Tiger Woods: knee beats season

The announcement has been made – Tiger Woods will be out for the rest of the golf season. The PGA and multiple events are popping pills, knocking back drinks, and calling shrinks as I write.


After the amazing rally and win at the U.S. Open against Rocco Mediate, in sudden death on Monday, concerns over Tiger’s knee were rampant. And with good reason. The man was feeling pain at virtually every drive. In my opinion the only reason there was a playoff and a close event at the US Open was because of the recovering knee. A healthy Tiger Woods beats everyone when he wants to, by as much as he would like.

How big is this loss?

“The Tiger Effect has been with us so long now that it takes jolting events like Monday's U.S. Open playoff victory and Woods' relapsing knee to remind everyone of all the numerical impacts the man has. Besides booming TV numbers for NBC and ESPN, Woods also drove record-setting hits all over the Internet.”

Tiger Woods is perhaps the most capable athlete in the world at helping to move the U.S. economy. From ticket sales at events he appears at (influencing additionally airline tickets, hotels, restaurants, and various knick-knacks and impulse purchases at the events), advertising prices for coverage of golfing events on television and the internet, to sales of anything related to golf (clubs, clothing, golf balls, ect.) Tiger has an impact that does not have a real comparison.

And I have to wonder what happens if Tiger gets beat.

I don’t mean by another player. As uncommon as that may be, statistically it has to happen occasionally, we have seen it. I mean by his knee or any other potential injury while he is still young and early in his career. While I would hope this would never happen, injuries may be the only real opponent that Tiger has to face. And it’s the only opponent that realistically can prevent him from breaking every record the game has in place.

That would seriously hurt golf worldwide. Prize money at every event has increased since the first pro win by Tiger. Without his presence, other players might run higher in world ratings, but likely will make less money as interest wanes. Sales can decrease as the dream of competing with or playing with the living legend becomes fixed as just dreams. While perhaps a generation of kids will likely still stay involved with golf, the potential reach to new generations might end.

And millions lose a role model of poise under pressure, education, success, self-discipline, and moderation. Think about it, Tiger is the single most successful athlete in the world. No one makes his kind of money and has so little negative press. He is a good family man, without drug addictions or alcohol abuse, without scandals for fighting or paternity lawsuits. Hell, even the opponents he plays are grateful for the chance to compete with him – except for Fuzzy Zoeller – noting that he is the best around. Name another athlete, celebrity, or entertainer you hear competitors say that about.

So I’m not surprised that media sellers and the PGA are fearful. I can see how economists will have to make a (minor) adjustment to economic projections. And I can see that a whole sports industry is nervous about their futures.

Tiger is out for another season, and I hope it means he will be back healthy soon after. Because a world without Tiger Woods in the headlines detracts from everyone’s life in more ways than most ever imagine.

Tiger Wood and the U.S. Open: Rocco Mediate tried

Tiger Woods is in the lead to win the U.S. Open, again. I know you are shocked.

I was at a pool tournament Saturday and they had the Open on the T.V. Everyone asked from time to time where Tiger was. The answer varied a bit, basically he’s in the top 5, and every response would be ‘ok, he’ll win tomorrow’. Such are the expectations facing what I consider the greatest golfer in the world, perhaps ever.

Now how many of the people at the tournament realized that Tiger had recently had knee surgery? Some, though not most. Yet I think that would not change a single opinion.

‘When the man wants to win, everyone else is playing for second,’ as I recall one of the top players once stated (I think it was Ernie Els).

Right now, Tiger is winning by 3. Rocco Mediate, who is a very good player (his 157th in the world ranking aside or included), and I’m sure he will finish as close as possible. But his day was yesterday. He had his chance, he had the lead alone. Then Tiger rallied.

As I recall there has only been 1 player that has beaten Tiger Woods in a playoff match. He’s played quite a few, 14 in all, and they have almost always been for the same reason. Tiger rallied to tie. Once he rallies, everyone else (virtually) folds under the pressure he brings to bear.

Rocco had a great chance. Tiger is not fully healed, and spent the Open without taking the lead. Rocco was playing one of the best games of his career. But with Tiger around, that’s just not enough.

The thing I always find fascinating, and encouraging, is when everyone loses to Tiger. Other than Fuzzy Zoeller they don’t get upset. And it’s not because he has brought more money and excitement into the PGA, and golf in general. It’s because they are playing their A-games against someone who can bring out another level they have never seen. They are part of a living history in action.

The final match of the U.S. Open is not over yet. Tiger could fold to his injuries. Rocco could come up with a level of play he has never done before. But if I were in Vegas I wouldn’t bet against Woods. They couldn’t lay odds that are worth throwing my money away.