Winners and Losers Since 11/27: The Day Golf Changed
by TwoNuse on Dec 7, 2009 8:01 PM EST
37 comments
Outside of the primary players, there have other winners and losers since a certain single car collision...
Winner: Anthony Kim
No one is talking about his wasting his talent on the nightlife now. The next time (and there will be a next time; he is 24 for goodness sake) there is a story about Kim carousing at all hours, I’m sure the general consensus will be more favorable that it would have been before Thanksgiving 2009. Unless he gets married or something.
Loser: Las Vegas
I doubt Tiger will be spending as much time in Lost Wages as he had in the past. The next Tiger Jam (the golf outing/concert/high roller boondoggle he throws to benefit his charity) is more likely to be in Branson, Missouri than anywhere in Nevada. Vegas last lost a big whale.
Winner: Jason Whitlock
This story has everything Big Sexy likes to talk about; race, sex, media hypocrisy. If somehow Jeff George or B all State was involved, Whitlock would have passed out from excitement.
Loser: Unfaithful PGA Tour Members
While the fervor over a potential Jerry Kelly infidelity would not be a tenth as powerful as Tiger’s, the cat is out of the bag The Daily Beast has already pivoted from talking about Tiger to talking about sex on tour in general; I’m sure they won’t be the last.
Winner: Cadillac Escalade
Outside of Scotty Cameron putters, what other entity has received an endorsement from Tiger without paying through the nose for it?
Loser: Gloria Allred
The high profile lawyer for Rachel Uchitel didn’t get to use this story to get on the morning news shows, as is her de rigueur.
Winner: Phil Mickelson
Being the number two golfer in the world with a squeaky clean family image when the number one golfer is also the number one philanderer in the world may help Phil pick up a couple of extra endorsements.
Loser: Mindy Lawton
Mindy (AKA, the Perkins girl) is one of the six women to be linked to Tiger in that way. Unfortunately for her, unlike the others, she is local to the Tiger homestead. Plus, of the six, she is arguably the least attractive. So for however much News Of The World is paying, she most likely will have to move, find a new job, and be known as the runt of Tiger’s Angels. Doesn’t seem to be worth it.
Loser: Jesper Parnevik
It is understandable Jesper would be all Team Elin about this, but his public remarks can’t help his golf career. Ask Rory Sabbatini how fun it is to be on the bad side of Tiger. You think Sabbatini likes playing Adams clubs instead of Nike?
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Really, no winners.
The are now reporting that Elin has moved out. I see no winners and a whole lot of losers, including Tiger.
Nothing wrong with Adams Clubs
And 3 cheers to Parnevik for speaking his mind. I think I would have done the same.
"pain is only weakness leaving the body"
Phil Mickelson has a “squeaky clean family image” ??? Thank you for proving the point that Tiger can survive this onslaught of a media feeding frenzy. Mickelson has been accused of sleeping around…he was even rumored to have a bi-racial daughter. On top of that, he was dropped by Titleist for demanding a huge new contract – and the reason for that demand was because of gambling debts. Mickelson didn’t address the media…but he also didn’t have the media frothing at the mouth for a chance to tear him down.
"this ball will fit in that fairway"
Well, with all this going
on maybe all of Phils “sins” will be exposed. I understood the gambling stopped when Amy almost died a couple of years ago…..maybe some kind of “deal” with God. Phil and Duval both left Titleist when they wanted “Tiger Like” contracts and were turned down. Maybe the gambling was part of that….never heard that before. As for the cheating, I wouldn’t have believed it about Tiger or Phil, but because of Tiger they are all going to be looked at. Too bad we have to tear down others to defend Tiger……..argggggg.
it wasn’t a secret – but it WAS several years ago, and nobody gives it a second thought anymore.
"this ball will fit in that fairway"
I keep wondering if the Tiger thing will fade away peacefully like that. I’ve stood in a 20,000 person Tiger gallery where just about everyone is in awe and pulling for him. I wonder what it will be like in that 20,000 person gallery if 10,000 of them have pure disdain for him now.
The Tiger story is exponentially larger than Phil’s was.
by Double Eagle on Dec 8, 2009 10:50 AM EST up reply actions
it’ll be interesting to watch. Personally, I don’t see golf fans on the level you’re talking about as being particularly vindictive at a tournament. I’d agree that there will be one or two idiots who don’t know how to behave that will have to be escorted off the property this year – but not thousands. Those galleries will still be there to watch him play the game, not to judge his personal life. The people who are “disappointed” in how he has handled his private life will go watch another group – or maybe the cheering won’t be quite as loud as years past. (just my opinion)
"this ball will fit in that fairway"
Maybe you're right
Maybe those 10,000 people (or whatever the number might be) hang around other groups. I suppose it’s even possible they might stay home. Maybe they won’t tune in at home either. Do you think it’s possible that this mess could do a little damage to the Tour? It almost seems like it’s not possible, but I think we’ve always known that Tiger drew a lot of people into the game that maybe didn’t have much interest before. Do a noticeable amount of them bail?
I don’t really know what to think, but it seems like sentiment around the web has gone from disapproving but supportive to now more of a loss of respect and disappointment, etc. It would be amazing if this went from personal trouble to having an actual tangible effect.
by Double Eagle on Dec 8, 2009 11:13 AM EST up reply actions
Double E
You make great points. I believe there is a “large” contingent of “fringe” fans that are involved in golf only to see or follow Tiger. Many of these will not be affected by Tigers troubles. Those who are now moving to the disapproval column are probably golfers that took as much of the “stuff” they could and have now defected away from Tiger.
I really doubt it will have any kind of long term affect. If he’s playing well – TV cameras will be on him, people will tune in and tickets will still sell – partly because he’s in the field, and partly because he only plays the top events that are going to sell out regardless of his presence or not. I just don’t see sports fans staying away very long…at least that seems to be the track record.
"this ball will fit in that fairway"
By the Way
Mickelson was offered much more money by Callaway prior to the expiration of his contract with Titleist. Phil did what any of us would have done and went to Titleist and told them about the offer from Callaway and asked to up the anti. He was denied. Nothing cynical about that. It’s just business. We negotiate with golf companies everyday as they are always trying to get more “shelf space” so to speak from us.
"pain is only weakness leaving the body"
he approached Titleist with his demands well before the old contract was to expire
"this ball will fit in that fairway"
correct court
Callaway, approached Mickelsons lawyers long before the contract with Titleist was due to expire, They just wanted to be next. Nothing wrong with that. Also nothing illegal or immoral about it either. Phil took time off from the PGA this past year to “BE WITH” his ailing wife while it would appear that TW did his best to “BE AWAY” from his. jes sayin
"pain is only weakness leaving the body"
who said anything about what happened this year ? the contract was 3 years ago – that’s when the allegations of gambling debts and sleeping around were floating around and being written about.
I’m just saying that this whole mess with Tiger is more the media seeing a chance to destroy a guy who hasn’t been their “bestest buddy and big toe” like Phil.
"this ball will fit in that fairway"
Winners:
I’ve been surfing around the web for the past 20 minutes. Without question the BIG winners here are the comedy writers (both professional and amateur). This is the comedy mother lode! One-Eyed Golfer Guy only scratched the surface of what’s out there…. Of course anyone who has the temerity to say they don’t see the humor is usually called something less than polite….like maybe “moron”….. My personal favorite: (so far). “What do Tiger Woods and a babby seal have in common?” They’re both been clubbed by a Norwegian…. That good on so many levels….
Court, you ask
on another thread…..“how is this any of our business” and of course the answer is that it is none of our business. You seem to be assuming that all the comments posted here will have some effect on Tiger. If I were to go to Tiger’s house and knock on the door and then begin to tell Tiger my opinion….he could say, correctly, that it is none of my business. What is happening here and in thousands of other blogs, is people posting their opinions about a story that is headlining many, many news and tabloid sources. Even Tiger’s own web site is seeing a higher number of negative comments than positive…..a definite change from days ago. As long as King Ping grants (lol) us the right to comment, then I say everyone’s opinion is welcome.
Believe none of what you hear and half of what you read.
No, it’s not an edict from the King, it’s Benjamin Franklin… Seems like “half of what you read” is pushing it a bit these days…. So, I tell my wife:" What do Tiger Woods and a baby seal have in common? “….. They’ve both been clubbed by a Norwegian….. She doesn’t even look up..”.Elin is Swedish." She says….. I hate when that happens……..
FYI
Did you know Casey Martin’s father’s first name is King. LOL – Love Our Liege
what makes you think I’m basing my thoughts on a blog post ? Opinions still like belly buttons (keeping WR a family friendly site)…everybody has one – but it STILL doesn’t make any of this our business. The fact that stories like this are actually big news says more about the kind of society we live in than the weakness of one man.
I just heard a sports talk guy excuse his continuing this story by saying that it’s not HIS fault that Tiger went out and slept with all of these women. Whle the statement is true, he’s excusing his own salacious appetite and continuing the story.
"this ball will fit in that fairway"
No worries court
I was just making a comparison about TW vs Phil in general. Phils allegations seem rather trivial compaired to Tigers. I wonder if Stevie got any of the second tier woman that didn’t make the cut. LOL
"pain is only weakness leaving the body"
Hurting the Tour cause of TW ?
I think not, The tour was around long before tiger and will be around long after. Sure the purses have increased, but with that comes the turbulance of losing sponsors especially in a bad economy. As em66 said, The “fringe fans” are mostly the ones that follow TW around. I think us “GOLF FANS” are in it for the long haul. I think had the Golf World, et al especially TGC focused more on the game and promoting ALL the players rather than just TW most of the time, it would have helped with broadening the overall fan base. It’s the ole,,,,,,,,“,EGGS IN ONE BASKET” theory….jumpn/progolf
"pain is only weakness leaving the body"
Say it isn't so
ey ? whats this your saying court ? Michelle Wie is having Lurid afffairs with the speedo manaquins at the local Abercrombie,,,oooooooo la la. She better be carefull or she may twist an ankle if she’s not carefull. Those escalotors can be a bear. jumpn/progolf
"pain is only weakness leaving the body"
I just read every comment here,
and there is nothing that I learned, gained, or care to respond to. I wonder if you can slash your wrists with a ball mark tool? Hmmmmmmmm…. Probably wait an hour or two and just drink instead.
by handicapismyswing on Dec 8, 2009 4:07 PM EST reply actions
Long term golf
Speaking of fringe fans and how much this hurts golf, I’d say not much. It reminds me of many of my work mates who decided to have a go at golf. Many tried, but only about 20% of them stuck at it and became members. Golf is like that. Now, fringe fans who only tune in because of Tiger ? They can’t love golf like we do or they would take an interest more than just Tiger. And some fans you see on TV and at tournaments couldn’t swing a golf club on a PC game never mind for real. Ok, they might like to follow the game, but in the long run, prize money probably reached a high water mark a few years ago and had to fall. it’s not doom and gloom and even if Tiger quit today, golf would always carry on, it is bigger than any golfer.
It's all true!
Golf will carry on, no question. It’s whether PROFESSIONAL golf will carry on in the style to which it has beome accustomed? That’s the big question. Maybe I should have said U.S. pro golf. The European Tour has some great new bones to chew on in the rise of Westwood and the emergence of McEllroy and that tall Faldo look-a-like Chris Wood. I don’t think the events of this past 10 days have helped Tiger Woods build his fan base…. Whether the expressed disappointment in his character by many supporters will translate into any loss of money (and afterall, it’s all about money) remains to be seen. The way he’s received at those first appearances will tell the tale. I can’t imagine it being the raucous joy he experienced when returning after knee surgery…
Tiger like Daly ?
Maybe Tiger will get invites more around the world and appear…whatever he has done, capacity crowds await.
Please do not mention Tiger
Woods and John Daly in the same paragraph.
...from the land of pleasant living, Baltimore. Stop by and visit us anytime at www.oneeedgolfer.blogspot.com
by One-Eyed Golfer Guy on Dec 9, 2009 11:15 AM EST reply actions
Daly
A golfer more famous for his personal life than his golf. And thats a 2 time major winner. Time to close that book…it’s an old story.
Maybe a chapter or two yet. Where there’s life, there’s hope.
by handicapismyswing on Dec 9, 2009 9:24 PM EST up reply actions
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