On Sunday, Tiger Woods won for the 66th time on the PGA Tour. He's been the World No. 1 for 542 of the previous 594 weeks, dating back to June 15, 1997, when he first knocked Greg Norman from atop the rankings.
In the nearly 12 years since, Tiger has 14 major victories -- just four shy of Jack Nicklaus' record. He's made nearly a billion dollars in earnings and endorsements, and is arguably the most recognizable athlete on the planet.
Consequently, Woods is always news, even if he's playing poorly -- or worse, not playing at all. And it's for these reasons that some fans (and, ironically, the media) cringe every time Tiger's face is beamed into their living rooms.
I fully understand what it means to be beaten about the head with banal story lines, but golf is a sport in need of a face. Unlike the NFL or Major League Baseball, where the fan bases are regional and loyalties are passed down from generation to generation, golfers compete individually, and their professional existence is, by nature, a transient one.
Those facts coupled with a slumping economy and the lack of any other compelling narratives makes Woods the de facto face of the sport.
Yes, Phil Mickelson, the second-ranked player in the world, has narrowed the gap in the points standings, but that's only because Tiger took eight months off to recover from reconstructive knee surgery. Lefty's career can be summed up in one sentence: Fantastic player, wrong era.
Instead of being mentioned as one of the best golfers in the history of the game, his career will always come with the "could never escape Tiger's shadow" qualification. Fair or not, that's the reality. It's also why the tour needs Woods; because there's nothing that affects people's viewing habits quite like a Tiger Sunday charge.
The Sports Business Daily reported that "NBC Sunday earned a 4.9/10 overnight Nielsen rating from 2:30-8:00pm ET for its telecast of the final round of the Arnold Palmer Invitational, which saw Tiger Woods come from behind to win his first tournament since last year's U.S. Open. The 4.9 rating is up 22.5% from a 4.0/9 for the final round last year, which aired until 6:00pm ET, and also marks the best overnight rating for a golf telecast since the final round of the U.S. Open last year.To be clear: Woods also won the 2008 Arnold Palmer Invitational in theatrical fashion, draining a 21-foot birdie putt on the 72nd hole. The fact that ratings were up more than 22 percent lends credence to the argument that a tour without Tiger is no tour at all. At least as far as viewers are concerned.
Then there's this:
"Excluding The Masters and the U.S. Open, the 4.9 rating is also the best overnight for any golf telecast in two years. The rating peaked at a 7.8/13 from 7:30-8:00pm, which included Woods' winning putt on the 18th hole. Saturday's third round coverage on NBC delivered a 2.7/6, up 17.4% from a 2.3/6 last year."Also worth mentioning: Woods went up against the Elite Eight Oklahoma-UNC game and won that too. (Although, because of a 90-minute rain delay to start the day, Tiger didn't finish his round until almost 8 PM EST, more than 30 minutes after the Tar Heels breezed to victory over the Sooners).
The previous best tour round of the last two years? The 2007 Buick Invitational, won by Woods.
There's no disputing that Tiger, the tour, and television are inextricably linked. And there will always be a subset of viewers who are bothered by the nonstop coverage. But the alternative -- lukewarm interest on a broad scale and the dreaded "niche sport" label -- isn't good for anyone, either. Just ask the LPGA.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
3-31-2009 @ 10:31PM
Sieben said...
Tiger is the greatest golfer of "ALL TIME" To say that he is the PGA that's a bit much. In MHO and I have a great admiration for TIGER, but no one person is larger than the sport itself ,no matter how great he or she may be .
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4-01-2009 @ 12:17AM
jas7to said...
"BULL S--T"!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
3-31-2009 @ 11:24PM
loridarlin40 said...
I agree with Sieben.. Tiger is the greatest golfer of all time ! But, we also have to realize how much the public just tunes into golf just to watch Tiger and how the numbers fell off when he was down with his knee. I wish him all the best, as a fellow golfer (will never be in the same league as Tiger) I hold the utmost respect for the man and wish someday I can play 1/2 as well as he does.
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4-01-2009 @ 12:34AM
jas7to said...
If you could ever play 1/2 as well as Tiger, you would be, probably, the second best golfer in the world!! Tiger Woods is so far in front of the rest of the PGA that there's #1-T.W. then you have to go to, somewhere around, #-25! People watch golf more then ever in the history of the sport, very simply, because of T.W. I use to watch golf occasionaly to see how Arnold Palmer & Jack Nick. were doing. Other wise I did not care. I enjoy playing, but watching golf on T.V. has to be the most boring pastime, next to watching bowling. PLEASE GIVE ME A BREAK Tiger Woods is golf on T.V. unless you are the golf equivilent of a "TREKIE"(Star Trek"), maybe a "GOLFIE"!
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4-01-2009 @ 12:49AM
rick lawrence said...
The PGA truly is Tiger Woods...and a bunch of other guys thay nobody really cares about. But..because he is who he is golf's popularity as a TV juggernaut is assured..assuring big money for all the other guys who will never come close to his ability. That's OK..they will still make great money from the "tiger effect"..sponsors will keep the value of the tournaments high, and the purses fat for the players in Woods vapor trail. Trickle-down golf might be a correct term. If a player's ego is such that nobody expects him to win as long as Woods plays things will be all right. Maybe somebosy will come along and actually challenge Woods on his ability and tenacity..THAT would be nice (think Nadal-Federer in a lesser sport...tennis). Imagine the ratings if Woods had a rival other than himself each week?
He's easy to hate because he almost always wins, but he's really that good..both in ability AND desire. Nobody else playing has that combination.
A bit sad, actually. Some real competition would be fun to watch..Magic-Bird, Borg-Connors, and others were great rivalries that made the entire game better and more competitive. For now..enjoy the show. We may never see another like him ever.
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4-01-2009 @ 8:40AM
obamaizadope said...
Like it or not?! How could you not love it? We're watching Babe Ruth, Michael Jordan, Wayne Gretzky, and Jim Brown rolled into one on HD plasma! This guy transcends sport, he raises golf to an art form..
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4-01-2009 @ 4:26PM
blaqBoi327 said...
yea thats why their ratings plummeted like the economy when he away rehabbing. Dont be MAD. Dont post he's great. Lke most things you have an appreciation for them when their gone(e.g. HammerPants) But serious No Tiger, less people care, lowered ratingsand less $$$! Simple as that, good day!
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4-01-2009 @ 4:26PM
wysong2499 said...
Yes, golf is finally a little bit more exciting now that Tiger is on the prowl once again. Our household didn't watch that much golf after Tiger left the tour in 2008, not much excitement, especially in the final round of a tournament. Some of the other golfers look heavy this spring, while Tiger is in top physical condition. Golf is fun to watch again in Indiana.
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4-03-2009 @ 11:52AM
nliebmann said...
Isn't anyone else tired of hearing about Tiger Woods? Frankly, when he was off we all had a chance to see what other wonderful and talented golfers there are in the world. I am not saying that Woods isn't a great golfer but he shows poor sportmanship at times and he has an attitude. I awed by Phil Mickelson who always shows the fans grace and dignity no matter if he wins of loses. When he won last month the first thing he said during his after the game interview was what a great job Nick Watney did playing all weekend. He never fails to honor others' playing ability. You would never see Tiger do that. And, most of the time, Tiger ignores the fans who came there to see him play.
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4-04-2009 @ 1:50PM
David Light said...
I think Tiger probably is the best golfer ever. One thing I would have loved to seen however is Tiger, Ben Hogan, Palmer, Nickolas, and maybe Bobby Jones, all around the same age and using the same equipment. I think that would be one hell of a match. And the thing about it all is it isn't the playing ability that rules the day it is the hunger and desire which starts when you are practicing not when you are playing. Two things that in my mind prove Tiger the best. 1) If he is not playing I rarely watch golf because the magic seems to be gone 2) when Tiger is on the course you have to watch because you think somehow he is going to do something and win right down to the last possible shot.
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4-07-2009 @ 9:34PM
dinohealth said...
Yep, he is the best of all-time...just a matter of getting the record...to have those greats together would be extraordinary...Imagine having Jordan, Bird, Oscar, Barry, Magic, Cousy, Wilt, Kareem, Julius, Malone, West, Baylor, Schayes, Shaq, Russell, Hondo, Hayes, Hakeem, Robinson, Duncan, Elvin....all the same age, same color ball, same size court, same height of rim, same shooting clock, same size lane, same 3-point rule and distance....WOW! Isn't Fantasy great!!!!!
4-04-2009 @ 2:25PM
cat777sagg said...
It's a thrill to watch Tiger again, I just love this kid! I am also sick of the sour grapes.. before his injury all you ever heard was Tiger all the time.. etc., well cry in your beers boys, he gave you 9 months to shine, turn the ratings around, whatever and you guys didn't do it, so don't blame him because he is terrific! Also does anyone else but me notice just a little disdain in Johnny Miller's announcing on Tiger Woods? Get over it Miller, you could never hold a candle to Tiger and I was a huge fan of yours when you were playing, but not now.. you are just another one of those sour grapes! Get over it.
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4-05-2009 @ 5:59AM
obamaizadope said...
The equipment argument is legitimate, Hogan and Nicklaus with today's equipment? Wow. But the area where Tiger really distinguishes himself is on the green, where the equipment is essentially the same. The man makes more clutch, pressure putts than any human being in history, and always with some dope ready to yell In the hole! just as he strokes it. As for Johnny Miller, I get the same vibe, though Dan Hicks, and Jim Nantz are worse. You get the feeling all those guys were pulling for David Duval...
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4-07-2009 @ 11:50AM
beaubiendavid said...
Tiger plays against the best players in the world, Jack, Arnie, Hogan, Snead, Jones all played against only the players PERMITTED to play on the tour. All their records are less significant, because the field of players did not represent the best players, only those permitted to play.
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