The Masters

I grew up a golf fan, so I would have watched The Masters even if Tiger Woods was not playing in it. But I know I am in the minority on that one. It's pretty simple, really. When Tiger plays, people watch. When he doesn't, golf is irrelevant.

Right now Padraig Harrington's name just doesn't quite sound as sexy as a Tiger Woods. Phil Mickelson comes close, but he does not have the sweeping appeal of Tiger. Phil cannot bring in fans that usually would not tune in to golf.

That brings me to my point: without Tiger, golf is irrelevant. I wish it wasn't that way, but it's the truth. The game needs Tiger more than Tiger needs it. We are all just lucky that he has an "addiction" and right now needs the game. But what happens when he retires? Where does the game go?

Every other sport has at least a back-up plan if one of its superstars falls out. Football has plenty, namely Peyton Manning and Tom Brady. Basketball has LeBron James and Kobe Bryant. Baseball has Derek Jeter and Albert Pujols. Even hockey has Sidney Crosby and Alexander Ovechkin.

So what will happen to the sport of golf when Tiger retires? Will we find a savior of the sport? Is there another Tiger waiting out there? Some 5-year-old kid that will be the second-coming of the Tiger? We shall see. For the sake of the sport, I sure hope so.