by Katrina Douglas
Member since:
December 9, 2009

The Tiger Woods Effect on Golf?

December 13, 2009 05:02 PM UTC (Updated: December 19, 2009 05:53 PM UTC)
views: 0 | 3 people recommend this | comments: 47

Thanksgiving Day, Tiger Woods crashed his car, but that's not all that crashed.  Along with his car, went his marriage, his career, and maybe golf, itself.

Since 1996, Tiger Woods has won 14 major tournaments, 70 PGA Tours, and captured the hearts of golfers and non-golfers alike.  We loved Tiger Woods.  Tiger Woods had the world, his gorgeous wife, family, money, and for what has he been disgraced?

The effect on the sports world has gone haywire.  The PGA report that the sport of golf itself has lost about 50% of its viewers.  Golf is a multi-billion dollar industry.  Advertisers are dropping him, and there is no one as yet to replace that lost revenue. 

Will Tiger Woods re-emerge?  I think so, but will he ever reach the heights of pre-Thanksgiving 2009 Tiger Woods?  I do not think so and neither do advertisers, and the PGA.

Comments: 47

Loquacious Linda Dec 13, 2009, 5:15pm UTC
He came back from his several months off with his surgery and was as good or better.

PGA NEEDS Tiger to sustain the level of support and income to which they've become accustomed. I think time and apologies and coming out with the truth mend the concern and he'll be back to the same level. Of course, that's just based on instinct and intuition.

People forgive those who are honest and make the necessary changes. He will have to be squeaky clean if it is to ever work.

I think temptation and naivety played heavily on him, and let's face it, there are women (and men if the situations were reversed) who will do whatever it takes to get near his fame and money. Just look at what they've done, even the one who said she "loved" him but received no money or gifts.
Katrina Douglas Dec 13, 2009, 5:20pm UTC
I think he would be better off playing the sex addiction card. Naivety from such a worldly man won't do.
Loquacious Linda Dec 13, 2009, 5:52pm UTC
That's probably true and where I was coming from is that he, perhaps, didn't take the time to "play" before he got married.
Tex Texan Dec 13, 2009, 5:55pm UTC
If/when he does come back, it will be interesting how he is received and performs. Golf is the one sport where every eyeball is looking at you. There will be a lot of snickering going on, and I wonder how that will effect his game. I can't imagine he could play better, but he will theoretically have a clear conscience, which will counterbalance the snickering element. I think he should play the stupid card and move on.
Katrina Douglas Dec 13, 2009, 8:01pm UTC
Sounds Good, Tex. Let me know how Amway works out.
Tex Texan Dec 13, 2009, 10:50pm UTC
As I said before, Amway needs to be shut down. If the FTC/FBI starts poking around, they will probably clean up their act, as they did in the UK a couple of years ago when the FTC equivalent starting asking questions.
Gary K. Dec 13, 2009, 7:16pm UTC
I think when tiger finally returns (and it may be awhile) he will be refocused and hungry to reclaim his dominance in the sport he loves. If he starts winning again, like we know he can, then I think the sponsers will come.
Katrina Douglas Dec 13, 2009, 8:02pm UTC
I hope he recovers.
Annmarie B. Dec 14, 2009, 1:34am UTC
I hope his poor wife can recover
Infinity M. Dec 13, 2009, 10:15pm UTC
i guess i spoke 2 soon about the low-raters - oh well - pay them no mind - i think tiger has really made some bad decisions - it's a shame 2 c his life crumble, hopefully he will learn how 2 treat the people in his life w/ more respect
Katrina Douglas Dec 14, 2009, 7:45pm UTC
I guess they are showing me some kind of love.
Debbie W. Dec 14, 2009, 12:12am UTC
People in the spotlight take the risk of having their careers damaged by their actions.
lena k. Dec 14, 2009, 7:18am UTC
his poor wife hearing something like this
Crystal T. Dec 14, 2009, 3:31pm UTC
I think people expect too much from him and should just leave him alone to be the kid he never was. He's still young in everyway, except for golf
Katrina Douglas Dec 14, 2009, 5:20pm UTC
MOney is the root of all evil. Tiger can certainly attest to that.
Lee Y. Dec 15, 2009, 11:02am UTC
Love of money is the root of all evil.

Money itself is great and if one does not love it so much that one covers over sin and greed (and/or adultery) with it ... money works fine.

Even wealthy people can be good people unless they allow the love of the money to take them over.

Money good. Love and respect of it to the exclusion of all else is what is evil.

Working for it and having it or wanting it is not evil ... unless it's someone else's money one wants (and both rich and poor can be subject to this kind of "love" of money.

Coveting someone else's money (wealth) is love of money (wealth), to which both rich and poor are subject ("give them the weath!" mmm mm mmm).
Crystal T. Dec 16, 2009, 3:17pm UTC
I don't know the whole story because I am not really interested in what Tiger Woods is going through, I have enough problems of my own to take the time out to try and analyze Tiger's life. But what I am gathering is that he cheated on his wife .............. blah blah blah..........and that he loves money......so that makes him human, although he chose to go about his life in the public eye. So he is a money loving adulterer.........so is alot of people. I look at a Tiger and I see a kid trying to be man, someone who was groomed to be great and went from child to great, and nothing in the middle to allow him be a kid.
Sarah G. Dec 14, 2009, 5:29pm UTC
I think we all need to get over it. It isn't uncommon to know of someone who's cheated. He needs to apologize to his family and his wife and his sponsors and begin picking up the pieces of his shattered image. He will be fine, not the same, but fine.
Crystal T. Dec 16, 2009, 3:05pm UTC
I agree.
Matthew M. Dec 14, 2009, 5:44pm UTC
Golf is definitely going to take awhile to recover if it does. In the meantime I hope bowling does better (PBA)
Katrina Douglas Dec 14, 2009, 7:45pm UTC
I love bowling.
Matthew M. Dec 16, 2009, 2:01pm UTC
464 views, you're getting close!
Katrina Douglas Dec 16, 2009, 8:55pm UTC
Thanks Matthew.
Nettie R. Dec 14, 2009, 7:07pm UTC
Ok, he screwed up. But that's a screw up that's between him & his wife. He should just fess up, go on with his career, & get over himself. Just because someone is famous doesn't mean their personal lives should be scrutinized by the public. I think too, that most of those women are exploiting Tiger. After all they are not little Miss Innocents. To say they didn't know he had a wife? Come on...I'm not a sports fan & I never watch golf but even I knew he was married. They didn't give a d---. Those women are gold diggers & see an opportunity to exploit their so called tryst with Tiger & make some big bucks doing it. Not much different than those who get arrested for "selling" themselves.
I hope that Tigers family can put this behind them soon & go on with their lives. Since he's such a public figure, I think it's going to be very difficult for his family.
I agree with Sarah. He'll be fine but not the same.
Michelle W. Dec 14, 2009, 7:18pm UTC
My "innocence" has been shot to **** lately, and this just adds to it. However, I do believe that personal life is personal life, to some degree, and that some of this is ONLY between Tiger Woods and his wife. He is, afterall, human.

I think the whole story only points more and more to a lack of commitment and integrity. Marriage vows are not held important by the married nor the unmarried, afterall, every one of the women he was with had to know that he was married, and basically said, "Don't care, doesn't mean a thing to me."

Ok, that is my gripe : ) Thanks for reading it!
Lee Y. Dec 15, 2009, 11:43am UTC
Michelle W. says: I think the whole story only points more and more to a lack of commitment and integrity. Marriage vows are not held important by the married nor the unmarried, afterall, every one of the women he was with had to know that he was married, and basically said, "Don't care, doesn't mean a thing to me."

Agreed. And irt the women ... I hope to never know their names; they should be known by number. Number one, number two ... number one million and seven etc. They are just as icky for knowingly going out with a married man as he is for having "gone out" with them (pro or amateur, it's six of one and half dozen of the other as far as their behavior with him is concerned).
Janet H. Dec 14, 2009, 9:38pm UTC
Tiger Woods is old news by now.
Teresa W. Dec 15, 2009, 9:20am UTC
It is sad that this had to happen..thanks for the post and comments
David C. Dec 15, 2009, 9:29am UTC
Now the latest... one of his doctors is being investigated by the FBI for giving "professional" athletes steroids or HGH or something like that. I am wondering if any of us "normal" people could pass such scrutiny.
Katrina Douglas Dec 16, 2009, 10:29am UTC
Wow, I wonder if they was an influence. Men's emotions really get messed up on steroids.
David C. Dec 16, 2009, 10:57am UTC
Perhaps. I know that Tiger's wife swings a mean 9 iron. LOL
Teresa A. Dec 15, 2009, 10:43am UTC
Hopefully they can get away and figure out what's going to work for them. I totally understand why the advertisers are all over this but I don't think it's any of our business. But then again, I don't have small kids that would look up to him and I can't stand golf!
joseph k. Dec 15, 2009, 10:53am UTC
tried of hearing about this
Dennis Gilman Dec 15, 2009, 11:37am UTC
Whether he makes a successful come-back really depends on the type of person he actually is. Just leave the past in the past and move on, playing sensational golf. We all have very short memories. It would take a very malicious sports reported to keep reminding us of this.

Any way, his personal life and his morals are of no interest to me. I would be very surprised if it is of interest to most of his fans also.

My suggestion to him: Move on. Let's see some outstanding golf again. That's what I'm interested in.
Lee Y. Dec 15, 2009, 11:39am UTC
Done with Tiger. Never bought stuff just because he touted it in the first place in any case - but if he is the spokesman, I will avoid the product in future.

Will Tiger Woods re-emerge? I think so, but will he ever reach the heights of pre-Thanksgiving 2009 Tiger Woods? I do not think so and neither do advertisers, and the PGA.

He will come back. Rather he can come back. Agreed. Then again, it's up to him and perhaps .... perhaps without the influence of his father he may not be up to the task? +shrug+
Oxnard Oasis Dec 15, 2009, 1:05pm UTC
The damage to Tiger's reputation is irreparable at this point. Nothing he can ever do will bring him back completely. And, IMHO, he is getting exactly what he deserves.
Sandi S. Dec 15, 2009, 1:32pm UTC
Are you saying that 50% of people who used to watch golf now do not because of the Tiger Woods scandal? That's really hard to believe. Were they so upset they just couldn't stand the game anymore? Hmm...

I think he should have kept his mouth shut instead of giving one of those, "I have failed..." speeches. Why not just say it is nobody's business? He and his wife can work it out. I don't think they owe anyone any statements. The only one he needs to apologize to is his wife.

Jason Hillenburg Dec 15, 2009, 1:58pm UTC
In what I've read about the potential impact his absence will have on golf, it is expected that the countless casual golf fans that Tiger has brought to the sport will likely drift away. However, advertising isn't expected to take as much of a hit because there are a select group of advertisers who like golf's loyal, core audience and have consistent success marketing to them, pre-Tiger and, surely, post-Tiger. It will have an impact, without question, but it will not single-handedly sink the sport.
Chas Andrews Dec 16, 2009, 3:08pm UTC
thanks
Beth G. Dec 16, 2009, 3:19pm UTC
I think things can turn around, but he needs to get his act together.
Elizabeth S. Dec 17, 2009, 8:31pm UTC
Being ancient, I can remember the scandal when Elizabeth Taylor stole Eddie Fisher, then married to Debbie Reynolds. It took a few years, but she came back into public favor.

Angelina Jolie has now admitted her affair with Brad Pitt started while he was still married to Jennifer Anniston. It didn't even make a blip in the public polls.

The majority of the golfing fanatics are men. Men will forgive Tiger Woods because he is the best at what he does. While he won't be completely forgiven by many of us, he'll get new sponsors as soon as he wins a few more tournaments.
Debbie W. Dec 18, 2009, 12:58am UTC
I think he's going to lay low for as long as he can
mike laven Jan 11, 2010, 3:54pm UTC
Great New Tiger Woods video: MUST SEE:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rkJSNZf8uRc

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