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Woods Returns To Regular PGA Tour
Schedule This Weekend At Quail Hollow |
Tiger Woods' return to the regular PGA Tour schedule with this weekend's Quail Hollow Championship "gives the tour some time to recover before the next round of television negotiations are set to begin," according to Bob Harig of ESPN.com. The PGA Tour's current six-year contracts with NBC and CBS expire at the end of the '12 season, and golf analyst Dottie Pepper said, "It was really important for him to come back, from the tour's standpoint." Pepper: "A lot of money is involved that affects players' pensions. Budgets for every aspect of the tour are driven off the television dollar and what people are willing to pay." Harig reported having Woods around to "pursue Sam Snead's record of 82 PGA Tour victories and Jack Nicklaus' record of 18 major championships over the coming years will certainly be an important factor" in negotiations for new TV deals. PGA Tour Commissioner Tim Finchem said Woods "does generate a significant increase in the overall interest in the sport, no question, and he does increase significantly the number of people that watch on television." Finchem: "That plays into our long-term relationships with our television partners and the value of television rights." Harig noted Woods "brings more eyeballs to television sets and more spectators to events than any other player, including reigning Masters champion Phil Mickelson." Pepper: "Tiger is driving the bus as far as the buzz factor goes. Phil is driving the mini bus. There is buzz with Phil, but it's just not the same" (ESPN.com, 4/28).
GOLF'S HOME: Golf Channel is airing the first- and second-round of the Quail Hollow Championship this week -- the first time Woods will play a competitive round on the net this year -- and it took out ads in several major newspapers today to tout its coverage. The ads feature the copy, "As If You Needed Another Reason To Watch. Watch Tiger defend his number one spot against Phil and others all weekend long" (THE DAILY).
