Golf's popularity problem was only masked by Tiger
There's a lot of justifiable hand-wringing going on among golf enthusiasts that without Tiger Woods, the profile index of the PGA Tour will slip to something approximating that of pro bowling or curling.
There's talk among golf commentators about how the PGA has to begin promoting other players so that there won't be such a huge drop in interest, especially in TV ratings, when Woods isn't playing (a much-quoted Los Angeles Times article indicated that when Tiger played and was in contention, the ratings on CBS and NBC were up an average of 111 percent).
The hard truth here is that pro golf has been flirting with something I can best describe as a general malaise in terms of spectator interest for a couple of decades and that the Tiger Phenomenon has masked that. The game's Golden Era featured its own Four Horsemen, Palmer, Nicklaus, Player and Trevino but who were also supported by an identifiable supporting cast of characters like Billy Casper, Chi Chi Rodriguez, Don January, Orville Moody and Raymond Floyd earlier and the likes of Tom Watson, Ben Crenshaw and Greg Norman later.
Again, truth be told, I'll wager that more golf fans are more familiar with the names of players who were stars prior to 1990 than guys who have starred on the PGA Tour since. That's why the Seniors Tour (now Champions Tour) was such a hit when it really got rolling in the mid-1980s. Those guys may not have hit the ball as far as the younger players on the regular tour but they had something else going for them -- individual styles, engaging personalities, something that fans could latch onto.
But then Tiger Woods came along, an All-American superstar who was simply Ruthian in his accomplishments -- huge drives, iron shots that bit and scurried to the pin, putts that snaked their way into the hole -- and so universal in his appeal. He was everything traditional yet modern at the same time. He has been both style and substance. And golf has shamelessly ridden his coattails for more than a decade now.
Certainly there are many current pro golfers who are skilled and articulate and just plain good guys. But there have not been enough like the late Payne Stewart who have the charisma to fire up a fan base as can the captivating Tiger Woods. Phil Mickelson -- for all his 34 Tour wins and three majors, including two Green Jackets -- is really best known as Woods' most likely foil in any big tournament.
Last weekend, a journeyman named Rocco Mediate came out of nowhere and charmed a national television audience in what was truly a national happening. Years from now, people will be able to tell you where they were when they watched that U.S. Open playoff. Mediate's easy-going, wise-cracking everyman reminded me of Lee Trevino, the kind of pro golfer that a public course duffer could identify with. But Trevino's enduring popularity was built on his considerable achievements that came as part of the package along with his immense likeability. Mediate would need to add some victories to his resume to approach Trevino status and help golf's star power crisis in the absence of Tiger.
I don't know what the answer is for pro golf. I suppose my point is that if there is a popularity problem for the game with Tiger missing from the scene -- and there is -- it's really a deeper problem that's been out there for a while. And that special magic appeal we call charisma isn't something you intentionally concoct, it just happens. Like last weekend.
Comments
I am not a golfer. Never played a hole in my life. But there was a time when I very much enjoyed watching the game just for pleasure. Nicklaus and Palmer and all the others. However, there's just something about Woods that rubs me the wrong way. Can't put my finger on it. Maybe it's being force-fed Tiger by the media. The self-fulfilling prophecy. And the thinly-disguised disappointment of the commentators when somebody else wins. Rooting for Woods is like rooting for your rich, arrogant neighbor who buys yet another Ferrari and invites you over to look at it. . "Very nice. Your 14th, is it?" Yeah, I've watched Woods a couple of times, but listening to the fawning, worshipful commentators just turned me off. Woods has been built up to such a superhuman figure that anybody else who comes along will be a letdown. Anticlimatic. So to compensate, we'll still be hearing about Woods for the next 20 - 30 years while subsequent champions will have their efforts devalued by comparison.
-------------------------------------
Leon,
I do understand your feelings about Woods and yep, the media does saturate you with Tiger. In part, I believe, it is because of the vacuum of golf stars. As I said, I don't know the answer. You can't wave a magic wand and make a Greg Norman or a Gary Player or a Lee Trevino appear, contenders who are both talented and charismatic. But unless that happens, golf will be in deep trouble, especially without Tiger. It's like the post-Jordan NBA.
-- Bill O.
Posted by: Leon A Davis | June 19, 2008 1:40 PM
the over-saturation also comes from the fact the guy is great, he's #1, and he transcends the game. he's done things that have never been done before on the golf course (destroying Augusta in '97 at the age of 21, winning the us open by 15 strokes in 2000, 14 majors by the age of 32, etc). he's not your run-of-the-mill professional golfer, and is thusly portrayed in the media. who else is the media supposed to talk about? i really think its more annoying to see people who look at it as being "over-saturation". they "hate" on him b/c he's great, and i find that ridiculous. i think alot of this comes from the fact that maybe their guy (Phil, Woody, whomever) is nowhere near the golfer Tiger is so their frustration is misdirected at him. anyways, i'm an unapologeticly huge fan of Tiger. i am a fan of athletes who are not only great and gifted physically, but gifted mentally as well. athletes who rise above their competitors and take their respected sport to another level. i root for and appreciate greatness, and athletes like Ali, Tiger, Jordan, A-rod (yes even him), Kobe, Montana, Magic, McEnroe, etc always were/are cheered for by myself. there will be a time when Tiger is no longer on, let alone dominating, the PGA tour. a time when we'll be asking "who is going to be the next Tiger?" and saying "remember when Tiger did this or did that?". why not appreciate his greatness while its here? I'm 37 and African-american, and i think its great that one day i can say i saw Tiger Woods play the game, from the beginning of his career, and in his prime, instead of a bunch of video clips like i've seen with Ali and many other athletes of the past.
---------------------------------------------
Winston,
You are correct that we will all be wistful whenever Tiger is no longer playing. Let's hope that's a long, long time into the future.
-- Bill O.
Posted by: winston | June 19, 2008 5:19 PM
I don't understand your stance, B.O. You are way, way off once again.
All one need do is to look at the present college ranks to see the bright future of PGA golf. Today's D-I college golfer, (i.e. Georgia, GEORGIA SOUTHERN, Florida, Miami, Coastal Carolina, 'Bama, etc.) is a cut above the modern Tiger Woods' peer, in terms of pure athleticism( no Phil McKelson style man-mamaries, in other words).
The next generation of golfers, Bill, is a cast of real athletes, and not the former historical crop of lanky, geeky, lightweight-type guys. Strength and condtioning is a huge part of todays game, and the game as a whole will benefit from tht long-term. All of the other sports have evolved in the same way as science and medical knowledge enter the picture.
The future of golf is just fine, B.O. The end of Tiger's career will be the begining of a great era of golf, not the end.
If Woods is indeed "Ruthian" as you say, then you should know that the golden age of golf will follow Tiger, just as the golden age of baseball followed Ruth.
Team half-empty, Bill?
P.S. Aaron Price is an up-and-comer. watch for him to break through soon.
---------------------------------------
JP or Bob or whoever,
Get back to me when it happens and the players you're talking about are drawing galleries and pumping up TV ratings. I'm not being disparaging about anyone to whom you may be referring but in addition to being physical specimens, they also better have some charisma and personality.
-- Bill O.
Posted by: BOB BOTH | June 20, 2008 12:50 AM
Yes! Your remarks are right on target.
Tiger will be greatly missed. The awe surrounding his talent, his history, and what his publicists have made of him are an unbeatable package. Golf will be as boring as bowling or billiards til Tiger gets back since how many "Tigers" are there in a lifetime?
Posted by: marilyn shapiro | June 20, 2008 9:56 AM
Bill, long time. My buddy and I were talking golf -- very rare for 29 year old like me and a 33 year old guy. I actually watched some of this week's final round online -- and if it weren't for the compelling matchup with Tiger & Mediate -- I could have less.
However, golf's problem is right now aside from the reasons listed, they really don't have a star that is transcendent.
A little more about me, I'm an African American male, and when I someone like Tiger Woods -- I see someone who represents the American dream the way it is supposed to be. My statement may sound a little crass, but he's brought in a segment of the audience who was left out traditionally.
I went to the AT&T last year -- skipping work, neverthless and saw a gallery of people in all shades of colors.
That's just one aspect of Tiger's absence that will hurt golf. I play it every once in a while, and my younger siblings talk about it, and he's the reason why I have grown to love the game.
---------------------------------------------
Anthony,
You make an excellent point. Tiger has been a transcendent figure not only for the game but, I think, American culture in general. That's how these things happen ... without us even realizing that they are happening. In that respect, there will be only one Tiger because no one else can be the original that he is. Having said that, golf enthusiasts can only hope that somewhere out there, there are engaging and talented players who can have a similar if not identical appeal.
-- Bill O.
Posted by: Anthony | June 20, 2008 11:50 AM