Great piece. You're right about the subjectivity of perceived quality but in the final analysis, and picking up on Mr Hamilton's comment, measure by TV rating. People are turning off. The product at elite pro level is repetitive and unalluring, as have been the continual spats between LIV and PGA. Pro golf is in huge trouble, so the current money level is unsustainable. I fear your optimism for improvement currently feels misplaced
RE: 'Is the money golfers are earning sustainable?' --- I think the powers that be ought to ponder on this assiduously. Because history shows there is basically no guarantee here.
The obvious analogy is CART/Indycar split that firmly drove open wheel racing to a second tier in North America behind NASCAR. One could argue that F1 was the real winner taking up that void.
But I think an even more important analogy would be professional bowling. There was a time the PBA stars were making the most money of anyone. 1964 is when bowler Don Carter signed the first ever $1mil endorsement deal. TV ratings and prize winnings were very good through about the 1980s.
But today, the top money winner on the 2024 PBA season E. J. Tackett won $250k in total in 15 tour stops. I.e. the same as Shane Lowry won for T19th for one weekend at Pinehurst this year. Maybe more to the point, the same as Andrew Novak won for T7th for one weekend at Silvis this year.
Bowling's decline is due to a multitude of factors, cultural and economic. But the history lesson should not be forgotten -- sports go in and out of fashion and there is no reason to think golf would be immune.
Great piece. You're right about the subjectivity of perceived quality but in the final analysis, and picking up on Mr Hamilton's comment, measure by TV rating. People are turning off. The product at elite pro level is repetitive and unalluring, as have been the continual spats between LIV and PGA. Pro golf is in huge trouble, so the current money level is unsustainable. I fear your optimism for improvement currently feels misplaced
Great writing Jared. I’m interested in this: “I’m optimistic that we will see a better product in the future.” What do you think that looks like?
Another banger of a piece this week, Jared.
RE: 'Is the money golfers are earning sustainable?' --- I think the powers that be ought to ponder on this assiduously. Because history shows there is basically no guarantee here.
The obvious analogy is CART/Indycar split that firmly drove open wheel racing to a second tier in North America behind NASCAR. One could argue that F1 was the real winner taking up that void.
But I think an even more important analogy would be professional bowling. There was a time the PBA stars were making the most money of anyone. 1964 is when bowler Don Carter signed the first ever $1mil endorsement deal. TV ratings and prize winnings were very good through about the 1980s.
But today, the top money winner on the 2024 PBA season E. J. Tackett won $250k in total in 15 tour stops. I.e. the same as Shane Lowry won for T19th for one weekend at Pinehurst this year. Maybe more to the point, the same as Andrew Novak won for T7th for one weekend at Silvis this year.
Bowling's decline is due to a multitude of factors, cultural and economic. But the history lesson should not be forgotten -- sports go in and out of fashion and there is no reason to think golf would be immune.