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Image by Getty Images via DaylifeDid you stop to consider the wide ranging effects on the economy that will result from Tiger's forced absence from the game?
Attendance at tournaments will be lower, affecting gate receipts, food and beverage sales and merchandise sales and requiring less staff for the events. Sales tax receipts will also be down.
TV advertising revenues will be down for the events that Tiger would have played. Golf fans who only tune in to watch Tiger will find something else to do and may be lost from the golf audience forever.
Less people will be inspired to try golf, resulting in less equipment sales, less lessons taken and less rounds played.
This may be an early knee-jerk reaction but several of my clients have said that they won't watch golf again till Tiger returns and I must admit that my enthusiasm for the remaining two majors has waned significantly.
Has one athlete ever had such an economic impact on the US economy? I doubt it.
So get well soon Tiger, we need you, your country needs you and the economy needs you.
Image via WikipediaFor the guys, this is US Open week and for many of the women it's Open Qualifying week. Thousands of people enter the USGA Open Championships and play for the few spots that remain after the exempt places are filled. They are following their dreams.
One of my students is playing today in one such qualifying event, hoping to qualify for the third consecutive year. Whether she is successful or not, she represents the new breed of teenage female golfer vying to knock the veteran players from their perches at the top of the women's game.
No wonder Annika is retiring. She's had her day in the sun, won her majors, made millions and now she's going to concentrate on raising a family and perusing her business interests.
Perhaps the most important aspect of Annika's retirement is that she opens up a spot in the field for another player, someone trying to establish themselves in this great game and maybe one day win a tournament, or a major or the Grand Slam.
Perhaps it's time that the LPGA and PGA Tour should take a look at the number of exempt spots that are available each week. I know that the crowds want to see Tiger, Ernie and Phil rather than Joe Bag-of-Doughnuts but there are too many boring cookie-cutter players out there making a great living and providing no excitement or added value to the game.
Let's have 9 spots available through Monday qualifying every week. Some LPGA events have done away with Monday qualifying in favor of sponsors exemptions which is a shame and could easily be rectified by reducing the number of exempt players or by increasing the size of the field.
9 more players is only three more tee times. They don't need to have more players making the cut and so it won't cost any more but it might just allow someone to fulfill their dream of playing on Tour.
