Tiger’s fall spotlights PGA depth

After the exciting finish from last weekend’s Players Championship, I had to postpone my previously scheduled topic and write a quick column on two personal takeaways I wanted to share.

This first point is the incredible “depth” the PGA Tour has these days. Their slogan is “These guys are good” and boy are they right.

The Players Championship is the crown jewel of the “regular” PGA Tour schedule. The tournament has been moved to a May date to fit perfectly between The Masters and The U.S. Open. The purse is the largest in golf, with an astounding $1.8 million going to the champion. And the host course is as famous as the competitors that play on it — TPC Sawgrass and its famous 17th island green par three.

The tournament is one of the most “hyped” events of the year. And the players didn’t disappoint.

I have to say that while Jordan Spieth’s Masters victory a few weeks ago was historic, last weeks’ Players was probably the most exciting tournament I’ve watched in a very long time.

Rickie Fowler won in dramatic fashion. Kevin Kisner, Sergio Garcia, Bill Haas, Chris Kirk, Kevin Na and Ben Martin were all in serious contention. And the way the tournament was won, with great shots and birdies when they were needed most, proved these younger guys are ready for center stage.

Which brings me to my other takeaway from the week. For the first time, I have to admit that I didn’t really miss Tiger Woods.

That’s hard for me to wrap my head around. I was 15 when Tiger won the 1997 Masters. And from that point on, I’ve been a Tiger fan. He dominated the game and raised the entire sport in viewership, participation, and popularity to a point that had previously been, not only unreached, but probably unimagined.

When Tiger went through his issues starting in 2009, I was always in the “he’ll come back” camp. For a long time, it just seemed like a tournament wasn’t exciting without him.

But something has happened (in my mind at least) over the last six years. The swing changes. The body breakdown. The public struggles. The repeated “I’m close.” The mental deterioration. The lack of relevancy in majors.

And while I can’t point to one specific instance, I have to admit that the grand sum of everything from above has led to a new conclusion in my mind; Tiger just isn’t “Tiger” anymore.

I think that’s kind of sad for golf fans. Heck, I think it’s kind of sad for sports fan in general. But as I look back, I’m thankful that I got to experience the Tiger era live.

Having read stories of great sports figures from the past, I’ve imagined how “cool” it would have been to see some of the “greatest” in their primes.

Can you imagine walking into Yankee Stadium in the 1920s? Suit and tie. Top hat. The smell of the grass. The excitement of the crowd. And right in front of you is Babe Ruth and Lou Gehrig.

Or how about ringside for a Muhammad Ali fight?

Or even Oakmont Country Club in 1962 to watch Jack Nicklaus and Arnold Palmer in an 18-hole playoff to win the U.S. Open?

Someday future generations will say, “can you imagine watching Tiger Woods win the 2000 U.S. Open at Pebble Beach by 15 shots?”

Yeah, as a fan I’m glad I got to see it happen. And I’m a little sad I’ve reached the conclusion that that era is over.

But after what I saw last week, I think it’s safe to say the game will be just fine moving forward.

Jonah Karzmer is a former golf professional who writes a Sunday golf column for The Vindicator. In his spare time he sells commercial insurance and loves getting feedback on his weekly columns via email at Jonah@thekarzmerinsurance.com