As Tiger's Stumbles Continue, PGA Tour Looking to Next Generation

Filed under: PGA

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. (AP) -- Coming off its first year without Tiger Woods winning a tournament, the PGA Tour will be leaning on its next generation of players to promote the 2011 season.

Commissioner Tim Finchem said he could not recall greater interest in such a big group of rookies and other young players in his previous 17 years running the PGA Tour.

Among those in their 20s, Dustin Johnson played in the final group of two majors, Rickie Fowler became the first PGA Tour rookie to be selected for the Ryder Cup team and golf had two players in their 20s (Louis Oosthuizen, Martin Kaymer) win majors for the first time since 2001. Also starring was Rory McIlroy and Ryo Ishikawa, who are not PGA Tour members but will play at least six times in America.

"I think the takeaway on the competition side of 2010, more than anything else, was the tremendous interest in young players coming up," Finchem said during a conference call Thursday. "I've never in my tenure seen so much buzz and interest about rookies and young players creating exciting performances. Actually, it has led us to conclude that we really need to focus on that dynamic as we go into 2011."

Finchem said youth will be "our primary promotional focus" because it makes for good theater.

Woods still figures to command much of the attention next season, which begins in one month at the Tournament of Champions in Hawaii. Woods, who hasn't played at Kapalua since 2005, wasn't eligible this year.

It was his first year as a pro when he didn't win a single tournament.

 

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