Next week is the Masters tournament at revered Augusta National. Missing from the action for the first time in 20 years is the true master of the game — Tiger Woods, currently recovering from back surgery. Yes, we have all heard the stories of his personal indiscretions and his ‘cocky’ attitude. However, the fact remains that his absence robs the game of its luster. These words are not about Tiger the man — they are about Tiger the golfer.
Mr. Woods is a marketing machine based on his talent alone. TV ratings are way down when he does not play, and this years champion will probably have an asterisk next to his name — he won the year when Tiger did not play.
For those of us who have ‘hacked’ our way around a golf course, his talent is awe-inspiring. It is difficult to appreciate his talent till you play the game.
The key beneficiaries of his contribution to the game? Many of those who love to hate him — his professional competitors — have seen their paychecks soar from endorsements and from winning & playing on the PGA tour, creating a multi-billion dollar global juggernaut.
I will miss seeing Tiger Woods play golf at the Masters. Time to sign up to watch some bad Bollywood movies!
About Hemant Rustogi