2010--Will Tiger be at St Andrews?

The world's oldest golf club manufacturer, Forgan of St Andrews has urged Tiger Woods to make a speedy return to the game because that his absence may cost the sport up to £200m this year.

Forgan CEO and owner of Sports PLC Simon Millington says the longer Woods takes from the game - a self-enforced lay-off following revelations about numerous extra marital affairs - then the greater chance that golf will lose revenues to other sports.

"Everyone in golf has been staggered by the Tiger Woods scandal, but it's time to move our focus away from what he's done and look at the bigger picture. " Millington said.

Golf is a poorer sport and a poorer spectacle without Woods. He is pure box-office and we saw TV audiences decline by 50% when he took eight months out with his knee injury.

Fewer people watching the game can easily translate to fewer people playing - and that spells disaster for the golf industry. We need him back quickly and the sooner we can shift attention away from his private life and back to his incredible ability on the course, then the better that will be.

Experts are predicting that a Woods-free season could cost the golf industry £200m and recent research showed that $12bn was wiped off the shareholder value of nine of Woods' sponsors during 13 days of city trading after the scandal broke.

Several high-profile sponsors have dropped the star and are looking at alternative sponsorship opportunities - possibly outside of golf.

Added Millington: "Commercially, people are talking about Tiger as 'damaged goods' but his return to the sport will be a media frenzy - and I believe that continues to make him a very bankable commodity.

"If he maintains his talent, then he will almost certainly break Jack Nicklaus' record of 18 Majors and again this would be a huge sporting story.

"As a golf equipment manufacturer, we'd love the opportunity to sponsor Tiger Woods. He's the biggest sports star on the planet, even if his halo has slipped a bit."

Forgan of St. Andrews was established in 1860 and shortly developed itself a reputation for quality and innovation. Shortly, after its establishment, Robert Forgan was granted a royal seal of approval and was appointed official club maker to the Price of Wales. This year, Forgan will celebrates its 150th anniversary, after starting life in the 19th century offering golfers quality products and the very best customer service. Now as the company leads the way in delivering quality, custom-fit golf clubs and equipment to budget-conscious golfers, this proud heritage is to the fore again some 150 years later.

 

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