Spieth moves the needle as much as Tiger

Andrew Bond of Glencoe · August 9, 2017

Golf is not dying but it is returning to the norm. It is much like Tennis in many regards where most people only tune in for the majors (if they do that). The Tiger Boom was very much real and I certainly was a part of it. Tiger got me excited about golf while I was in my 30s and as a result I am an addict.

I think golf will have a renewed renaissance with all that we are learning about concussions in football and soccer and the effects on children. My son is 9 and I won't let him play football- he is however playing tennis and golf two sports I thought were lame all the way through high school.

cdnglf · August 9, 2017

Yeah, guess it was my fault you didn't mention economic impact AT ALL; just "Just look at what they're wearing and tell me nowadays that doesn't scream "old guy sport"."

But yes, there seems to be a dearth of stripes and larger pattern shirts nowadays.

Now GET OFF MY LAWN !!! :taunt:

I guess I was just talking about moving the needle overall. His impact was so wide reaching across the sport as a whole. From the economic implications, to the way the game is played, to the types of people that play it. Reason Keopka won almost $2.2M for the US Open compared to the $450K Els won in 1997. Brooks should write Tiger a thank you note.

How much does Clayton Kershaw make compared to Roger Clemens 20 years ago? Or Aaron Rodgers compared to Brett Favre? Should they be writing Tiger thank you notes too?

No, but they might want to shoot a "Thank you" to Curt Flood's kids. :D

When dealing with golf, I think every person playing on the tour today should probably write Tiger a thank you note when it comes to the cash they haul in. Both on and off the course.

I mean #100 on the money list is Patton Kizzire, and I literally have no idea who that is, and he's made over $1M this year.

Sure, they should write Arnold Palmer's kids a thank-you note, and Walter Hagen's descendents, and Much Much Younger Tom Morris too.

But the notion that Tiger is principally the "Reason Keopka won almost $2.2M for the US Open compared to the $450K Els won in 1997" is a narrative without much factual support. Purses went up before Tiger, and they've gone up since he's left. The money in virtually all pro sports increased dramatically thru the 90s and 2000s.