Television Ratings for Tournaments Without Tiger = FAIL

People watch less golf when Tiger Woods is not involved. That seems fairly indisputable. And even if you feel like disputing it, well, you would be wrong. At least based on the two tournament, somewhat small sample sized statistics that we have so far.

See, as Darren Rovell points out, Tiger was heavily involved in last year's Wachovia (he won it) and last year's AT&T (he hosted it). This year, obviously, he was absent, which probably explains the dip in ratings.

And here's your stats: Television ratings for the final round at the Wachovia Championship this year down 53 percent, and ratings for the final round at the AT&T National down 48 percent.

It's just two tournaments, but the fact that [Anthony] Kim and nearly identical names (Jim Furyk, Robert Allenby) were at the top of the tournament both times, gives us a good glimpse into a couple scenarios of the world without Tiger.

The fact that the rankings dropped shouldn't come as any surprise to anyone with, well, a brain. But that substantial a dip, especially when the latter tournament is the being hosted by the guy driving the rankings? Well, that's a little discouraging in terms of how much national interest the PGA will draw as it heads into the back end of the Fed Ex Cup.

On the other hand -- as I mentioned in a previous chat -- the lack of Tiger in the standings could make for a more competitive stretch run to the season, and if that sparks interest in newer, emerging golfers, then the long term effects could actually work out pretty well. Short term though, might not be so fun.