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What if #1 played alone?

It has become very obvious, through the media, that the focus during tournaments is on the worlds #1.  Although all the ads say “these guys are good”, they might as well say “this guy is great!”  I think the excessive coverage has brainwashed the public into thinking that if the #1 ranked player is not playing, the tournament is not worth watching.

One truth, without a doubt, it is that a competition, any competition, requires more than one competitor.  And the reality is that although many fans like to route for the favorite, there are many more who prefer to cheer for the “underdog” or “long shot.”  Without the possibility for a lesser ranked player to win or challenge for victory (just ask a Chicago Cubs fan), would any competition be worth watching?

The media has taken away the opportunity for other players to become fan favorites and new role models for those of us watching a tournament.  This is why during the Ryder Cup, many people said to me “who are those guys,” about many of the U.S. players.  We need to be very careful we don’t make golf all about #1, otherwise, where does golf go without #1.  Would golf really be worth watching if #1 played alone?   

Thanks for golfing with Jeff

This entry was posted on November 21, 2006 at 9:11 am and is filed under Golf Thoughts. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response or trackback from your own site.

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3 Responses to “What if #1 played alone?”

  1. LadyG says:
    November 22, 2006 at 4:57 pm

    Thanks for this post Jeff, I agree with what you had to say. However, I’m not so sure there is much the viewing public can really do about how media tends to highlight the sport. TV coverage, I believe, being the main culprit, tends to showcase who they want to…or maybe who they think we want them too…

    Is there really anything golf enthusiasts can do about this?

  2. Jeff Shores, PGA says:
    November 23, 2006 at 9:50 am

    Dear LadyG,

    As golf enthusiasts, we must first appreciate the unbelievable talent we are witnessing in the world’s #1. These type of sports figures will elevate the dreams and perceptions of the worlds youth as to what is attainable with hard work and persistence. This leadership will pave the way for future champions.

    As for the media, well, they will have to see that the viewing public is just as interested in watching professional golf, regardless of whose in the field, before they change their ways.  With technology being what it is, there is no reason why, we as viewers, can not watch any player we want in the field, at any time.  Online coverage of the event, with cameras at every hole, would make it possible for the viewer to follow their favorite player throughout the ups and downs of their entire  round.  This would help fans become more familiar with all the different players and their personalities.  I truly believe this idea would change the way the world watches golf tournaments.

    To play a sport, any sport, at the professional level takes a huge amount of heroics. Golf, especially, with all success and failure riding on the individual. All the participants in any golf event are potential heroes for the viewer to admire. All, gladiators if you will, in the arena fighting off the lions (or Tigers) with the hope of potential victory. The more we as viewers show our appreciation for the great play of all the participants, the more the media will fall in line with what they show us.

    What can you do?  Besides #1, which player do you admire and want to watch?  Check out what PGA.com and Turner Broadcasting are beginning to offer in terms of coverage and podcasting at… 

    http://www.pga.com/grandslam/2006/news/slam_pipeline111606.html

    If you have additional questions regarding this evolving topic in sports, keep them coming!  Let’s start a wave of better broadcasting.  Thanks for golfing with Jeff

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