I admire Tiger's golf game nothing more. I think Jordan is a tool. His induction ceremony in the b-ball HOF was the most mean spirited self congratulatory wank-fest of all time.

If you actually read my post I stated both are tops in their field. keep hating.

I apologize for my debauchery ITT last night. God, I'm such an *******.

PHB, I vehemently disagree with you and I'm pretty sure you don't even know what I'm arguing.

Let us enjoy some golf tomorrow, and for the rest of the year. It's gonna be a great year on tour.

Lol PHB re: Jordan vs Tiger

As far as I know, most anti-Tiger GOAT posters in here are incapable of recognizing someone as the GOAT of their sport unless that have the most championships. And last I checked Jordan isn't even in the top 5 of NBA Championships.

It's called inflation.

1981's 60k winners check is equal to $103,565 in 1996. Compared to the $450k the winner got that is an annual growth rate of 10% when adjusted for inflation. But of course the Master's grew much quicker than the average Tour event(For example the Bob Hope went from 50k to 234k in those years, a growth rate of 7%).

Looking at the Tour overall. The change in growth is significant

1970 Total Prize Pool - $5.5 Million
1990 Total Prize Pool- $46.4 Million

Adjusted for inflation, yearly growth was 4.7%

1997 Total Prize Pool- $70.8 Million

From 1990-97, yearly growth was 3.1%

2000 Total Prize Pool- $164.4 Million

From 97 to 2000 growth exploded up to 28.4% per year.

2007 Total Prize Pool- $272.3 Million

Then from 2000-2007 growth came back to earth at 4.6%

Now I haven't looked at other sports but I would be surprised if their growth followed the same pattern.

Hopefully this ends this ******ed debate...

Snedeker has shot 64, 66, 65 so far this tournament and is 6 strokes back. That is insane!

This is the best post I have yet to see on the subject. Excellent work, NXT

I agree the purses have jumped huge. Though isnt that true for most major sports. Take baseball salaries from the 70's or any major sport and the increase is huge. Hockey, football and basketball all have has huge increases.

Great Sports Sunday no need to choose. Golf than Football

Yes purses have grown huge, but most other sports have grown at a steady pace and didnt experience a Tiger spike.

Baseball for example...

1970 average salary- $29,300
1990 average salary- $578,930

Adjusted for inflation, the growth rate was ~9%

1995 average salary- $1,071,000

Adjusted for inflation, from 90-95 the growth rate was ~10%

2000 average salary- $1,998,000

Adjusted for inflation, from 95-2000 the growth rate was ~10%

So baseball has grown at about 10% for the last 30-40 year, golf on the other hand has been at ~4% aside from the 28% jump from 97-2000. If Golf had grown like baseball from 2000 then the total prize pool would be over $400 million(compared to $164 million actual).

On the other hand, without the Tiger spike from 97-2000 the 2000 prize pool would have been cut in half down to $79 million from $164 million and by 2007 the gap would widen to $104 million(theoretical) $272 million(actual).

So in 2007 every PGA Tour player could personally thank Tiger for 61% of all the money they made on the course. And it is very safe to say that Tiger has given the Tour waaaaaay more $ than he has taken out.

Brandtttttttt

This tournament is great for golf if you ask me especially early in the season where you might hook some casual viewers etc. 16th hole is great between the stadium, caddy races etc just a good vibe for a tournament early in the season. Certainly not meant to be like that every week but fun for a week.

Are the Caddy Races new? They are the best

Phil….from way downtown…bottom

He is running ok on these deep putts today, here and the first par 3 could really be interesting otherwise.

off the rough and in

Pretty sick putt by Phil right there.

BOOM

Phil from another area code for bird on 7!

He can do no wrong this week

Wow.

Brandt will catch him tho if he slips up

Its getting exciting

James Hahn is awesome.

Wow this might turn out to become pretty interesting. Great pre-game for the Super Bowl!

gangnam style

$50 for Johnny to go take a swing at a ball lying like Snedeker's in the jumping cholla.

OMG PHIL lolol a foot short of the hazard