[wagglebee]

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

[what's up]

Your headline is misleading.

Where does Norman blame Tiger?

[Fester Chugabrew]

""With fewer and fewer people watching golf in America, the sport has become stagnant,"

Sheez. I think golf is stagnant while I am watching.

[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.

[cripplecreek]

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

[Wuli]

I think it just may the end of a "bubble" that Tiger helped create.

His rise sparked an increase in viewers and popularity, and more golf venues seemed to obtain "celebrity" status and live coverage during that rise (seems to me). Now all that rise has begun to spread the viewers and ad-revenue out over what seems to me wider media golf coverage. So maybe a golf "bubble" is ending, that's all, as the popularity and potential viewers retreat to more historic levels.

[Proud_texan]

I would posit that the number of commercials in televised golf events is killing TV golf. Seems it's about 50/50 in terms of content to advertising. The Masters is a wonderful exception.

In addition it seems that the current crop of commentators are pretty bush league, especially some of the ex-players. It's like they never had a bad shot in their career.

Between the two it keeps me from watching as much as I would otherwise.

[kjo]

Norman is right about one thing: the new technology has given people with average athletic ability hope. My eighteen hole score went from 100 on my good days to 89. Titanium clubs heads with graphite shafts make a huge difference.

I bought Callaway Big Bertha irons, they are set with weights that almost force the golfer to hit the ball straight, and to get it up in the air.

The clubs companies are producing today are awesome.

[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!

[griswold3]

Never was interested in golf until Tiger Woods came along.

[freedomson]

Maybe the problem is that,

watching golf is

BORING!

[Tallguy]

Tiger's in his prime, and when he's 'on' he's darn near unbeatable. Golf courses are being Tiger-proofed as a testament to his prowess.

Wait until Tiger's natural skills fade a bit & his play becomes a little bit inconsistant. Then interest will spark when he does play well. Same thing happened with all the Greats. People will play to see the Old Guy re-live his youth. Plus Tiger will be setting new career records for Major Wins.

[chemicalman]

There's always Michelle Wie:

[ItsForTheChildren]

"The Americans are trying to do that now, and I think they're doing better, but their still not there."

I know it's off-topic but I really expect something more from someone who writes for a living. Maybe I should just be content it's not, "but there still not their."

[JonH]

Tiger Woods is certainly not the problem. He is seeking the perfect swing and setting a standard that has left most players in the dust. With maturity, his course management is better and the gap between Tiger and the "also rans" has gotten larger rather than smaller. It doesn't help that Ernie Ells has had injuries, Phil Mickelson has head problems and Sergio Garcia can't putt unless it is a Ryder Cup team event.

The real problem is that the PGA has set up a comfortable, almost socialistic work place where anyone in the top 25 makes a fine living. In the "good old days", if you didn't win, you had money problems. Today, three top 10's a year will earn the player at least $750,000.

The PGA tour needs to be more open to European players and the young guns coming out of college. As it is, the top 125 on the money list are assured a handsome living, entry to all tournaments, etc. even though at least 50 have no realistic chance of winning a tournament that has half of the world top ten in the field. Lee Trevino suggested cutting the exemptions to the top 75 money winners to open the competition. That might be a very good first step!

[Doogle]

hmmmmmm....the shark jumping the tiger...strange


Doogle

[Rum Tum Tugger]

Actually, Norman makes some good points.

I don't watch nearly as much golf as I used to. Reasons:

• There are too many other alternatives these days: more TV channels, the Internet, etc.
• The players are deadly dull these days. Where are the players with the charisma of Trevino, Miller, Nicklaus, Player and even Norman. Tiger has the charisma of a rock.
• They've changed the names of all the tournaments to stupid corporate names. I used to be able to tell what month it is by the tournment name -- the Crosby, the Hope, the Williams, etc. Now, with the new names there's no link to the past. The new names aggravate me so much that when I see that a tournament with a name I don't recognize is on TV, I don't bother even trying to watch it.

Norman is right. The PGA is in danger of dying on the vine.

[RedStateRocker]

I think it was Letterman who commented that in America our best rapper was white and best golfer black

[Hildy]

Hey Norm...jealousy is an unattractive trait. Go hang with your buddy, Billy Clinton.

[philetus]

If everyone stops watching golf on TV, then the golfers will be playing for the love of the game,again.

[philetus]

Greg Norman must not be winning any purses.