by Noah N
Tiger says he needs an offseason but what does he do immediately after the Tour Championship?? He flies to China to play a tournament there, then another one in Japan the next week, then goes to Hawaii to play the Grand Slam and then back to California for his own tournament.
The Tour Championship ended on Nov 5. That leaves a full two months until the Mercedes Championship. That should be plenty offseason for him and the others.

by garry
I'm not going dispute the length of the season or the need for a break.Maybe just maybe, all that is needed is a course in time management.The boys in the top ten owe something to the game.They have a responsibility to ensure the sucess and longevity of some of the not so glamorous tournaments.The young players,future stars deserve the same opportunity,to purse their dreams as the present stars (top ten if you wish)enjoyed.After all,the free world is all about equal opportunity,isn't it?

by Larrrrr
Marty's right - the issue isn't the season being too long, its that the Big name guys OTHER than Vijay spend most of the Fall playing Silly Season events in which they make tons of money with much less -- or no -- competition. Tiger's in every tour event he plays, but why should he work that hard during the 10 month PGA tour (he plays maybe 12-15 times in non-majors) when he can play 4 times in November/December and make almost as much money. Let's face it -- he cares about 2 or 3 tour events and the Majors -- if the PGA really wants to have a 10 month tour it needs to hope that some of the young players get the charisma needed to carry Tour events without the BIG names and stop blaming Tiger and Phil for recognizing that there's other things in life besides carrying the PGA Tour every week (when you're making $10 Million because you're that good, is it your fault that others aren't??????

by Marty
I don't know if the golf season is too long or not, but it is not the reason several players are skipping the Mercedes Tournament. THEY DON"T NEED THE MONEY and do not care about the prestige of winning it. They choose when they play. Tiger plays the PGA Tour less than half the year and makes $1o Million. No one told him he had to play in China, Japan and all the Silly Season events. Tiger wants a shorter PGA season so he can play where there is appearance fees. What is it $3 million he gets for showing up? Phil's another case. He just has enough money so he plays when he wants too.
You don't hear about Vijay or the players who play in 30+ events complaining about the season being too long. Also, Europe has already started 2006 season and they travel all over the world and we don't hear about them complaining about their season being too long.

by Nick
I don't really care how many tournaments they hold. It's not a team sport like an NFL Season or the endless NBA season where everyone has to show up; these guys pick and chose where and when they want to play. So, if the powers that be want to hold a tournament without Tiger, Phil, and five or six others from the top 10, let them. Who are they bothering? The lower-ranked players are happy to make the money; and no one is forcing us to watch. Change the channel if you don't like it.

by jim Claggett
Poor Tiger! He hasn't had an off season but how many tournaments does he play in each year?
Talk to the guy who gets two weeks holiday from his 9-5 job and compare to the coddled life of a pro athlete, who doesn't carry anything but his yardage book and his glove.

by RonMon
Jim, you numbskull. Coddled? He works out every day, he hits ball after ball until his body aches. How many 9-5 guys come home aching every day? Have you ever hit three buckets, chipped and putted, and played nine to eighteen holes for more than one day in a row? Tiger selected a profession, just like the 9-5 guys selected a profession. Plus, the 9-5 guys don't have media in their faces 9-5, asking about every little pimple and dimple. Don't serve us your sour grapes?