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 ...
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.
...and MAJOR CHOKE ARTIST
The FedEx Cup will make a big difference. For 10 million, Tiger will show up for some smaller tournaments for a change.
Thanks, FedEx!
I like his clothing line, though.
You are, of course, correct. But he has a good overall point, even if some of his reasons may be wrong. My disgust is with Mickelson (Lord, he also needs a bra) and the rest of chokers--and that's damned near all of them--at the Ryder Cups every 2 years. And, for these guys to be beaten by Garcia and Montgomery IS choking.
As long as I live, I will never forget his TOTAL MELTDOWN in the back nine of the 1996 Masters.
Greg kept his mouth shut about what really happened, so I assume they're still friends.
Man, you got THAT right!
But I'd still like to see one tourney where all the players use the exact same equipment. I think that would be fun to watch.
Shark on a rapid downslope to asst. club pro statis. Tiger is an absolute marvel, the game is better today than at anytime in my lifetime thanks to Woods.
There are plenty of good golfers out there, the problem is that Tiger Woods and Phil Mickelson are the only ones with any real charisma that seem to be able to CONSISTENTLY PLAY WELL (and even the two of them have had their moments).
They need to recruit that Kim Jong Il fella from North Korea. I hear he shot a 38 under par and had 5 aces in his first game ever! Hell, I'd watch that!
All of them have their choice of whatever equipment they want and at their level it's not costing them anything. So, I think it's fair to say that they are all playing with the clubs they feel are best for them.
LMFAO!
Greg Norman is so far past his prime that it's not funny.
GO VIJAY!
Perhaps the Shark jumped himself....?
I didn't watch basketball when Jordan was with the Bulls. Didn't hurt the NBA at all.
You want some good golf? Let's see them play for some of their own money in the pot!
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