The State Of Golf

THE STATE OF GOLF

Vendors Russell Adams, John Hagan and Donald Morris chat about the world of sports with Executive Assistant Patrick Edwards.

Patrick: All right, fellas. Let’s talk golf. Take a mini-break from the storm of basketball and hockey we’re about to experience with the NBA and NHL playoffs underway and simply talk golf. State of the game, Tiger, Phil—whatever you got, let’s hear it.

Russ: Golf, in my eyes, is no longer the golf I grew to love. I miss Tiger—the old Tiger— like I would a best friend. I remember when Tiger was winning everything and the PGA decided to Tiger-proof the courses. Extending the shot-yardage and everything. Just to level the playing field between him and the rest.

Patrick: It actually backfired. Did the opposite.

Russ: Tiger actually gained more of an advantage because pushing the distances actually eliminated many of the legitimate contenders before a tournament even began.

Donald: Yep, gotta be a big hitter, but some just don’t have it.

John: The PGA benefits from this because it keeps Tiger in the game. Tiger’s dominance is there even when he’s not in the tournament. It’s weird, but true. After his divorce and his injuries, Tiger lost it a bit. Well, a lot. Now, he’s liv-

ing off his reputation. Unfortunately for the league, it still leans—and stands up on—Tiger’s media sizzle, and with this comes a letdown when he’s not physically out there.

Russ: Tiger is the greatest ever. He just is. And just to be clear, I still enjoy watching golf. I just don’t watch it as much, or with as much of that childlike excitement at watching a great be, well, great.

Patrick: Well said, Russ. That was the determining factor when we had to deal with the coming-out party of the LIV Tour.

Donald: Oh yeah, the new league we talked about a little while back.

Patrick: Yeah, man, it hasn’t been quite the apocalypse we all thought it would be. To be honest, it sounds quite fantastic. Well, first off, golfgreat Greg Norman is the

brains behind this operation titled LIV, which is the Roman numeral for 54, which is the number of holes in each tournament.

Donald: I heard in its first tournament, there was a shotgun start, meaning all 48 players teed off at the same time on different holes, so, every golfer was hitting on the course at the same time.

John: Now, that is exciting.

Patrick: But, yeah, Tiger’s my main draw. Just Googling about, trying to find out if Tiger’s playing, is exciting. Sad maybe, but true. To realize the difference between Tiger-at-his-peak and Tigernow is eye-opening. I don’t want to know a world that is Tigerless.

John: Well, we’re getting near to that time. Mind you, he’s still around, but he’s fading. Once he hangs it up for good, the ratings for the

major tours will dive. Obviously, the ratings will eventually pick up. However, it’ll be hard to repeat what Tiger’s done for golf—a very tough act to follow.

Donald: Agreed, John. It’s hard to envision a golf-place with no Tiger. Not someone Tiger-like, but Tiger-Tiger.

Patrick: Nothing tougher than finally finding time to sit down and enjoy some golf-only to learn Tiger didn’t even make it to the weekend. Didn’t make the cut. But y’all know what? When I do sit down and watch a Tigerless tournament, it’s not so bad. Obviously, a shot of hot wings is very exciting and quick-hitting, but a decentsized plate of baked chicken—thighs especially—can be just as satisfying.

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