This week the United States, an important holiday Thanksgiving. Traditionally, this week-by-hole tournament will be held. However, what the United States this year, there is no competition. This allows thousands of miles away Omega Mission Hills World Cup of Golf became the only festival to celebrate.
This time of year, people will think of Curtis – Strange (Curtis Strange). In 1988, he became the first one within a year to win one million U.S. dollars of the PGA Tour players. In addition, he also became only a half-century to win successive U.S. Open players. These victories helped him to get another one benefits, even though the well-being now sounds a bit silly – he won the Skins Game invitation.
“At the time, That’s a very significant thing.” Curtis – Strange, when in a telephone interview, said, “also remember, at that time that our money can not be so high. More importantly, the Everyone was great exposure for two consecutive days. From a career point of view, that means you are up to the next level. ”
However, before the Skins game that has disappeared, maybe That’s good. Thanksgiving weekend, too much television sports programs, including those in Detroit and Dallas football game, and too many college basketball games does not make sense. Are just short of a golf tournament only.
Skins Game history dates back to 1983. The first session of the game players, Jack Nicklaus, Arnold – Palmer, Gary – Player and Tom – Watson can be said that golf’s four heavenly kings. However, in the by-hole tournament has been no time for scenery. Maybe this could explain the Skins Game is not organized and did not cause much stir in the industry causes.
Last year, Choi Kyung-ju beat Stephen – Stephen Ames (Stephen Ames), Phil Mickelson and Fred – Fred Funk (Fred Funk) was crowned champion, television ratings are not good-looking. Even Tiger Woods in 2005, when the last competition, this tournament ratings are not good. When the Skins Game title sponsor of the ultimate loss of time can only be declared closed. However, executive vice president of IMG Media Bali – Frank (Barry Frank) did not give up, he is still looking for another title sponsor to take over. However, in the current economic climate, golf sponsorship is really hard to find.
The demise of the Skins Game comes down to the attractiveness of the field is not strong is very easy thing. Indeed, Arnold – Palmer, Jack Nicklaus, Lee – Trevino (Lee Trevino), Mahfouz – Fuzzy Zoeller (Fuzzy Zoeller), Fred Couples this level of players has given way to Fred – Fang g (Fred Funk), Locke – Rocco Mediate (Rocco Mediate), and Brett – Brett Wetterich (Brett Wetterich) such a player has. This is so because today’s golf is really having the money. Star players really do not need the California desert for Thanksgiving, especially in the absence of bonus safeguards.
Curtis – Strange won the 1989 U.S. Open champion a second time to make 20 million, five months after he won the Skins Game, received check is 265,000 U.S. dollars. But the Skins Game has been maintained for so many years with one million U.S. dollars in total prize money. By contrast, in the past year, there were a total of 27 PGA Tour winner’s check of more than 100 million U.S. dollars.
“I do not think that the races themselves out of what’s wrong, has become obsolete.” Organized the First Vice-IMG-by-hole tournament Alistair – Johnston (Alastair Johnston) said, “When money has no competitive edge, when the foolish the season has been overcrowded, 52 weeks are in playing golf when the television program, this event was no longer special. it has been reduced to a level. ”
In 1983, when passed in August, the United States would not play golf television programs, despite the fact that by the end of October, there are eight PGA Tour games. But then that is such a unique four star event, and each hole has a huge bonus to play for. Skins are not concerned about the impossible! “Dong Dong Skins Game has a bonus, people want to see the results of the event.” Alistair – Johnston said, “it was a very different race. Was not a great player does not want to participate in Skins race. The media are always the first to report who will participate in this competition. ”
But did not take long, silly season will become overcrowded, and then have a big shark Grand Prix, Kapuluwa Invitational, PGA Grand Slam, Diners Club Competition (Diner’s Club Matches), Wendy’s 3 Tour Challenge, Challenge skills, as well as a Tommy – Bahamas Challenge (Tommy Bahama Challenge). Still later, cable TV stations began to broadcast the first two rounds of tour, and now even the United States Golf Channel will be four competitions had been moved on to TV. In the United States, if any week, there is no golf game, you will feel very strange.
Bali – Frank recalled that the Skins Game the previous television ratings second only to the U.S. Masters. To know that Tiger Woods won the PGA Tour can not be achieved such high ratings. But with the arrival of Tiger Woods, television costs rose, resulting in this decade, bonuses quadrupled. Skins Game has stagnated or even regressed. To the last few years, no one watching this game. So, some people are not even aware of the Skins Game has been closed.
But this week, is not without golf. If this weekend, the U.S. golf fans want to see, they can watch The Golf Channel through the U.S. held in China in the Omega Mission Hills World Cup of Golf. Americans won the multi-session of the World Cup, Jack Nicklaus, Arnold – Palmer, Fred Couples, Davis Love III had multiple champions sweep. This year’s U.S. team of Nick – Watney (Nick Watney), John – Merrick (John Merrick) on behalf of. How do not like, this game could be the high of 550 million U.S. dollars prize money then.
