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The PGA Tour is in the midst of it Fall Series right, but is there even any interest among casual golf fans? I don't feel like the casual golf fan is interested in the battle to finish in the top 125. Obviously many of us on here will watch pretty golf anytime it is on, no matter who is playing or where it is being played - but we would not qualify as casual golf fans.
I wouldn't be surprised if these events are gone in the not to distant future. I just wonder where sponsorship will come from. Look at the last 2 events - this week they are playing the Fry's Electronic Open and last week was the Frys.com Open. If the best the Tour/events could get was the same sponsor 2 weeks in a row, it is pretty obvious to me that there was not much competition to sponsor these events. It would be sad to see an event that has been around for since 1922 like the Texas Open fade away, but I think it is more than plausible without a change to FedEx Cup or a reshuffle of events.
Anyone else have thoughts on this?
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PGA Tour Fall Series
What is its future & future of these events?
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#1
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Posted 20 October 2007 - 01:43 PM
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#2
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Posted 20 October 2007 - 01:56 PM
This is a great question. I'm a pretty dedicated golf fan, and I haven't watched a second of the fall finish. Even the highlights on Golf Central are of little concern to me.
There's been some great golf, but quite frankly, after all the brutal courses and tough scoring in the FedEx Cup, it's not that much fun watching 10 guys shoot 62 each round in these tournaments.
There's been some great golf, but quite frankly, after all the brutal courses and tough scoring in the FedEx Cup, it's not that much fun watching 10 guys shoot 62 each round in these tournaments.
#3 Gallery_midasmulligan2000_*
Posted 20 October 2007 - 05:30 PM
My own view ... (maybe a bit pessimistic).
For the average casual golf fan, the season ended with the FedEx Cup. Period. I say this simply because I listen to people on golf courses. I play most weekends, and often am walking on as a single - so I get to play with a wide variety of weekenders. They do like golf - but aren't really that much into it. I realize this is anecdotal evidence and not statistically accurate in any way - but my "listening to weekenders BS on the course" sample set let me conclude the following about this year's new format.
First, during the season, people were following tournaments (especially when Tiger was playing). I'd hear them talking about big shots, or who was winning, etc., etc. They were watching golf.
Second, during Finchem's "playoff" it also became clear to me that the casual fan was totally confused by the format. In fact, listening to some of the conversations was a riot. All of the points, then the cuts ... people still seemed to be watching, but I suspect a good number of casual fans had no idea what, exactly, they were watching.
Finally ... the past few weeks ... not a single casual golfer I've gotten paired with has even mentioned golf. In fact, I was with a threesome today (average American golfers ... play once a month or so when they can sneak away from the wife and kids - more social than anything else). Asked one of them, during a walk to a green, what he thought of Phil not making the cut. The guy seriously had no clue a golf tournament was being played this week. He thought the season was over.
Part of the problem, I think, is the Golf Channel. USA, TNT and the others are cable - but they come (in most of the country) with "Basic" cable. There's some areas where you actually have to pay extra for a "sports package" to even get the Golf Channel. For those that used to watch tourneys occasionally on USA on T'F's, and then (mostly) on CBS on weekends, golf is simply done for the year. It has disappeared off the radar.
But the bigger problem is that there is quite simply no drama at all - except to the 2nd and 3rd tier guys on tour. A fellow that the casual golfer has only vaguely heard of, that shoots well and gets to 120 or 70 on the money list for next year just isn't quite like watching a stunning finish at the British.
For fanatics, there is a bit of drama - Steve Flesch, for instance, forgot to send in his application for Q School. So he has to nail the fall season to be on the tour next year. (Yeah - kinda weird). Still, though, what does this mean to the casual fan? Absolutely zero.
Fact is, I believe what has been created here is a bizarre new animal - a sort of short mini-tour that is halfway between the PGA Tour and the Nationwide. (In fact, there are people playing the Nationwide right now that will be on the PGA Tour next year, and people playing the PGA Fall Series that will be back on the Nationwide next year).
And as the OP pointed out - it is not only the B-team playing, it is the B-team sponsoring. Its going to be Fry - not Merrill Lynch. Substantial companies, but not the Fortune 500. Another couple of years, and it'll probably be Hooters sponsoring the Fall Series.
Bottom line? The fall series is a failure. To the casual golfer - the season ended with the Players. To the fanatic - they'll watch golf anytime (hell, its on my TV as I'm writing this) ... but even a lot of fanatic golfers aren't paying any attention. I believe it will continue ... but the sponsors will be able to get better rates (because after this year it will become clear what the viewership numbers are). I predict the purses will decline significantly over the next couple of years. They will become exactly what they ought to be - halfway between genuine PGA purses, and Nationwide purses.
Succinctly put: The Fall Series is merely a really long Q School.
For the average casual golf fan, the season ended with the FedEx Cup. Period. I say this simply because I listen to people on golf courses. I play most weekends, and often am walking on as a single - so I get to play with a wide variety of weekenders. They do like golf - but aren't really that much into it. I realize this is anecdotal evidence and not statistically accurate in any way - but my "listening to weekenders BS on the course" sample set let me conclude the following about this year's new format.
First, during the season, people were following tournaments (especially when Tiger was playing). I'd hear them talking about big shots, or who was winning, etc., etc. They were watching golf.
Second, during Finchem's "playoff" it also became clear to me that the casual fan was totally confused by the format. In fact, listening to some of the conversations was a riot. All of the points, then the cuts ... people still seemed to be watching, but I suspect a good number of casual fans had no idea what, exactly, they were watching.
Finally ... the past few weeks ... not a single casual golfer I've gotten paired with has even mentioned golf. In fact, I was with a threesome today (average American golfers ... play once a month or so when they can sneak away from the wife and kids - more social than anything else). Asked one of them, during a walk to a green, what he thought of Phil not making the cut. The guy seriously had no clue a golf tournament was being played this week. He thought the season was over.
Part of the problem, I think, is the Golf Channel. USA, TNT and the others are cable - but they come (in most of the country) with "Basic" cable. There's some areas where you actually have to pay extra for a "sports package" to even get the Golf Channel. For those that used to watch tourneys occasionally on USA on T'F's, and then (mostly) on CBS on weekends, golf is simply done for the year. It has disappeared off the radar.
But the bigger problem is that there is quite simply no drama at all - except to the 2nd and 3rd tier guys on tour. A fellow that the casual golfer has only vaguely heard of, that shoots well and gets to 120 or 70 on the money list for next year just isn't quite like watching a stunning finish at the British.
For fanatics, there is a bit of drama - Steve Flesch, for instance, forgot to send in his application for Q School. So he has to nail the fall season to be on the tour next year. (Yeah - kinda weird). Still, though, what does this mean to the casual fan? Absolutely zero.
Fact is, I believe what has been created here is a bizarre new animal - a sort of short mini-tour that is halfway between the PGA Tour and the Nationwide. (In fact, there are people playing the Nationwide right now that will be on the PGA Tour next year, and people playing the PGA Fall Series that will be back on the Nationwide next year).
And as the OP pointed out - it is not only the B-team playing, it is the B-team sponsoring. Its going to be Fry - not Merrill Lynch. Substantial companies, but not the Fortune 500. Another couple of years, and it'll probably be Hooters sponsoring the Fall Series.
Bottom line? The fall series is a failure. To the casual golfer - the season ended with the Players. To the fanatic - they'll watch golf anytime (hell, its on my TV as I'm writing this) ... but even a lot of fanatic golfers aren't paying any attention. I believe it will continue ... but the sponsors will be able to get better rates (because after this year it will become clear what the viewership numbers are). I predict the purses will decline significantly over the next couple of years. They will become exactly what they ought to be - halfway between genuine PGA purses, and Nationwide purses.
Succinctly put: The Fall Series is merely a really long Q School.
#4
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Posted 20 October 2007 - 09:06 PM
midasmulligan2000, on Oct 20 2007, 06:30 PM, said:
The Fall Series is merely a really long Q School.
Yeah, which only the players and their mothers care about.
#5
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Posted 21 October 2007 - 10:01 PM
After I said I could watch golf anytime I even found myself having a hard time paying attention this afternoon (getting out to play is difficult with a 7 week old so I was home). I found myself continually flipping channels and looking at the same things over and over again on the internet.
Like everyone else I think something needs to be fixed.
Like everyone else I think something needs to be fixed.
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