A lot of people will have you believe that golf is broken and that the game needs freshening up with a wide range of new formats to make it more exciting. These people need to take one look at Tiger’s return at last month’s Masters Tournament to realise that the game is alive and thriving.
I think I speak on behalf of most when I say that seeing the 15-time Major champion turn up at Augusta National after 17 long months out was a moment of sheer joy. At the start of the week he didn’t just play a practice round in front of a few fans, he played in front of just about every person who was able to get on the grounds with a huge number of people trying to get a glimpse of the greatest player ever to play the game.
On Thursday and Friday at the Masters, ESPN provided wall-to-wall coverage of his return to competitive golf with the broadcaster recording a massive 21 percent increase in ratings for Thursday’s opening round coverage while Friday saw a 31 percent jump. They were both the most-watched days of golf ever on ESPN+. Tiger doesn’t move the needle, he is the needle.
Has golf missed that buzz? Of course it has but Tiger is a once-in-a-generation talent and all good things must come to an end someday. As it will when Tiger puts away the clubs for the last time, although I do still believe he will produce one more unthinkable moment and add to that Major tally.
So where does golf go after Tiger? It simply just keeps doing what it’s doing. Tiger may be the main attraction but plenty of other players create a huge buzz – just look at the crowds that follow Rory McIlroy’s every move when he plays in the UAE.
Scottie Scheffler was relatively unknown to many golf fans this time last year, but now he’s the hottest player on the planet and has a Green Jacket to show for it. Last year Richard Bland became the oldest first-time winner of a DP World Tour event in his 478th start and has since gone on to enjoy the greatest year of his career. Golf will always produce magical storylines with or without Tiger.
Golf doesn’t need fixing, but Tiger does certainly make it more exciting!
