Golf and PGA Tour News - Tiger Woods Drought

The Tiger Drought
By: Keith Dobkowski, Golf News Writer

As we head into the PGA Championships this week at Whistling
Straits, the notion that Tiger Woods will complete another
calendar year without a major victory is quite likely. In Tiger’s
quest to hit every mark Jack Nicholas did, Tiger is right on pace to
go three years without a major in his golfing prime, just as Jack
did.

Theories such as Tiger proofing courses, better equipment and
Butch Harmon have been given as reasons for Tiger’s Major
Drought. But maybe it is something much simpler say hard work
and cash has lead to this drought.

A quick history shows that since Tiger’s arrival on the Tour, Golf
has transitioned from a rich-man’s forte to a Major Sport. With
only Football holding the secure spot as America’s favorite sport,
the PGA has it eyes set on cracking the big four. Conversely, a
strike in the NHL, steroids in baseball, and criminals in the NBA will
all help the PGA’s ascension.

Furthermore, Tiger’s affect can be felt in the pockets of hundreds
of professional golfers around the world. Win one tournament
and you will make more than the best golfers did in a season ten
years back. This year we may even see the first $10 Million
season. So is it that much of a surprise to find that the
competition has stiffened.

As a crossover, lets look at Michael Jordan. Jordan changed
basketball in two ways. First, he glamorized the dunk. And kids
across America saw that and acted upon it. Second, Michael
Jordan changed the endorsement atmosphere of sports. Not only
are NBA teams paying based off potential but shoe companies are
doing the same. Sebastian Telfair, the high schooler drafted this
year, just signed a $20 Million shoe contract before ever playing in
an NBA game.

These two changes led to a dramatic change in basketball. The
NBA was Jordan-ized where every young player tried to emulate
exactly what Jordan did. While they missed the point of playing to
their natural strengths, they have cashed out indeed. The result
is that the next Jordan has been coming for several years from
“Baby Jordan” Harold Miner to JR Rider to Vince Carter to Jerry
Stackhouse to Kobe Bryant. And he still has yet to arrive.

However, Golf is a different sport. Golfers get paid for winning,
not just potential. Tiger pushed the hard work ethic needed to
compete week after week and win the big bucks. While it took
the field a little bit to respond, they have and with force.

Vijay Singh hits three thousand balls a day. Phil Michelson lost
the bounce in his chest and found victory through accuracy. But
more impressive is the unknowns who keep winning. With Rod
Pampling winning the International last week, six first time
winners have won in 2004.

In fact first time winners have been on the rise over the past
several years. Of course the two names that immediately come to
mind are back-to-back British Open Champs Ben Curtis and Todd
Hamilton. From no wins to major champions.

And it is Hamilton, whose travels through the minor leagues are
well documented, who shows the greatest impact of Tiger’s reign
on golf. Purses have multiplied by ten on the PGA tour. They
have done the same in the minor leagues. A look at the
Nationwide tour results on Mondays will show the winner
pocketing over $100,000, PGA money ten years back.

The more money, the greater the competition, and the harder the
preparation, better known as the Tiger effect.

Which leaves us with the best part of any article, choosing the
winner. We know that the regulars will all be at the top, Ernie Els,
Singh, Tiger and Michelson. We expect a run from both a new guy
and an old favorite, such as Hal Sutton and Adam Scott. And of
course the gallery favorite, John Daly will keep us all tuned in.

We will marvel the first two days as Vijay, Tiger and Daly tee it up
together. With Tiger and Vijay’s obvious dislike for one another
we will see the advantage go to Tiger, as he always seems to
outplay Vijay head to head. Daly, with the pressure of the Ryder
Cup on the line, will challenge but not prevail in the wind-
drenched course. A top ten is probable.

Michelson will hold off Daly in the competition for the galleries
favorite and secure another top three in a major, thus becoming
the greatest golfer to have only won one major. And we will see
the second coming of Greg Norman as Ernie Els finds another way
to finish second. It will be stunning and amazing golf, yet
heartfelt as a bad break on the 71st hole keeps Els a stroke off
the championship.

We are left with Tiger and a handful of unknowns. With that
scenario, Tiger is the clear choice. Having won a third of his past
45 tournaments and finally contending regularly this season, Tiger
is due to put the field back in its place, his rearview mirror. So
look for Tiger to hit the low punch through the winds and 7500
yards of Whistling Straits as he earns his first major in two years.