Adam Scott Archives • GolfStinks

So it looks like Tiger finally put an end to that 20 tournament losing streak. He wrapped up the WGC-Bridgestone, like he has so many times before. The longest winless streak of his career is over.

Now maybe he can just get back to his normal routine and just go back to being the same player he always…What? What do you mean he didn’t win? I saw him on every sports news show on TV. I saw Tiger on ESPN constantly! He must have won!

Adam Scott you say? Well I knew he was playing well, but he couldn’t possibly have beaten Tiger. 17 under?! He finished 18 strokes better than Tiger?! Well then, what the hell was I watching?!

Nope, my eyes and ears did not deceive me. Tiger was never really in the hunt after Day 1, but that doesn’t stop the sports media. Rather than focusing on the guy who led the tournament from start to finish, we’re focused on the guy who, after the first day, was never closer than six strokes back. Rather than pay attention to the guys who finished tied for 2nd (each shooting a final round 66), we’re worried about the guy who only broke 70 once in the four rounds.

I get on the PGA’s case for failing to properly promote its players on the tour. But I guess that’s only part of the problem. Just as much of the problem, if not more, is the media. No matter what happens (on the course anyway) the media just can’t get enough of Tiger. It’s been 21 straight winless tournaments, but the media acts like it’s just the opposite. Once again, it’s “Tiger, Tiger, Tiger….oh, and by the way, blah blah blah won.”

Need an example? Friday night, I tuned into Sportscenter. Before they even showed the results of the second round, there was an entire segment on Tiger’s second round struggles, even though he was only three strokes off the day before. A few segments of the show later, we get to the actual highlights of the round. Here, we see a few more strokes and reactions from Tiger before we get to see anyone who is actually in contention. Need further proof? Check out this clip

Still leading off with Tiger. We have to wait through three of Tiger’s putts before we hear about the guy who won. And there’s barely even a mention of either Luke Donald or Rickie Fowler, who finished tied for second. And people wonder why the sport is in the shape it’s in…

So here’s a bit of a plea to the mainstream media – do the sport a favor and start focusing on some of the other great players on the tour. Please realize that, until he shows otherwise, Tiger is no longer the elite player he was. Until he shows otherwise, he is a middle-of-the-pack player. OK, benefit of the doubt due to his accomplishments…he’s still a top-tier player. But he is NOT the Tiger of years past. And until the time comes that he does show otherwise, why not take the time to introduce us to, and promote the other great, young talent on the tour. It can do nothing but help the sport as a whole.

Swing ’til you’re happy!

Before anyone gets the wrong idea about the title of this post, I’ll explain. It has nothing to do with Tiger as a person. Tiger as a person will forever be viewed as, lets say, not the nicest guy you’ve ever heard of. But that has no bearing on this particular post.

It also has nothing to do with Tiger’s ego. You know, that ego that never just comes out and says, “He played better than me.” Rather, the ego just makes excuses for why he lost. That also has no bearing on this post. Nope, it’s none of those things.

What makes me happy about it is the fact that, for a few days anyway, the younger and/or lesser known players on the tour got a good amount of attention at a major! Whether the PGA knows it or not, this is just what they needed! Tiger made his charge, but Charl Schwartzel played out of his mind down the stretch! Despite his Sunday meltdown, Rory Mcilroy was the biggest news for the first three days of the tournament. Some nice performances by Adam Scott, Jason Day, Luke Donald and a good Sunday from Justin Rose may have helped the PGA out by helping to improve its deficiency in the player recognition department.

As we here at Golfstinks have said previously, too many golf fans have no idea who some of these great players on the tour are. So to see some of them withstand the Tiger Woods charge, and play right along side him, if not better, the PGA couldn’t ask for anything more! Some of these players are the tour’s future. These players are the guys people need to know about when a tour stop comes along that Tiger doesn’t think he can win (i.e. he’s not participating).

We all know viewership drops when Tiger isn’t there. And turnout at the tour stop itself is considerably lower. But it would probably be different if these other players were promoted properly, or even half as much as Tiger. So maybe the PGA will take this opportunity and use these performance that are fresh in the minds of golf fans.

At some point, the PGA is going to have to realize that Tiger is not going to be around forever. Better yet they should realize, for one or two reasons, the landscape of golf is changing. Either Tiger is not the player he once was, or the other players have simply caught up and no longer fear him. Either way, it’s time for the PGA to take advantage.

I’m tired of having to see where Tiger finished in every update. I see that Charl Schwartzel won, but immediately after that – Tiger Woods finishes fourth (-10). What about 2nd and 3rd? What about the two guys who tied for fourth with Tiger? This is exactly what I’m talking about above. It’s time for the PGA, and the media, to jump on the bandwagon of some players other than Tiger.

Swing ’til you’re happy!

Tiger’s Back…And The Media Sure Is Letting Us Know About It!

Why I’m Happy Tiger Didn’t Win The Masters

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