The PGA Tour will "survive just fine" if Tiger Woods fails return to relevance, as a "new generation of young lions has seized the spotlight and all of them are television gold," according to Gene Frenette of the FLORIDA TIMES-UNION. Jordan Spieth, Rory McIlroy and Jason Day currently sit 1-2-3 in the world rankings, the "first time since March 1999, back when Woods, [David] Duval and Ernie Els ruled the game, that the top three spot are occupied by players in their 20s." Frenette: "Never in the history of golf has it seen the number of young guns consistently showing up as major contenders. If Tiger fails to have a rebirth like Nicklaus did in his 40s, it's not like the sport has no alternative sizzle" (FLORIDA TIMES-UNION, 8/18). The Denver Post's Woody Paige said, “The narrative in the game has been … can Tiger come back, can he win again? Now it's about, ‘Look at these young, great golfers destroying what is an exceptional golf course.'" ESPN’s Israel Gutierrez said watching these young golfers compete is “going to be wildly entertaining” (“Around The Horn,” ESPN, 8/17). In N.Y., Mark Cannizzaro writes under the header, "Golf's New Breed Proudly Sticks Fork In The Tiger-Phil Era." Day's win at the PGA Championship last weekend "accentuated" the fact that the PGA Tour is "more a young man's game than it ever has been." Woods is playing the Wyndham Championship this week in a last-ditch effort to make the FedExCup Playoffs, and it is unclear if he, Phil Mickelson or "any of the other older, established stars in the game will ever win again." Cannizzaro: "What we do know is this: They are done serving as the prominent faces of the sport" (N.Y. POST, 8/18).
In N.Y., Hank Gola writes "nothing could be further from the truth" than the "prevailing thought of not too recently that said golf was in trouble without Woods, that interest in the PGA Tour would plummet." The golf "has never been better," and the fields "are as deep as they have ever been" (
N.Y. DAILY NEWS, 8/18). In Salt Lake City, Kurt Kragthorpe wrote he "became more convinced than ever this year" that golf "can move on" without Woods being at the top of his game. Kragthorpe: "Spieth, Day and others have rejuvenated pro golf this year, and they should have some staying power" (
SLTRIB.com, 8/17). The Boston Globe’s Bob Ryan said Day’s victory was a “win-win for golf, a win-win for golf fans." Two "eminently likeable young stars” in Day and Spieth were in contention, and fans got a "breakthrough performance” by Day (
"PTI," ESPN, 8/17). In Minneapolis, Jim Souhan writes under the header, "Young, Talented Wave Of Golfers Set To Help Us Move On From Tiger Woods" (
Minneapolis STAR TRIBUNE, 8/18).
JORDAN BRAND: In New Orleans, Trey Iles wrote golf "entered a new era" in '15, and Spieth and other young guns "have supplanted" Woods as the "top story in the sport" (NOLA.com, 8/17). In Dallas, Rick Gosselin writes of Spieth, "He has become the new Tiger. He draws immense galleries at every tour stop" (DALLASNEWS.com, 8/18). Nicklaus said of Spieth, "He's a nice young man, handles himself beautifully. I like him a lot. What kind of future? He's got a very good future without question. What he's done playing is phenomenal" (CLEVELAND.com, 8/17).
