Editor's Blog

Tiger's Return, Our Coverage

I was telling someone the other day that Tiger's return reminded me of the line from P.G. Wodehouse: "It was morning all nature shouted Fore!" But it was also a morning, based on our coverage and the networks' that a whole bunch of you shouted, "Foul!"

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Dear Editor,
I'll bet that if the major TV networks, including and especially Golf Channel, discovered film of the 1956 match, Ben Hogan and Byron Nelson against Ken Venturi and Harvie Ward at Cypress Point, which forms the basis of Mark Frost's terrific book, "The Match", they would find a way to include footage of Tiger Woods. I enjoy watching Tiger play in tournaments, but when he's not playing for whatever reason,  the networks should focus on those who are, in fact, competing. Remember:  "(All of) these guys are good!" When Tiger's game and his playing schedule get up to full speed, we'll see a lot of him, for sure. 

J. D. Palmintier
Gretna, LA


Dear Editor,
We all know that Tiger is the best golfer in the world; he has been for some time and probably will be for some time now that he has returned. Furthermore, we know that he is arguably one of best ever along with Mr. Jones, Mr. Palmer and Mr. Nickalus.

However, what I don't understand is why Golf World has a picture of Tiger on the cover of their March 2, 2009 issue, an issue covering a week in which he did not compete? Phil is the third-ranked golfer in world who just won a tournament (Northern Trust Open) after struggling in the previous two tournaments. Did Phil play well all week?  No.  Did he gut out a win? Yes. When Tiger "guts" out a win, we have Johnny Miller, Golf World and the rest of the media telling us that Tiger's heart is bigger than any other modern player and this is one of the reasons that he is the greatest ever. Yet, when other tour players win in the same manner, the media makes it seem as though they just got lucky. As if Tiger is the only player on Tour who has worked hard and has any heart.  If you make your living play on tour you have worked hard, given-up many family and personal opportunities whether you are Tiger Woods or the lower world ranked players.

I write this because this not the first time Golf World has done this. I remember a number of years back Brian Gay won his first tournament and, you guessed it, Golf World had Tiger on the cover. Again, the previous week Tiger did not compete. Please be fair and equitable in your cover photos; all the guys who win deserve it.

Patrick Bielman
Birmingham, MI

Dear Editor,
What a joy it was to watch golf when Tiger was away. Yes, he is great, but the media and golf announcers' adoration of him is getting really OLD! I guess now we will have to again watch Tiger play instead of the PGA players play. Surprise, there are a LOT of other guys out there.

sjclark85

Thank you all for your comments. Rest assured you represent many readers who long for new story lines. On the other hand, based on ratings, network news coverage of Tiger's return and NBC's use of Tiger highlights even after he was eliminated, they know this simple arithmetic: If sjclark85 is tired of that coverage, sjclarks 1-84 are just fine with it, thanks.

--Bob Carney

Comments

Archived Comments (2) Click to expand

I agree. As good as Tiger is, I couldn't believe the graphic that the Golf Channel displayed to promote the Accenture Match Play Championship. It said something to the effect, "Get ready for the greatest comeback in the history of golf."

I would say that there are a number of other competing comebacks that would qualify for the greatest, not Tiger's second round 4 & 2 lost to Tim Clark.

Tiger is important to the PGA Tour and its media partners, but to promote him to the exclusion of all of the other top 64 players does a disservice to them and to golf fans worldwide.

Posted by lopresto March 4, 2009 6:32 AM

For the life of me I can't figure out why Tiger chose a match play tournament - one of the few left in the pro game - as his comeback tournament. Was it arrogance? That's hard to imagine - he's about the most humble superhero of sports the world has ever seen. So why? I can only surmise that his sponsorship deal with Accenture had something to do with it.

Tiger's too young to remember - but must be aware of - the PGA changing its championship from match play to stroke play at the behest of network TV, whose bigwigs lived in fear of coming down to a final match between Joe Unknown and Bob Nobody on Sunday. The Accenture WGC Matchplay Championship didn't end up that way, but for the crossover sports fan who can only name 3 pro golfers - Tiger, Arnie and Jack - it might as well have, and those are the folks that the networks are hoping to pull in as viewers on a stormy late winter weekend. Didn't work out for them did it?

Oh, and as far as John Hawkins' statement that "Woods' presence after eight months away amounted to golf's biggest comeback since Ben Hogan returned from an auto accident nearly 60 years ago." - HOGWASH! Ben Hogan came back from a head-on collision with a Greyhound bus that resulted in life-threatening injuries, major surgery and months of recovery - Tiger came back from minimal intrusion arthroscopic surgery. The only thing major about Tiger's comeback was the media hype surrounding it - and the blowout when he dropped the second round to a winless South African lurker (no offense to Tim - I'm sure he'll post some W's soon...).

Tiger's a great guy and all, but I can't say I've been looking forward to the return of "who's playing for second" PGA golf.

Posted by WillotheGlen March 4, 2009 2:03 PM
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