Tiger era officially over as new stars emerge
Sport’s future in good hands with under-30 players McIlroy, Spieth, Day, and Fowler
ATLANTA — As Tiger Woods recovers from another operation on his increasingly creaky body, the Tour Championships goes on without him at soggy East Lake. No big deal. Tiger’s era is over. It’s time for everyone — fans, media, sponsors — to fully embrace the new vanguards of the game, Rory McIlroy, Jordan Spieth and Jason Day.
Golf’s in very capable hands, even more so when you throw Rickie Fowler into the mix.
“It’s been fun to be a part of this whole group,” Day said.
“Golf is in such a good spot now with where we are with the youth of the game, how we’re growing the game.”
There have been only a handful of periods during golf’s modern era when at least three players under the age of 28 have held major titles. This new Big Three already have seven among them, and it’s only a matter of time before Fowler joins them in that club.
None of these guys is likely to surpass Woods’ legacy, which stands at 14 major titles — more than anyone except Jack Nicklaus.
Woods was a transformational figure, a once-in-a-generation athlete whose drawing power extended beyond the golf course. Many who cheered him on didn’t know or really care about the game itself. They were enamoured with someone who played it better than anyone ever had. When he was in the field, the crowds ballooned, the TV ratings skyrocketed.
McIlroy, Spieth and Day won’t have that sort of impact, but the game produced three players who cover all of golf’s major power bases: Europe, the United States and Australia.
McIlroy, from Northern Ireland, won the final two majors of 2014. Spieth, from Texas, took the first two this year. Day, from Australia, won the most recent. The only one to escape their grasp was the British Open at St. Andrews, where Spieth and Day both finished out of a three-man playoff won by Zach Johnson.