Beyond the physical condition of Tiger Woods, which was undoubtedly the main attraction of his appearance ahead of the Hero World Challenge, the Cypress native has shared some very interesting insights. Few players have access to the upper echelons like he does; there is no idle talk in his speech.
The Californian delved into aspects related to future changes in the PGA Tour: “We are trying to give the fans the best possible product. If we achieve that, the players, who have a stake in the Tour, will also benefit. It could be a great economic boost for everyone. We have talked with sponsors, CMOs, tournament directors, media partners… We have taken into account what everyone wants to see. Then it’s up to us to try to fit it all together.”
Tiger acknowledged that they are starting from scratch: “We started with a blank sheet: what would the best possible product look like? And we began to fill it with thousands of ideas. There will be some ‘broken eggs’ along the way, but I believe that in the end, we will have a much better product for everyone. Simplicity is key. We need to simplify the FedExCup points structure so that not only the players understand it, but also the fans. Scarcity scares a lot of people, but I think if it’s managed at a certain level, it will be better: it will generate more attention because there will be less time.”
In his tournament, this Hero World Challenge, the current World Number One, Scottie Scheffler, is the favourite, a player whom Tiger heaps praise upon. The Texan is seeking the consecutive triple crown: “There is nothing not to admire about Scottie. He is one of the nicest guys you could meet, and what he is doing on the course is incredible. His consistency day after day, his strategy, how he analyses the course from the green backwards… it’s amazing how well thought out everything is. I love watching him hit irons: the effects he applies, the trajectories, the distance and spin control… it’s very entertaining to watch.” Contrary to the belief that the World Number One’s game is boring, they have a tough opponent. For Tiger Woods, watching Scheffler play is fun. Some might take note of the 15-time Major champion’s opinion.
Woods also referred to the new generations reaching the elite of world golf: “There is a generational shift. The game has become younger, stronger, faster, and bigger. Before, you had to spend four or five years on the Tour to gain experience and pay your dues before winning. That model no longer exists. The guys come out of college — or even earlier — ready to win. I think YouTube has a lot to do with it. Before, I used to record video tapes and pray for the tracking to work. Now you can watch thousands of swings on your mobile.”
To conclude, the Californian also shared a couple of insights about his son Charlie‘s university ‘recruitment’ process: “It’s very different now: coaches can constantly communicate via mobile. Before, you received a letter, and it was exciting. Now it’s a different world. For me, it’s fun to be part of the process with Charlie and see the opportunities he has earned for himself.”
