Tiger is fun....more fun than watching Norman BLOW a 9 stroke lead at Augusta.

[cripplecreek]

I'm not a golfer and I enjoy watching Woods play.

[what's up]

You added them to the headline following the writer's lead and making it seem like Norman blamed Woods.

[carton253]

I think we will all survive Tiger's use of adjectives.

[MarineBrat]

Tiger has a big-time profanity problem. That is a big turnoff for me and many others.

Tiger has a gutter mouth. I remember watching him with my daughter, who was about 7 at the time, and he hooked one into the ocean at Pebble Beach.

He said in a very loud and angry voice "God d****d F***ing Pr**k!" The TV guys blew it, and didn't cut his expletive. Afterwards he accused the TV network of being racist because they didn't cut the sound.

So at the time I remember thinking that if I can't watch a golf tournament with my 7 year old daughter, what can I watch? It took me years to forgive Tiger for that. And it's going to take me longer to respect him for not taking responsibility for his actions, and instead blaming someone else for persecuting him.

Golf is a gentleman's game. I'd watch a taped replay of a meaningless friendly round between Arnie and Jack long before I'd watch Tiger or nearly anyone else playing today, regardless of how much money was on the line. It's not about money for me. It's about tradition and gentlemanly conduct.

[carton253]

Not me, I watch to see if Tiger can win by 15 strokes.

[RightResponse]

"Of all the sports, golf is the game where the players have to win to survive."

Oh, really!!? Ever heard of Michelle Wie?

[Dixie Yooper]

The New York area newspapers used to have stories back then about people who would get up at the crack of dawn -- or even sleep in their cars in the parking lot -- to get a good weekend tee time at public courses. I don't hear stories like that anymore

The year you heard that story was when they held the US Open at Beth Page State Park, the Black Course. In 2 years (I think) it will be held there again, and you will again here about the line of cars parked over night. Just because the MSM doesn't report it, doesn't mean it's not happening.

[RightResponse]

Or Natalie Gulbis?

[wagglebee]

Of all the sports, golf is the game where the players have to win to survive.

They don't necessarily need to win, they just need to consistently finish in the top ten or so.

And a lot of these guys just tour for a year or so to make them more appealing for jobs as pros at private clubs. A head pro at a fairly exclusive club will often have a starting salary of over $200K a year.

[bruinbirdman]

"Is Bill Clinton still pals with Greg Norman and falling down the stairs at 2:00am to get "a hoagie"? More like chasing some tail at Greg's place. No wonder Greg's wife just left him."

Poor Greg, he was born with a silver putter in his throat. Won't Georgie let you play golf with him?

yitbos