This Week at WorldGolf.com: Sept. 5, 2007
Tiger and Phil put on a show, But can the FedEx Cup tackle NFL Sundays?
Monday's duel between Tiger Woods and Phil Mickelson in Boston was a giant leap towards establishing the FedEx Cup as a sports event worth watching. Hey, it even led SportsCenter Monday night.
But the biggest competition for Tim Finchem's baby isn't the players' varied interest (Mickelson is skipping the upcoming BMW Championship). It isn't the complicated playoff points system either.
The biggest showdown comes this upcoming weekend when the NFL regular season kicks off. Now golf will share the airwaves and the headlines with America's fall sports obsession. The last two tournaments of the FedEx Cup stand to get buried amidst 24/7 football highlights and analysis on TV and the Internet.
Golf is a summer sport. From June through August, media outlets have enough room above the fold for second-tier sports like golf and NASCAR. What's the competition? David Beckham? What the Yankees did last night vs. Seattle? The World Series of Poker?
Getting the mainstream media (not to mention all the top columnists and sportswriters) to pay attention - not just your diehard fans and golf bloggers - is crucial to any new event hoping to become a household name. A sponsor isn't going to pony up millions year after year to hand out a cup with their name on it if no one is watching and no national columnist is writing about its significance because they're too busy covering Peyton in Indy.
Now, the PGA Tour must hope a few Cheeseheads skip watching the Packers the next two Sundays to watch Wisconsin's Steve Stricker to take a stab at the Cup - and Arizona fans to cheer on Mickelson and not their Cards (okay, that might not be too far fetched).
Let's praise the first two FedEx Cup events for keeping golf relevant after the PGA Championship at Southern Hills. But come this Sunday, America may be too busy painting their chests and grilling brats to care much at all about some new complicated golf playoff.
As always, WorldGolf.com welcomes your comments.
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Dates: June 1, 2007 - September 9, 2007
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Whereas golf in Ireland and Scotland is renowned, Wales is very much a golf destination still realizing its potential. But, man, what potential: Golf courses like Royal Porthcawl can match anything in Ireland and Scotland. Plus, you can have them all to yourself, Brandon Tucker writes.
Blog: Is Royal Portchawl the British Isles' most underrated links
Tiger Woods, the No. 1 golfer in the world and pitchman extraordinaire, leads a complicated life. WorldGolf.com's Chris Baldwin found out just how crazy it is during a day shadowing Woods in Manhattan
Also: Video golf tips at WorldGolf.com's Tee Vision
When it comes to golf courses, the South of the U.S. is about more than just old plantations and moss-draped oaks. The South's golf courses run the gamut from links-style to modern to traditional. Here's an exclusive look at the Top-10 island golf courses in this amazing golf region.
Podcast: Hear the latest episode of Golf For Beginners
On a corner of the Georgia coast well-known for its natural beauty and on an Island famed for its golf, is a remarkable course unlike any other - The Hampton Club at Hampton Plantation on St. Simons Island. The Hampton layout brings ancient oaks, lakes, lagoons or tidal marshlands into view or play on virtually every hole. The Hampton Club welcomes non-member play, year 'round. To learn more, call (912) 634-0255 or visit www.hamptonclub.com.
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