Thu 8 Jan 2009
I’m afraid This post has been coming for some time but when the article
“As PGA season opens, Tiger is the elephant in room” appeared in my Google Reader it was The Straw That Broke The Camel’s Back to continue the animal theme.
I thought that phrase meant that everyone in the room knew that the elephant was there but avoided talking about it but in Tiger’s case no-one bloody shuts up talking, writing or broadcasting about him even when he’s not around, with endless articles speculating about what he would or wouldn’t have done last season and what he’ll do this season when he comes back etc etc ad nauseum.
Don’t get me wrong I love watching Tiger Woods play golf but heretical as this may seem only when he’s in contention and when he’s actually playing. Unbelievably during the weather interrupted 2008 PGA Championship SKY TV in the UK showed a re-run of Tiger and Rocco Mediate in the US Open. Even when Tiger isn’t in the tournament the media find a way of squeezing him in somewhere!
Similarly, we had endless speculation as to whether the US Ryder Cup team would miss him. When the team played magnificently and won the cup we even had analysis into whether Tiger would have enhanced the victory.
I accept Tiger Woods is a magnificent golfer and if he ever wins 19 majors I’ll concede he’s the best ever but in the meantime I wish the media would give a more balanced coverage to the game and remember golf has been played for centuries and will continue to be played long after the Tiger Woods era.
Have You Claimed Your Free Birthday Golf Yet? - subscribe here.
January 8th, 2009 at 11:00 am
I’m Sick & Tired Of Hearing About Tiger Woods!!
I’m afraid This post has been coming for some time but when the article
“As PGA season opens, Tiger is the elephant in room” appeared in my Google Reader it was The Straw That Broke The Camel’s Back to continue the animal theme.
January 8th, 2009 at 4:19 pm
I’m happy that someone has finally come out against the “all Tiger- all of the time” golf news. The excessive coverage of Tiger comes at the expense of the other pros who, although they may not be God’s gift to golf as Woods is so often portrayed, are great and have their own compelling stories.
January 8th, 2009 at 11:07 pm
I could not agree more. I have long held that Tiger Woods will ultimately destroy golf coverage for the real fan. It is truly the best of times and worst of times in professional golf.
January 9th, 2009 at 10:15 am
Thanks very much for your comments.
Tiger Woods is an astonishing golfer but it irritates me that the golf industry thinks everything revolves solely around him.
Surely it’s a poor business model that keeps all it’s eggs in one basket but the TV companies, magazine publishers etc just keep pumping out “Tiger News”, it must get ratings and sell mags but it just shows how fragile their businesses must be.
I am, however, aware of the irony in me adding to the glut by posting about him, but hey! f you can’t beat ‘em.
January 13th, 2009 at 1:12 pm
There are so many up and coming stars on the tour now, it’s not necessary to talk about Tiger every week. Anthony Kim, Camillo, and Sergio Garcia are all playing great golf. The issue I have is that no matter how well they play, they will always be compared to Tiger. Their efforts are somewhat degraded when compared to Tiger’s success and it’s not fair. The fact remains that Tiger brings interest…and media thrives off attention.
January 13th, 2009 at 9:36 pm
Why do I get the feeling that we only have another 10-15 years of all Tiger all the time ? I know maybe we should all root for Michelle Wie to win something then we can listen to all Wie all the time.;O}
January 14th, 2009 at 9:39 am
@Oneunder. I hope he goes on for a lot longer than that but I only want to see coverage of him when he’s in contention.
As Clayton Garland says above there is some fantastic golf being played by many other golfers but automatically it appears to be devalued because the media immediately bring Tiger into the equation.
February 3rd, 2009 at 1:29 pm
Hi there
I’m organising the first UK golf bloggers championships - fancy playing?
It’ll be a free day out, lots of prizes and the chance to meet and network with fellow golf bloggers which should be great for business. Let me know and I’ll email you more details.
Cheers
Laurie
February 16th, 2009 at 2:24 pm
I suppose if you live in the U.S or Canada, Tiger Woods is probably on the TV all the time, but I think here in the UK we manage to escape his media coverage. Sky Sports here is quite focused on European Golfers.
April 15th, 2009 at 5:16 am
Thank you. Someone finally agrees with me. I get so sick of the media cramming TW down my throat. I don’t even watch the Golf Channel anymore. Do they remember Watson, Nicklaus, Couples, or anyone else with talent. TGC celebrates TW’s birthday week with one show after another called “TIGER WEEK”. What about Payne Stewart week? Celebrate what he did. Im just sick of it all.
December 5th, 2009 at 9:08 pm
Enough of Tiger Woods already!!!! Media is overdoing - sick of Tiger Woods BS!!!!
February 25th, 2010 at 7:41 pm
This is minimum, about a disfunctional childhood coming back to haunt a very great golfer (athlete) who thought his status gave him special privilege. We mimick our parents as we grow older and Tiger watched his dad cheat on his mom for years. Tiger is no different than lots and lots of other disfunctional people (families), he just happens to be famous. As far as his addictions go, Vicodin is a narcotic and they are highly habit forming as medical science has proven. Just because it not pure hydrocodone, doesn’t mean it’s a wimpy drug. It’s plenty powerful psychologically
April 12th, 2010 at 5:44 am
That was excellent golf by Mickelson in the Masters.
May 26th, 2010 at 1:49 am
Don’t forget there is always a chance to get your wife back, and Tigers problems is no exception. Trust me that he has a lot of work to do with her but there is still always a chance. Especially when there are kids in the mix, there is always a a time of learning to get a wife back.
May 28th, 2010 at 6:34 pm
He’s got his problems but Tiger has hit some truly amazing golf shots in his career particularly the chip in at #16 2005 Masters.
May 28th, 2010 at 6:36 pm
It’s interesting that Tiger is credited with having the strongest mental game in golf. It remains to be seen whether he can put his problems behind him.