TGL

[Swango1980]

It seems we have broadly four strata of golf entertainment then, from the almost throw-away homemade at one end, to serious golf at the other. Increasing from the trivial to the serious sport :

- Youtubers : 'characters' and personalties playing totally inconsequential golf, but the entertainment is in any banter, chat, enterainment they can muster, almost in the manner of Have I got News for You, or A Question of Sport. Internet/Youtube, almost Tiktok category stuff. It has been a new territory in very recent years. Whether the interest and clicks will sustain, I would not assume. It has a newness, and feeds some demand for light golf oriented entertainment, but there is only so many times people want to see nobodies playing against each other. It may wane.
- TGL : not much more than the above, but with the novelty of home-sim golf, and the big names, some of who can leverage personality and a chance for a glimpse behind the serious sportsmen. Light TV type stuff. Whether the hybrid golf heavy but inconsequential game play can succeed is to be seen. I am guessing not.
- LIV. Top golfers playing real golf courses, but essentially for nothing of consequence. Carries over some of the razmataz, lounders, fake teams type TV game show element, but in the end is just a bubblegum meal, as no wins or winners are ever going to rank in a true sporting sense. Probably just in a holding pattern until the famous 'deal' is done.
- The proper tours. The worlds best playing for trophies, legacies, and records that matter is always going to have its place. Prone to the accusations of boring, slow, automotons without character, but then that comes with the territory of playing for something that means something. Appeal will limited somewhat, and attempts to widen its appeal are probably pointless. It is what it is, but to some extent its very nature of serious golf means it can never expand beyond niche.

The first three are the new disruptors, trying to 'grow the game', its audience, and money making potential. The fourth will always be there. Is there a future in any of the first three long term ? Like the Chinese premier when asked what he though about the French revolution - "too soon to tell".

Youtubers work well, because they are typically just 10 minute clips of some useful info. Like a golf lesson. Or up to an hour where they get a celebrity and play golf with them, or whatever else they do. But, the users ultimately get attached to the personality of that youtuber, and enjoy watching them engage with whatever / whoever they are engaging with.

The "proper tours" AND LIV golf are essentially the same, in that they are basically golf tournaments players are looking to win. For me, the difference that LIV stripped away a lot of the jeopardy. And even though the rewards are high, they are so high is almost feels inconsequential because playing poorly still highly rewards the players. So, whether that can adapt to have significant USP's compared to the tried and tested tours, I don't know.

TGL is something that can be interesting if you like any of the other golf, and you flick it on to watch. But I don't think it has anything special to keep fans engaged (or at least, myself engaged anyway). I've no interest in LIV for example, but I can see why LIV would generate a lot more sustained interest than TGL. Maybe if TGL was to bring together aspects of other golf, it would be more interesting. Get youTubers involved somehow, where they could have teams competing. PGAT versus European Tour versus LIV. Stuff like that. Although most of that wouldn't be possible if it is purely associated with the PGAT

 

[kp17]

Youtubers work well, because they are typically just 10 minute clips of some useful info. Like a golf lesson. Or up to an hour where they get a celebrity and play golf with them, or whatever else they do. But, the users ultimately get attached to the personality of that youtuber, and enjoy watching them engage with whatever / whoever they are engaging with.

The "proper tours" AND LIV golf are essentially the same, in that they are basically golf tournaments players are looking to win. For me, the difference that LIV stripped away a lot of the jeopardy. And even though the rewards are high, they are so high is almost feels inconsequential because playing poorly still highly rewards the players. So, whether that can adapt to have significant USP's compared to the tried and tested tours, I don't know.

TGL is something that can be interesting if you like any of the other golf, and you flick it on to watch. But I don't think it has anything special to keep fans engaged (or at least, myself engaged anyway). I've no interest in LIV for example, but I can see why LIV would generate a lot more sustained interest than TGL. Maybe if TGL was to bring together aspects of other golf, it would be more interesting. Get youTubers involved somehow, where they could have teams competing. PGAT versus European Tour versus LIV. Stuff like that. Although most of that wouldn't be possible if it is purely associated with the PGAT

Agree with this, I quite like it and have watched every one so far but you can see that most folk, even golf nuts will loose interest if they haven’t already.

It could be doing with chucking in brysons LIV team one week and trying to drum up a bit of rivalry/excitement type thing.

 

[C7usk]

Just tuned in to watch some of the double header on TGL i recorded.. The good lady, who is not a golf fan even though she has went to a ryder cup, open championships and Dunhill with me said....
" Oh my god... I can't believe they actually made golf worse." .
To be fair the Atlanta v LA was actually an entertaining finish.

 

[IanM]

Managed 10 minutes of this last night before turning off. It's truly awful.

 

[sunshine]

I’ve recorded it and watched it back a few times, but I end up fast forwarding through quite a lot. They need to shorten it to a 1 hour show, and simplify it eg get rid of the hammer.

I tried watching the highlights but that makes no sense because the context is missing.

 

[C7usk]

I’ve recorded it and watched it back a few times, but I end up fast forwarding through quite a lot. They need to shorten it to a 1 hour show, and simplify it eg get rid of the hammer.

I tried watching the highlights but that makes no sense because the context is missing.

I tend to fast forward to the green action every hole..

 

[Mel Smooth]

I’ve just seen the clip of Tiger hitting a wedge 99 yards cos he misheard his team mates giving him the distance of 199 yards (even though it’s displayed for him on the display next to the screen - although that does say 194 yards)
It’s entertaining for sure…. A clown show, but entertaining nonetheless

 

[evemccc]

I’ve just seen the clip of Tiger hitting a wedge 99 yards cos he misheard his team mates giving him the distance of 199 yards (even though it’s displayed for him on the display next to the screen - although that does say 194 yards)
It’s entertaining for sure…. A clown show, but entertaining nonetheless

The Sky sports clip of that came on to my YouTube feed this morning

TGL is just abysmally, comically bad…Tiger really isn’t ‘cool’ and has never had an ounce of charm, humility, good grace or charisma…the poor guy really was mortified by that, and it makes it so awkward to watch, that he’s so awkward

 

[Slab]

I’ve just seen the clip of Tiger hitting a wedge 99 yards cos he misheard his team mates giving him the distance of 199 yards (even though it’s displayed for him on the display next to the screen - although that does say 194 yards)
It’s entertaining for sure…. A clown show, but entertaining nonetheless

I guess no proper depth perception hitting into a screen.
Plus the fact that when I hear players/caddies on TV discussing distances above 100 they very often drop the hundred i.e a 190 to the front is talked about as a 90 to the front. So I can see how easily it could happen when you don't have a real target

 

[evemccc]

Surprised that his teammates didn’t see he was using a wedge tho, and say anything These guys spend most of their lives looking at golf clubs and would instantly have recognised it was a wedge he was addressing the ball with, and not a 6 iron or whatever he would/should have used to hit 199 yards

 

[sunshine]

Tiger really isn’t ‘cool’ and has never had an ounce of charm, humility, good grace or charisma

Yet for some reason Nike placed a big bet on him at the start of his career, paid him millions of dollars a year for over 20 years, and sold millions of dollars of clothing, shoes and equipment based on Tiger's face, charisma and achievements. And equally, dozens of other brands queued up to pay Tiger to endorse their products.

Fair enough if you don't like him, but objectively you've got a minority view which isn't grounded in reality.

 

[evemccc]

Yet for some reason Nike placed a big bet on him at the start of his career, paid him millions of dollars a year for over 20 years, and sold millions of dollars of clothing, shoes and equipment based on Tiger's face, charisma and achievements. And equally, dozens of other brands queued up to pay Tiger to endorse their products.

Fair enough if you don't like him, but objectively you've got a minority view which isn't grounded in reality.

Not at all.

You think I’m disputing how dominant he was at golf, when he was in his prime? You think I’m disputing how marketable he was due to his ability, dominance, age, ethnicity and above all recognisability due to those above factors?

Not at all IMO was he paid millions and millions due to his charisma, charm, humour and wit..

Edit: don’t hate Tiger at all! Really wanted him to win the Masters 2019 and made a bee-line to watch him from 10 yards away with no crowds, when as an amateur at RLSA in 96.
I just don’t see he is charismatic and think that’s not the reason he was paid millions by Nike

 

[Swango1980]

Not at all.

You think I’m disputing how dominant he was at golf, when he was in his prime? You think I’m disputing how marketable he was due to his ability, dominance, age, ethnicity and above all recognisability due to those above factors?

Not at all IMO was he paid millions and millions due to his charisma, charm, humour and wit..

Edit: don’t hate Tiger at all! Really wanted him to win the Masters 2019 and made a bee-line to watch him from 10 yards away with no crowds, when as an amateur at RLSA in 96.
I just don’t see he is charismatic and think that’s not the reason he was paid millions by Nike

What are you expecting him to be? If you want comedy, watch Billy Connolly on youTube. If you want charm, there are some good Stephen Fry speeches going around.

 

[sjw]

Well, contrary to most posters here, I am a fully paid-up member of the TGL fan club. It's a good laugh and gives you something to cheer for if you pick a team. The new hammer rules have improved things tenfold. I just wish it was broadcast at a sensible time, so I don't have to try and avoid spoilers (which I've not managed yet lol)

 

[Swango1980]

Well, contrary to most posters here, I am a fully paid-up member of the TGL fan club. It's a good laugh and gives you something to cheer for if you pick a team. The new hammer rules have improved things tenfold. I just wish it was broadcast at a sensible time, so I don't have to try and avoid spoilers (which I've not managed yet lol)

I've not seen the last few weeks. What are the new hammer rules?

 

[sjw]

I've not seen the last few weeks. What are the new hammer rules?

What would happen before is the team with the hammer would get an early lead and then just hog it. These new rules came in and 3 of the last 4 matches have been tight affairs, going down to the last hole. The other featured Kevin Kisner who could be given as many hammers as he wanted and it wouldn't make any difference

 

[Swango1980]

What would happen before is the team with the hammer would get an early lead and then just hog it. These new rules came in and 3 of the last 4 matches have been tight affairs, going down to the last hole. The other featured Kevin Kisner who could be given as many hammers as he wanted and it wouldn't make any difference

Yeah, that was definitely the weakness of the hammer before. Get a lead, it is almost not worth risking throwing the hammer, as you give the opponents a chance to use it in a future hole.

At least it looks like they are willing to adapt to try and improve the product.

Kevin Kisner, he was truly awful in the first couple of TGL events I saw him in

 

[sjw]

Yeah, that was definitely the weakness of the hammer before. Get a lead, it is almost not worth risking throwing the hammer, as you give the opponents a chance to use it in a future hole.

At least it looks like they are willing to adapt to try and improve the product.

Kevin Kisner, he was truly awful in the first couple of TGL events I saw him in

I think KK is just there for comedic value lol

Yeah, I'm not always a fan of changing rules of things halfway through a "season", but this one works. The only thing they could've done better, in my opinion, is if they'd reordered the schedule on Monday, they could've had a scenario in which after the first match of the day, every team had played twice, and then they could have changed the hammer rules. That would've been fairer.

 

[sunshine]

Not at all.

You think I’m disputing how dominant he was at golf, when he was in his prime? You think I’m disputing how marketable he was due to his ability, dominance, age, ethnicity and above all recognisability due to those above factors?

Not at all IMO was he paid millions and millions due to his charisma, charm, humour and wit..

Edit: don’t hate Tiger at all! Really wanted him to win the Masters 2019 and made a bee-line to watch him from 10 yards away with no crowds, when as an amateur at RLSA in 96.
I just don’t see he is charismatic and think that’s not the reason he was paid millions by Nike

Millions of people think Tiger is pretty cool, that's why they went out and bought the shirts he wore. He was "cool" enough to have his own logo and feature in loads of adverts with other celebs and sports stars.

Equally, millions of people hang on every word he says and fawn over him, so in the eyes of millions of people he is pretty charismatic. Even if his insight is limited to "it is what it is" and "that was really tough."

 

[Beezerk]

Millions of people think Tiger is pretty cool, that's why they went out and bought the shirts he wore. He was "cool" enough to have his own logo and feature in loads of adverts with other celebs and sports stars.

Equally, millions of people hang on every word he says and fawn over him, so in the eyes of millions of people he is pretty charismatic. Even if his insight is limited to "it is what it is" and "that was really tough."

I think you’re mixing up tenses here, millions used to think he was cool, I’m not so sure they do anymore at least not the youth.