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.

[expatpat]

Two of the three tournaments mentioned are loaded with amateurs. I can watch bad swings and incompetent golf at any local golf course -- and in my own foursome!

[longtermmemmory]

Perhaps if the Golfers did not have the personality of a small pebble people would care.

[Dixie Yooper]

That's because it's one of the top half dozen or so courses in the country, but the greens fees are about one-tenth of what you would pay at a place like the Number 2 Course at Pinehurst, or Pebble Beach (those two courses are at least "semi-public" most other top courses are totally private)

Back in August I had the pleasure of playing The Cascades at The Homestead Resort. It's listed as #18 on the best public courses in the country. This place plays fills it's tee times all season for $235 a round. It's the first time I ever payed more than $100 to play, but it was worth it. I would do it again.

[Moonman62]

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.

Based purely on record, Woods is clearly superior to Nicklaus at this point in his career. However, Nicklaus had to face real men like Palmer, Player, Trevino, Miller and Watson. Is Woods that intimidating, or is his competition that effeminate?

[griswold3]

Never was interested in golf until Tiger Woods came along.

[carton253]

Woods is that intimidating.

[wagglebee]

The top courses are incredible. And part of what you pay for on the expensive ones is perfect maintenance and it's nowhere near as crowded as a normal course. And as long as it's not something you do every weekend, a couple hundred dollars isn't that much for the experience.

[Dixie Yooper]

I couldn't get over the WOW factor each and every hole had when you stepped up on the tee and looked down the fairway. I failed to bring my "A" game with me, but it didn't take away from the experience.

[Proverbs 3-5]

My disgust is with Mickelson (Lord, he also needs a bra)

Don't you mean he needs a "Bro" or a "Manzier"?

[Ditto]

It was before my time, but I always heard that Ike helped popularize the game almost as much as Arnie.

True, and in fact Ike was his biggest fan and invited Arnie to play with him whenever he could.

[Dixie Yooper]

My ultimate golf dream is to play Pine Valley in New Jersey, the #1 course in the US. I've watch The Wonderful World of Golf with Byron Nelson and Gene Littler when they played it back in the 60's at least 3 times. It looks like an incredible challenge, but beautiful.

[ml/nj]

Tiger has a big-time profanity problem.

Tiger is a human being.

I've followed him several times at the US Open. I saw two of his very few boggies at Bethpage. I saw him do not so well this year at Winged Foot, though by the time I saw he he must have known that his chances to finish high up were slim. I've never seen/heard him do/say anything inappropriate. He brings honor to the game.

Plus I don't think he is very fond of the Slickster. Norman is quite different from what I've seen and read.

ML/NJ

[kAcknor]

I really don't have a dog in this hunt. I haven't been on a course in about 15 years, having to give it up after only a short trial for a back problem.

But let me ask this: Were I to decide to take it up again, from scratch and clean start, how much money am I looking at to get a decent set of clubs, shoes, gloves supplies & other equipment? Plus, were I to play on a public course, or private, what does a round cost now? How about cart fees? Even the cost of a beer afterwords.

Are these costs within a regular budget of new, young players to keep the sport fresh & active or are they pricing themselves out of reach?

Just asking. It may not be who is playing at the top at all, it just may be who ISN'T playing at the bottom.

[kjo]

You are looking at a thousand dollars easily.

[dollar_dog]

He may be friends with Bill, but Norman donates 100% GOP and apparently is a big W fan.

[rawhide]

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

Perhaps, but he will always be less of a decent person in my book. If he chooses to drag his tongue through the gutter, then that is his problem, not mine. I can choose not to listen when he is on.
And I do say this hurts golf's image. As if they really cared?

[freedomson]

Maybe the problem is that,

watching golf is

BORING!

[carton253]

I would hate to see your standard of what makes a decent person. I would think that very few would ever reach it.