Tiger hits $1.3 billion

[Andy808]

Is it ? I have no idea - I do know that before Woods came along Golf was popular in this country

And I certainly don't watch a tournament because of him - I would actually prefer him not to be playing - that way we might see more of the other players. When Woods is on then it's nothing but Woods regardless of his score or who the leader is.

He brought money into the game - massive money , but he also brought scandal and bad attitude into the game

Golf would have thrived just as well if he wasn't around - it's certainly more enjoyable for me when he isn't playing

So no one before him had an affair? That gets Faldo and many others off the hook then.

And no one else threw clubs and had tantrums before him either? Might want to read this months GM magazine there's a great article in there that might dissagree with you too.

Your also slating a man that you don't know other than that portrayed in the media to get papers sold and web pages viewed. He, like many other golfers and other sports people, does a lot for under privilaged kids and plenty of other charity work that doesn't make the headlines.

Well done Tiger you have devoted your entire life to the game and you deserve it.

 

[LanDog]

Just for you Murph


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=62eTq8ErUOQ&feature=youtube_gdata_player

Looks like Kevin Spacey with hair

 

[LanDog]

The money in the game goes to the biggest and best players. I'm no fan of Tiger, but at this point in time he's the best out there, if sponsors and tournaments are prepared to give out ludicrous money then Tiger is the most deserving of said money.

You also cannot deny that golf hasn't become more popular since his meteoric rise, when the average non golfer is asked about any player they know, Tiger is always the first name to spring to mind. Therefore, the game of golf is growing with his assistance. Younger players on tour are now looking up to Tiger, and no doubt for many years they will continue to do so.

It's not like Tiger is the only one with past money these days. Rory's contract at Nike was well discussed on here, Phil isn't exactly going without. As I stated in another thread as well, in one year on tour, Jordan Spieth earned $3.9 million and I'm sure he'll add a heck of a lot more to that sum

 

[Fish]

I've not read all the posts but was just thinking maybe he's the cause of why there are so few UK tournaments. A lot of you say he's raised the profile of this game, but with that he's raised the prize money and appearance money which he demands, so sponsors have to shell out loads of dosh to put a tournament on!!! I could be wrong, but it's a thought.

Good point, have the UK tournaments increased or declined during the Tiger Circus, if Tiger doesn't fancy coming and playing in the UK because he can't get the appearance money or the prize money isn't enough for him, how has that benefited our game? Could it get to the stage where he never plays in the UK again? How could that ever be good for our game, should any player be able to pick & chose their tournaments to that degree?

 

[Pin-seeker]

Good point, have the UK tournaments increased or declined during the Tiger Circus, if Tiger doesn't fancy coming and playing in the UK because he can't get the appearance money or the prize money isn't enough for him, how has that benefited our game? Could it get to the stage where he never plays in the UK again? How could that ever be good for our game, should any player be able to pick & chose their tournaments to that degree?

Tbf theirs plenty of others pick & choose tournaments based on appearance & prize money.

 

[Spear-Chucker]

Tiger sacrificed his childhood, adolescence, college career and early adulthood to the game and is reaping the (financial, at least) rewards accordingly. The game has stepped up imagewise similarly to the effect Palmer and Nicklaus had. Many benefit from this; from other pro's enjoying greatly inflated purses, thousands benefitting from the Tiger Foundation, charities who get the cash from his numerous tour fines, media careers, sponsors, even caterers feeding larger gallerys at tournaments etc etc. Don't know if it's sustainable (probably is) and it will be interesting in 15 years time when the next step up happens, assuming it's essentially generational. It's just progress and evolution. It will be someone else next time of course.

I'm not going to comment on the price Tiger has paid (I couldn't care less and only he'll have to face up to this ultimately) in terms of his lifestyle and appreciate there'll be those who have not benefitted from the last 20 years of his being around in the worlds eye. Just staying an interested observer now that his career has almost definately peaked and wondering exactly what records he can still break both financially and, more importantly, on the golf course.

 

[Steve Bamford]

Golf is synonymous with huge rewards for the players. Being shocked by Tiger Woods earnings is a little naïve. In 20 or so years I'm sure that Tiger's earnings will pale into insignificance compared to the No1 player of that generation. TW is a global brand who brings prestige to any tournament - that's why the Turkish government paid so much to get him to their golf tournament last year and why Abu Dhabi/Dubai have funded his appearance over the years.

 

[CMAC]

Good point, have the UK tournaments increased or declined during the Tiger Circus, if Tiger doesn't fancy coming and playing in the UK because he can't get the appearance money or the prize money isn't enough for him, how has that benefited our game? Could it get to the stage where he never plays in the UK again? How could that ever be good for our game, should any player be able to pick & chose their tournaments to that degree?

in a free world, yes

 

[woody69]

Palmer and Nicklaus still earning millions each year

I think the amount of money earned by the top sports people is a disgrace

The world is in a financial mess with millions struggling to feed themselves or put a roof over their heads and we see people earning more in a day than some do in a lifetime

But it's not just sportsmen or sportswoman - it's fat cat businessmen as well.

The rich get richer whilst everyone else struggles on

I really can't subscribe to this view. Tiger and other top sportsmen and women are the best in the world in their chosen field. They generate billions worldwide from their involvement and I believe they are entitled to a decent share of it. The top people in any field (not just sport) are paid extremely well, CEO's of multinationals, Singer song writers, actors, top surgeons etc. They're paid the best, because they usually are the best and have dedicated much of their life to getting there. You can also factor in the limited amount of time sportspeople are actually competitive and the risks in picking up an injury that can effectively end your career in a heartbeat. Plus the number of top top earners is really a minority. The average salary of a premiership footballer may well be around 20-25k a week or 1.5 million a year, but drop down 2 leagues and they're earning around the £50k a year mark, so the number in that "top bracket" is minimal in terms of the number of actual registered professionals. The same is true for golf and any other sport.

Not paying the top performers in each industry top whack isn't going to solve the problems with people being unable to feed themselves, but most use their income to benefit good causes and charity.

 

[Deleted member 1147]

Good point, have the UK tournaments increased or declined during the Tiger Circus, if Tiger doesn't fancy coming and playing in the UK because he can't get the appearance money or the prize money isn't enough for him, how has that benefited our game? Could it get to the stage where he never plays in the UK again? How could that ever be good for our game, should any player be able to pick & chose their tournaments to that degree?

I believe the UK tax rules may also be partially responsible for lack of big names playing many tournaments over here.

Maybe more WGC events would have been held here otherwise, and we could have had more events like at the Grove when Tiger played & won.

 

[CMAC]

I believe the UK tax rules may also be partially responsible for lack of big names playing many tournaments over here.

Maybe more WGC events would have been held here otherwise, and we could have had more events like at the Grove when Tiger played & won.

Good point, didnt Phil lose about half his Scottish Open and Open prize money last year?

 

[Deleted member 1147]

Good point, didnt Phil lose about half his Scottish Open and Open prize money last year?

IIRC at a tax conference a few years ago they mentioned that worldwide income from advertising & sponsorship etc was to be taxed on a pro-rated basis, ie if you play 20 times worldwide, and one of those is in the UK, 1/20th of your income would be taxable over here. That rule has to be over-turned when we want a big event such as the Olympics or Chamions League final. But they'll not do it for the British Masters or English Open, so the big names won't be bothered to come over hear and play if they don't need to.

 

[cookelad]

IIRC at a tax conference a few years ago they mentioned that worldwide income from advertising & sponsorship etc was to be taxed on a pro-rated basis, ie if you play 20 times worldwide, and one of those is in the UK, 1/20th of your income would be taxable over here. .

This is my understanding also, it was a given reason for a top British pro not playing a tournament over here 2 or 3 years back!