Awareness level: 0

He's right, though. Golf is turning up right now, and it has nothing to do with Tiger. JT, Rose, DJ, Rahm, Day, Mickelson, and Bubba have already won this year. Still waiting for Spieth and Rory.

Golf doesn't need Tiger; the casual fan needs Tiger. Of course, it's great he is playing, and big props to him for embracing these "raucous" crowds that some of the younger players are complaining about.

Ok? And? Neither is Tiger. Nor will he be. Stop living in the past.

the pga tour is where it is today literally because of tiger. they were paying out 100k winners checks before tiger came along.

so if Peyton Manning had 6 surgeries this offseason and came back as a top 5 quarterback would you not think that would be worth getting excited over just because hes only top 5 instead of top 1 like he used to be?

I wouldn't find it very exciting. Not to the point where Id be cool with the RZ channel talking nonstop about him every week and missing touchdowns because they keep showing him throw warmup balls on the sideline before his 4pm. And it would get pretty annoying if every time he completed a pass the same 20 idiots would immediately cream themselves and run here posting HES BACK.

Bolded is only think i like about him. Where do I fit in your scheme?

Golf needs casual fans.

clearly scumbag behavior

Think you answered your own question.

A black golfer who fundamentally changed a predominantly white, privileged sport, and who's won the second most majors ever, and who is as much of a cultural phenomenon as a sports one, and who is the odds favorite to win The Masters is back and looking competitive for the first time since having a bionically-repaired back, and people are going crazy.

I just can't seem to figure out why.

He's the favorite because Vegas likes money and they know all the casual ******s will bet on him no matter what.

Just because the lines are skewed doesnt mean he still isn't the favorite. Golf futures rarely reflect true value.

There are def guys ill bet h2h in a must win vs him if you actually think hes the favorite.

This is the dumbest take itt. The difference in viewers/ticketsales when Tiger does and doesn't play is laughable. They shattered records at Valspar last week and it was his first time ever playing there.

I'll take this, you can pick up to 3 guys. I'd do $50 each.

TBH I think a lot of what you're saying is right (i.e he's not what he once was and almost certainly never will be, and the coverage when he plays a tournament is annoying) but you're discounting that he can be 75% of what he was and still be the best player in the world. People forget his last healthy season, 2013, he won 5 times and was the #1 player in the world. The gap between him at his best and everyone else ever is ridiculous.

Ok ill take DJ, JT, and Spieth for $50 each. So you get $150 if Tiger wins. I win $50 if any of the other 3 win.

Even more the reason to stop pandering the casual Tiger slurper. Hes not going to be there forever, and probably wont even be around long. Very shortsighted to fail to build up the other stars.

Which is hard to do when you don't show them playing because people would rather watch Tiger chipping around the practice green.

Tiger is golf. Golf was never the same when he was gone and never will be the same when he leaves. He is a once in a generation talent and persona, like Ali and Jordan.

All the young guys are cool but they will never touch Tigers impact.

Last week was the highest rated non-major golf tourny since 2013. Guess when the last time Tiger won was. The Golf Channel's lead in coverage to the final round was its highest rated ever.

Cool, booked. GL

Cool starry

You sound just like jack slappy circa 2000

4. I have a friend who dislikes Tiger for swearing and throwing clubs. ''Fowler is a good role model.''

He is right though. Tigers impact on golf is probably greater than anyone.

Numbers don’t lie son.

thats correct.

ZERO wins since 2013

My point wasn't that golf isn't going to do just as well without Tiger; clearly the economy and sustainability of golf is much better with him. My point is you're a ****ing idiot if you need Tiger to watch golf and don't think that golf has been massively entertaining recently without him.

Woody is right. Tiger isn't going to be around forever. If you can't get the casual fan to lock into the other golfers and the actual golf that is being played, then no reason to pander to them. TV and the PGA obviously love Tiger, but I couldn't care less about pandering to the Tiger fan.

but for every one of you there's 10 tiger fans, so your opinion doth not matter

I'll take Tiger vs Spieth for up to $500. QTB