Tiger impressions, Ryder Cup pay, 2024’s best

Check in every week for the unfiltered opinions of our writers and editors as they break down the hottest topics in the sport, and join the conversation by tweeting us at @golf_com. This week, we discuss impressions of Tiger (and Charlie) Woods’ finish at the PNC Championship, the PGA Tour vs. LIV ‘Showdown,’ our favorite 2024 moments and more.

Tiger Woods teamed with his son, Charlie, at the PNC Championship, making the 36-hole scramble his first start since the Open Championship in July (and his latest back surgery). Sunday had it all: Charlie’s first-ever hole-in-one, an impressive driver off the deck from Tiger and, ultimately, the Langers beating Team Woods in a playoff. What were your thoughts on Tiger and Charlie’s weekend in Florida?

Zephyr Melton, assistant editor (@zephyrmelton): It was a lot of fun — especially so because they were in contention coming down the stretch. It’s also nice to see Tiger smiling (rather than grimacing) on the golf course. The tournament didn’t give any meaningful insights into Tiger’s future competitive chances (this course is a bunny slope while majors are played on black diamonds) but that’s OK. Just seeing Tiger and Charlie having fun out there is a treat in itself.

Alan Bastable, executive editor (@alan_bastable): Fun, sure. But also competitive. You could feel both teams burning to win in that playoff. Also, not to get all sentimental, but you must tip your hat to the game at large on this December Sunday! What other sport allows participants of such varying ages and abilities to compete equitably against one another in such a charged environment? To be more specific, you had arguably the best golfer ever and his 15-year-old kid squaring off against a 67-year-old who won his last major 34 years ago and his investment banker son — and it made for a riveting watch. By the way, what a pleasure to see Tiger hitting pressure-filled shots just three months removed from his sixth back surgery and in the wake of what was otherwise a mostly grim season for him. For Tiger optimists, 2025 is undoubtedly looking brighter than it did a week ago.   

Jack Hirsh, Associate Equipment Editor (@JR_HIRSHey): I think you guys covered any meaningful takeaways from Tiger’s week, but how about Chuck to make the ace and then come up with some pretty clutch shots the rest of the way, especially putts! I too made my first hole-in-one at 15 in a tournament and barely kept my next swing on the golf course (I finished that round double-birdie-triple). Again, we have to temper our expectations for Charlie as he is just a 15-year-old kid playing with a completely unfair amount of pressure, but it was certainly fun to see the mannerism comparisons once again and the whole Woods family having fun.

Analyst Peter Jacobsen raved about Tiger’s week, saying he was “overwhelmed and excited for the world of golf and for Tiger to see how well he responded [physically] and how well he played.” Do you agree?

Melton: Not really. This is a silly-season event played on a benign and flat Florida course. Suggesting this event points to future success is foolish.

Bastable: Who let the Grinch into this roundtable?! No doubt Ritz-Carlton Golf Club ain’t Oakmont, but c’mon, Z, our guy walked 55 holes in three days! Not sure anyone saw that coming. I will say his game left something to be desired. There were some highlights — that driver off the deck to 30 feet comes to mind — but when the heat was on in the playoff, Tiger’s iron play and putting was not sharp. By his own admission, he’s rusty. Question is, can he play enough meaningful golf in ’25 to shake that rust off? At 49 and with his body still requiring much more rejuvenation, that feels like a mighty ask.

Hirsh: Who woulda thought Basty would be the conductor of the hype train? Slow down there, Speed Racer! He’s Tiger-Freaking-Woods, of course he’s going to hit amazing shots like that all the time when it doesn’t matter. He’s the greatest to ever live and continues to defy expectations, but it’s time to accept that we just might not see that in the heat of PGA Tour or major championship competition. That’s not to say he can’t handle the pressure, but pressure manifests itself physically just as much as mentally and his body has been through more than most 49-year-olds. Let’s see if he even ends up playing at Genesis first.

The much-hyped Crypto Showdown — the PGA Tour vs. LIV match featuring Rory McIlroy and Scottie Scheffler vs. Bryson DeChambeau and Brooks Koepka — drew just 625,000 viewers, according to Sports Business Journal’s Josh Carpenter. While this wasn’t a part of “The Match” franchise, it would have ranked as the second-lowest viewership total ever. What gives? And are we starting to see a scary trend for made-for-TV matches?

Melton: Ratings are down across the sport, and this event was no different. It’s tough to get hyped for events that have so little on the line — and I think the lackluster ratings illustrate that. With so much else on the docket this week (CFB playoffs, NFL games, NBA and NHL early season, etc.) sports fans only have so much bandwidth. A meaningless event with cryptocurrency on the line is obviously low on the list of viewing priorities for the average sports watcher. 

Bastable: I actually thought the crypto purse was one of the more compelling angles! Cash is so 2023. But yeah, it’s no secret that pro golf is oversaturated and about to get even more so when TGL comes online next month. That means any exhibition that doesn’t feature Tiger and Charlie will be a tough sell regardless of how it’s marketed. The PGA Tour-vs.-LIV tension might have been a good hook a couple of years ago — trouble is, much of that angst has since dissipated.

Hirsh: I wasn’t one of those viewers, but not because I didn’t want to watch it. I think Z is spot on that ratings are down, and while pitting LIV vs. the PGA Tour is a good sell, that happens at the majors too and those ratings are down as well. People aren’t going to tune back into golf until there’s less talk about politics, backroom dealings and division and more talk about golf and just golf.

It’s official: the PGA of America announced that U.S. Ryder Cup players will receive $500,000 total — $300,000 of which will go to charities of their choice and $200,000 to do as they please. (Previously, players received $200,000 to go to charities of their choice.) Since the announcement, the Telegraph reported Europe would not be changing its payment structure. How does this new wrinkle affect the dynamic of the Ryder Cup?

Melton: It reflects the dynamics of both teams. Team USA as a group of rugged individuals playing (largely) for themselves and their own interests versus Team Europe which bands together for a greater goal. If the Americans lose at Bethpage, you can be sure that point will be talked about for many years to come.

Bastable: I think that’s spot-on, Zeph — this development plays right into the narratives that have formed around both sides over the last 20 years or so. Am I offended that the Americans will be paid? I am not. But I do wonder if a $200,00 stipend was worth all the politicking that surely was required behind the scenes. Rory made a dig about the U.S. paydays earlier this week, and rest assured those jabs will continue until the final putt drops at Bethpage next fall.    

Hirsh: I agree with both of you. What are we doing here? Just send it all to charity and get on with it. What is $200k to Xander Schauffele when he made more than $23 million last year. Was it worth it? Rory is right to throw shade and thinly veiled digs. The Americans look like babies crying “Where’s the money?” while the Europeans are in it for pride and pride only. 

TGL, the new indoor simulator golf league backed by Tiger Woods and Rory McIlroy, will kick off on Jan. 7, although we got a peek behind the curtain with media day availability last week. Anything you read or saw floating around on social media that was intriguing to you?

Melton: It looked … cooler than I expected? The rotating green and Augusta National-esque sand traps look well executed, and the wacky hole designs they’ve revealed remind me of Golden Tee. Color me cautiously optimistic that TGL could be a lot of fun. 

Bastable: Yes, it certainly looks like they got the tech right — how about that six-story-high sim screen! — and the players legitimately seem wowed by all the bells and whistles. But as we’ve already discussed at length in this space, how long until the novelty wears off?

Hirsh: Yea, I am intrigued, but Alan is right. How long will I (and everyone else) stay that way?

We’ll spend next week’s Tour Confidential looking ahead to 2025, but first let’s take one last look back at 2024. What was your favorite golf moment of the past year?

Melton: I always get a kick out of covering the Augusta National Women’s Amateur, and this year was no different. Lottie Woad’s back-nine charge was epic — and it was a lot of fun to witness in person. We’re still only half a decade into ANWA’s history, but the event is a total hit in my opinion. Here’s to many more iconic moments from the ladies at Augusta. 

Bastable: I will always associate 2024 with the Scheffler arrest. Was it my favorite moment?  I don’t know. But for those of us in the golf-news business, it was the kind of moment that makes this job a blast. Still gobsmacked that it even happened.     

Hirsh: Yeah, it’s Scheffler’s arrest for me too. That was just one of those moments that transcended sports and will make people remember “where were you when.” For me, it was the seven phone calls from my dad telling me to turn on SportsCenter at 7 a.m. Let’s also not forget, the dude shot 66 that day. Like come on man, don’t let us know how easy it is for you!

“>