In the aftermath of one of the most dramatic major golf championships ever came the realization that the game of golf was going to be without its superstar for quite some time.
I'll never forget watching The Golf Channel last June after the roar at Torrey Pines had subsided and golf writers around the globe sounded off in unison about the impending effects of a Tigerless sport. With gas eclipsing $4 a gallon and the market hitting the skids, many agreed that the game of golf and especially the PGA Tour were in for an economy-fueled disaster. The golf community has no doubt been rattled by a few devastating shockwaves since Tiger was last scene on the links.
For instance, according to the National Golf Foundation, the number of new courses expected to open in the United States in 2008 is the smallest in 20 years. More courses are scheduled to close this year (nearly 100) than the 80 expected to open, though the closures have fallen since almost 150 were shut down two years ago.
The golf construction boom of the 1990s—when about 2,500 new courses (mostly daily fee ones) were added to the 13,000 or so already extant in the U.S.—is not only over; it’s stuck in reverse.
Meanwhile, the LPGA Tour has taken a big hit as well. In November, the tour announced that it will offer three fewer tournaments in 2009, all because of sponsorship loss. Prize money also will dip by about $5 million.
Then a few weeks ago at the FBR Open in Scottsdale, Ariz., it became discouragingly clear that the top dog PGA Tour was also feeling the heat. Many of the corporate tents that lined the 18th hole in years past had been have been replaced with good old fashioned open space.
Then in the midst of the immense economic pressure threatening this great game, a funny thing happened: golf got really interesting.
All of a sudden golf was compared to an NBA with no LeBron, MLB with no A-Rod, and an NFL with no Tom Brady (which subsequently happened anyway). Without the world's No.1-ranked player expected to be out for the better part of a year, fans, writers, and golf personalities alike scoured the scene to figure out who was going to pick up the pieces in the absence of Tiger.
Well, folks, he's due to be back any day now so I thought I'd take this time to give you five reasons why golf has survived and even thrived at times without its fearless leader.
1. Who's No. 2?!
It's no secret to anyone who follows golf in the slightest to know that Tiger Woods is by far and away the best player on the planet, and probably all time.
However, when he hobbled away from Torrey Pines that fateful June day, everybody wanted to know who was going to be the solid No. 2 and thus be king in Tiger's absence. Most people argue that it's Phil Mickelson aka "Lefty." That used to be a fair argument, but here is the ugly truth: his last win in a major came at the 2006 Masters, almost three years ago!
Since then, all he's managed to do was slice a ball off a merch tent, start rockin' those cute mock neck shirts, and play the opening round of the U.S. Open without a driver in his bag. Granted, he won The Players in 2007 but if he were the clear cut No. 2 he would be in contention in the four majors and WGC events, not just in the so-called "fifth major."
Another argument was made for Spaniard Sergio Garcia. He will forever be linked to Woods since he was seen prancing along the fairway at Medinah in the PGA almost 10 years ago. The bad news: He didn't win a major that day and he still doesn't have one.
Sure, he came close in 2007 at the British when Padraig Harrington left the door wide open, but the Spaniard's putt lipped out and so did his chances at winning the tournament as he was beaten in a playoff. Then in August at Oakland Hills, Padraig broke Sergio's heart again with clutch putt after clutch putt down the stretch. Sergio was left to do nothing more than display a sour grapes attitude in the press room with his little "why does everything bad always happen to me?" speech.
It's pretty simple, Serg, like the great Harry Vardon once said, "There are only two types of player—those who keep their nerves under control and win championships, and those who do not.”
If there is one person who clearly did the most to bridge the gap between himself and the injured Woods, it has clearly been Padraig Harrington. Padraig did more than just win the year's final two majors and win Player of the Year on both the PGA and Euro tours. He showed that he is a force to be reckoned with on the back nine due to the fact that the guy has ice water in his veins when he stands over knee-knocking putts.
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