Y.E. Yang shocked the world and probably himself by beating the world's best golfer, and maybe the greatest golfer of all time, Tiger Woods, by coming back from 2 strokes down Sunday to win the PGA Championship. Yang is the first Asian player to win a Major, the first player to beat Tiger Woods when Woods was tied or all alone in the lead after 54 holes of golf. Golf enthusiasts cheered, David took down Goliath, 12 never struck for Cinderella, No. 110 took down No. 1.
Is this good? I don't really think so. The PGA heavily relies on Tiger Woods and the sentiment on the street is that Woods simply isn't effective as he was, and may never be again.
Tiger hasn't lost it, he's won 5 tournaments this year, coming from 5 strokes back on Sunday to win one, and coming back from 8 shots down Thursday to win by 3 strokes on Sunday. But, as I said, casual golf fans don't get that. In fact, most sports fans probably don't get that because he hasn't performed in the biggest events, the Majors, the moneymakers, the events that pull in the biggest ratings.
For the short-term, Yang's victory makes for an interesting story and may feed the media with some fuel for now. But the 2009 PGA season is devoid of stories. A lack of a Tiger win, and Tom Watson's falling short at the British Open both make for some major disappointments compared to what could have been.
Yang will probably make few headlines anytime soon, and the once "sure prospect" of Woods beating Jack Nicklaus' record for majors one is suddenly not such a sure thing anymore.
While there are a few more months of golf left, there are no majors, and only serious golf enthusiasts will track these events. Fringe fans will go back to watching other sports, and will be far from enthused about the 2010 golf season.
Tiger must bounce back in 2009. He is the face of the PGA, and any story lines lacking Tiger Woods will do anything but help the sport grow.
We need Tiger to be Tiger and everyone else to watch in amazement as he wins Majors, no offense to them, but fans don't want Y.E. Yang, Angel Cabrera, or Lucas Glover to win. They want Tiger, and Tiger needs to deliver.
Is this good? I don't really think so. The PGA heavily relies on Tiger Woods and the sentiment on the street is that Woods simply isn't effective as he was, and may never be again.
Tiger hasn't lost it, he's won 5 tournaments this year, coming from 5 strokes back on Sunday to win one, and coming back from 8 shots down Thursday to win by 3 strokes on Sunday. But, as I said, casual golf fans don't get that. In fact, most sports fans probably don't get that because he hasn't performed in the biggest events, the Majors, the moneymakers, the events that pull in the biggest ratings.
For the short-term, Yang's victory makes for an interesting story and may feed the media with some fuel for now. But the 2009 PGA season is devoid of stories. A lack of a Tiger win, and Tom Watson's falling short at the British Open both make for some major disappointments compared to what could have been.
Yang will probably make few headlines anytime soon, and the once "sure prospect" of Woods beating Jack Nicklaus' record for majors one is suddenly not such a sure thing anymore.
While there are a few more months of golf left, there are no majors, and only serious golf enthusiasts will track these events. Fringe fans will go back to watching other sports, and will be far from enthused about the 2010 golf season.
Tiger must bounce back in 2009. He is the face of the PGA, and any story lines lacking Tiger Woods will do anything but help the sport grow.
We need Tiger to be Tiger and everyone else to watch in amazement as he wins Majors, no offense to them, but fans don't want Y.E. Yang, Angel Cabrera, or Lucas Glover to win. They want Tiger, and Tiger needs to deliver.
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