2010 Masters

[midwestyankee]

First golfers go off shortly before 8 a.m. Eastern time tomorrow.

Who has predictions for this year?

How will Tiger do?
How will the patrons treat Tiger?
Who will win?

 

[WriterDom]

I'm going with Camilo Villegas.

The players are tickled pink to have Tiger back. He's the best thing going for the tour. Look at the LPGA. They have seen 30% of their events evaporate since the recession started.

The whole Tiger thing is a sideshow. I'm just here for the golf. Bad weather is on the way but the rest of the weekend will be fine.

 

[JMohegan]

Who will win?

The advertisers.

Because this year, in addition to all those who are inexplicably fond of watching this mind-numbing sport on TV, the broadcast will also be followed by gossipmongers and fans of salacious celebrity.

 

[midwestyankee]

The advertisers.

Because this year, in addition to all those who are inexplicably fond of watching this mind-numbing sport on TV, the broadcast will also be followed by gossipmongers and fans of salacious celebrity.

Absolutely. I saw an analysis yesterday that the advertisers who sponsor the two guys who will be playing with Woods today and tomorrow figure to get about $1.25 million in advertising value simply because of the amount of time that Woods and his playing partners will be on camera. I also heard that Matt Kuchar, who will be playing with Woods, was offered a new sponsorship after his pairing with Woods was announced. He turned it down.

 

[naxalite0906]

Furyk or Watney for me... I'll be interested to see how tiger is treated.

You are right, golf and sponsors get the most with tiger around, he generates so much more interest.

 

[midwestyankee]

There are three or four players I really like this week. Ernie Els is in excellent form, as is Villegas. Fred Couples is another who is in fine form and still hits it long enough to contend this week. And, I don't think it's smart to count out Woods. He has so much to prove, and so much to gain from keeping his focus on the task at hand that he could be quite dangerous. One question, of course, will be the extent to which the draw, which puts him on the back nine as the wind and rain are likely to pick up this afternoon, will hurt his score relative to the guys who play in the morning.

 

[WriterDom]

There are three or four players I really like this week. Ernie Els is in excellent form, as is Villegas. Fred Couples is another who is in fine form and still hits it long enough to contend this week. And, I don't think it's smart to count out Woods. He has so much to prove, and so much to gain from keeping his focus on the task at hand that he could be quite dangerous. One question, of course, will be the extent to which the draw, which puts him on the back nine as the wind and rain are likely to pick up this afternoon, will hurt his score relative to the guys who play in the morning.

Last time I looked Woods was the favorite at 7/2 odds. You know he wants it bad too just to put some of the crap behind him.

Old Tom Watson is -2 after 6.

 

[midwestyankee]

Last time I looked Woods was the favorite at 7/2 odds. You know he wants it bad too just to put some of the crap behind him.

Old Tom Watson is -2 after 6.

Update: Old Tom Watson is the leader in the clubhouse after shooting a 5 under 67!

 

[WriterDom]

I'd like to follow Barnes and Kim. If Barnes doesn't fold tomorrow. Kim is pretty solid. It would be nice to see either Tom or Boom Boom make a move. Might be wishful thinking with the faster greens and Saturday pin placements. Time for a little shock and awe from Tiger. Sunday could be very interesting.

 

[Daddy2mylilgirl]

The advertisers.

Because this year, in addition to all those who are inexplicably fond of watching this mind-numbing sport on TV, the broadcast will also be followed by gossipmongers and fans of salacious celebrity.

Actually, there are very few advertisements during the Masters. The people who run the Masters only allow CBS four minutes of tv commercials during each hour of coverage.

 

[WriterDom]

The advertisers.

Because this year, in addition to all those who are inexplicably fond of watching this mind-numbing sport on TV, the broadcast will also be followed by gossipmongers and fans of salacious celebrity.

Granted more golfers might watch. But do you think anyone who isn't interested in golf is going to tune in to watch Tiger hit a white ball and walk 340 yards and hit it again?

That's like saying millions of non=racing fans would tune in to watch NASCAR if Tiger could lower his IQ about 40 points and become a driver. Of course he is the wrong color for that "sport" and that alone might generate a little interest.

Even the best viewer estimates are well below your favorite intellectual sport of football. Where only in our lifetime has the NCAA made reading a requirement for attending college.

 

[JMohegan]

Actually, there are very few advertisements during the Masters. The people who run the Masters only allow CBS four minutes of tv commercials during each hour of coverage.

Those TV advertisers must pay big bucks for the privilege.

In addition, apparently, "the golf bag and hat are the two areas in golf where companies get the most television exposure."

Granted more golfers might watch. But do you think anyone who isn't interested in golf is going to tune in to watch Tiger hit a white ball and walk 340 yards and hit it again?

It sounds nuts to me as well, but check this out -


"I think the first tournament Tiger Woods plays again, wherever it is, will be the biggest media event other than the Obama inauguration in the past 10 or 15 years," McManus said.

The reporter -- taken aback by that claim -- asked if he had heard correctly.

"It is hard to overestimate how much interest there will be," McManus continued. "Tiger Woods is the most famous, most recognized, most accomplished athlete in the world, and his celebrity and prominence is even larger than it was. When you look at the fact that he gave a very simple press statement with no questions and every broadcast and cable news network in America carried it with great interest, I think that is an indication that whatever he does has enormous interest. And whatever he does on the golf course for the first time since Thanksgiving will be of interest to almost every man and women in this country."

This might not be hyperbole when you consider the numbers for Woods' apology last month. Fifteen networks carried the 13 1/2 minute mea culpa live, including all the broadcast networks. According to Nielsen, more than 6.5 million viewers tuned in to watch on the cable networks alone, with the Fox News Channel pulling in nearly 2.1 million viewers. ESPN averaged a 1.4 cable rating for its telecast of Woods' statement, more than three times higher than the 0.4 cable rating it produced in the same time slot 24 hours earlier. The apology was also streamed live on Hulu.com, TMZ.com and dozens of other sites. As for total viewers, ratings only measure at-home viewing, and not workplaces, so it's impossible to get an accurate count. One estimate had 20 million people watching the apology, but that's probably low given social media.

As the head of both the news and sports divisions at CBS, McManus is in a unique position to dictate his network's coverage of Woods. If the golfer returns for The Masters -- CBS airs the final two rounds on April 10 and 11 and takes care of the production for the opening two rounds which air on ESPN -- McManus's network will have a competitive advantage over his peers. The Masters is more restrictive of media credentials than any other major; media is not allowed inside the ropes. ESPN is also likely to have some programming air from Augusta National, including ESPN International and ESPN Deportes.

 

[Daddy2mylilgirl]

Those TV advertisers must pay big bucks for the privilege.

They actually don't. The Masters pays more money to CBS not to air commercials then they get from the advertisers. In 2003 and 2004 they didn't air any commercials.

The Masters and Augusta are a VERY tightly controlled thing. If you go to Augusta and see a sign that says 'Do not walk here.' and you walk there, then someone will come up to you, take your badge, and escort you off the premises. No discussions, no arguing, they just remove you.

Now they'll also sell you a sandwich and a drink for like a $1 and if you put your stuff down at a chair, you can rest assured that at the end of the day when you return all your stuff will be there untouched.

It's a bunch of rich old white guys that run the Masters and they run it like they run their very private and very exclusive country club Augusta. Like it's a privliege to watch the Masters and everyone should be grateful to them.

 

[JMohegan]

They actually don't. The Masters pays more money to CBS not to air commercials then they get from the advertisers. In 2003 and 2004 they didn't air any commercials.

I was curious, so I googled and found the answer here. I guess it depends whether you consider 500k for thirty seconds to be "big bucks."




March 18 (Bloomberg) -- Tiger Woods’s return to golf at the Masters Tournament will give sponsors like AT&T Inc. an unexpected boost from their ad dollars, lifting the value of their TV spots by 43 percent, according to a media analyst’s estimate.

With Woods playing, a 30-second commercial is worth $500,000; without him, it’s valued at about $350,000, based on comparable events, said Brad Adgate, director of research at Horizon Media Inc., an ad company in New York.

AT&T, International Business Machines Corp. and Exxon Mobil Corp. paid a flat fee to be the only advertisers on the broadcast, which CBS has carried since 1956. Nike Inc., a sponsor that has stuck by Woods, and ticket resellers also benefit from the golfer’s decision to play at the Masters.

“I don’t think there is any other athlete in any other sport that is so impactful on ratings,” said Rick Gentile, a former executive producer for CBS Sports who runs a sports poll at Seton Hall University in South Orange, New Jersey. “He changes the ratings just by his presence.”

Viewership on the last day of the event may rise more than 60 percent, to a record, if Woods makes the final round, said Sam Sussman, a Starcom Worldwide senior vice president in charge of buying ads on sports programs. Last year, the last day of the tournament attracted 14.3 million viewers, according to Nielsen Co. data.

Fletcher Cook, a spokesman for Dallas-based AT&T, the biggest U.S. phone company, declined to comment, as did Cynthia Bergman White, a spokeswoman for Irving, Texas-based Exxon Mobil. Edward Barbini, with Armonk, New York-based IBM, didn’t respond to requests for comment.

A win for Woods, clad in apparel with Nike’s swoosh logo, would give the company exposure worth as much as $36 million, according to an estimate by Joyce Julius & Associates, a company that measures the advertising value of sponsorships at sports events.

“Nike could see some two hours of in-broadcast exposure time,” Eric Wright, a vice president of Ann Arbor, Michigan- based Joyce Julius & Associates, said in an e-mail.

 

[midwestyankee]

I was curious, so I googled and found the answer here. I guess it depends whether you consider 500k for thirty seconds to be "big bucks."




March 18 (Bloomberg) -- Tiger Woods’s return to golf at the Masters Tournament will give sponsors like AT&T Inc. an unexpected boost from their ad dollars, lifting the value of their TV spots by 43 percent, according to a media analyst’s estimate.

With Woods playing, a 30-second commercial is worth $500,000; without him, it’s valued at about $350,000, based on comparable events, said Brad Adgate, director of research at Horizon Media Inc., an ad company in New York.

AT&T, International Business Machines Corp. and Exxon Mobil Corp. paid a flat fee to be the only advertisers on the broadcast, which CBS has carried since 1956. Nike Inc., a sponsor that has stuck by Woods, and ticket resellers also benefit from the golfer’s decision to play at the Masters.

“I don’t think there is any other athlete in any other sport that is so impactful on ratings,” said Rick Gentile, a former executive producer for CBS Sports who runs a sports poll at Seton Hall University in South Orange, New Jersey. “He changes the ratings just by his presence.”

Viewership on the last day of the event may rise more than 60 percent, to a record, if Woods makes the final round, said Sam Sussman, a Starcom Worldwide senior vice president in charge of buying ads on sports programs. Last year, the last day of the tournament attracted 14.3 million viewers, according to Nielsen Co. data.

Fletcher Cook, a spokesman for Dallas-based AT&T, the biggest U.S. phone company, declined to comment, as did Cynthia Bergman White, a spokeswoman for Irving, Texas-based Exxon Mobil. Edward Barbini, with Armonk, New York-based IBM, didn’t respond to requests for comment.

A win for Woods, clad in apparel with Nike’s swoosh logo, would give the company exposure worth as much as $36 million, according to an estimate by Joyce Julius & Associates, a company that measures the advertising value of sponsorships at sports events.

“Nike could see some two hours of in-broadcast exposure time,” Eric Wright, a vice president of Ann Arbor, Michigan- based Joyce Julius & Associates, said in an e-mail.

Compare that 500K to the millions that people pay to put up a commercial during the Super Bowl.

 

[WriterDom]

I'd be surprised if anyone shoots low enough to catch Westwood or Mickelson. It would take a 63 or 64. I don't know about there but it's dead calm here and will be about 80 degrees. If I had to pick a winner I'd go with Lefty but you have to tip your hat to Westwood the way he played yesterday. The man can putt.

Tiger never has come from behind to win a major has he? I just don't think he has the temperament to win from behind. He could develop that one day, but too many demons in his head right now. Like when he blew up yesterday after a two birdie start. He came back to shoot a 70 but 70 isn't going to come close to winning today.

I think Augusta listened to Ben when he said they took all the fun out of the back nine a few years ago. And that's fine, I don't want see a one over win. Rather see the kind of shot making we had yesterday. I don't want to see =24 win either. I think they have it dialed in about right now.

I DO want to see a US Open at +1.

Good day to be a golf fan!

 

[Daddy2mylilgirl]

Lefty with the win!

 

[WriterDom]

I thought the shot behind the tree at 13 that Phil hit was one of the greatest shots I have ever seen. Then in typical Phil fashion he misses the putt.

I don't think we will see Cheetah much more this year. Outside of the Players, majors, and perhaps the Ryder cup.

 

[naxalite0906]

Too late from watney... Just imagine if he had a good 2nd or 3rd round as his round on the last day was awesome..

 

[rosco rathbone]

Look at all the Masters in here talking about the Masters.

heh heh

I'll be here all week folks.

 

[Sir_Winston54]

I found one of FoxSports' headlines rather amusing: "Tiger's swing badly in need of repair."

FFS, the guy hasn't played competitive golf in 5+ months, comes out to one of the toughest tournaments on the calendar, and comes in tied for fourth. If my swing was that "in need of repair," I'd still be playing the game - for money.

 

[WriterDom]

I found one of FoxSports' headlines rather amusing: "Tiger's swing badly in need of repair."

FFS, the guy hasn't played competitive golf in 5+ months, comes out to one of the toughest tournaments on the calendar, and comes in tied for fourth. If my swing was that "in need of repair," I'd still be playing the game - for money.

You'll get to see him in NC in about three weeks as he gets ready for the Players. The open is at Pebble Beach where he won by something like 10 shots ten years ago. Then St Andrews where he has won twice. Might see another Tiger Slam before it's over. Which to me is pretty meaningless outside of the coolness of holding all four titles. Pretty tall order for him even but who knows.