Has money corrupted pro golf?

Question

You can be a mediocre player and still make $1 million in prize money. Endorsement money these days is crazy. This FedEx Cup thing adds even more money to the pot. The PGA pension will give Tiger Woods a $1 billion pension. Even a journeyman player could get $150-200 million from their pensions. These are obscene amounts of money.

The guy finishing 70th in the FedEx Cup will probably get an extra $10 million in his pension! For finishing 70th, which is last in the FedEx Cup! There was a time when you had to play well on tour to make a good living!

By the way, the PGA pensions have some very favorable tax benefits. I think it spits in the face of average workers who don't have great tax benefits from their pension plans.

Has giving out massive money for mediocrity corrupted pro golf?

Answer 1

I don't know about the comment that golf is about as noble as teachers, firefighters and policemen. That's a bit of a stretch! (unless you were trying to be funny).

I guess the one place that the "obscene amounts of money" HAS affected the tour is the behavior and attitudes of pro golfers toward the general public. It's never happened to me, since I've never even been to a tour event, but I've read countless stories of top players who act like ******* toward fans at the course, many who are just asking for autographs.

I think in many ways, the big bucks have made a lot of these players feel like they ride through life on a high horse, even though when you think about it, all they do is swing a club and hit a ball a hundred yards farther than me (with a better short game too, I suppose). A lot may forget that it's the fans interest that has ultimately created such large purses and larger endorsement checks.

This doesn't necessarily qualify as golf being "corrupted", though, because it's not like most of these guys are going out and creating chaos in nightclubs and riding around with known thugs like in other sports...

Answer 2

No. Golf is a Beautiful game. Both aesthetically and physically. They (pro golfers) deserve every dime. There is sooooo much skill involved in that game. In fact, I don't think monetarily, it is recognized enough, compared to the other more lucrative sports. If you think about it, there are over 40 people in EACH NFL team. Over 20 MLB players making serious cash. ON EACH TEAM. A guy finishing 70th in the FedEx cup, isn't an easy task. Try finishing 70th in any major sport. Ok, on one note, ALL!!! major sports athletes are OVERPAID. But in comparison, golfers aren't that much more overpaid than any other sport. By definition, pensions are given to all people who have dedicated their lives to an occupation, generally speaking. Should Police Officers, Factory Workers, and the like not get their pensions after retiring. Life-time Pro golfers aren't really mediocrity by definition.
A long time ago, I suppose money corrupted a lot of things......

Answer 3

Mediocrity? Hmmm.

Ever go to see the players on the second-level tour, the equivalent to Triple-A baseball? They are great. Hit the ball a mile, terrific around the greens, etc. And many of them will never make it to the PGA Tour. It's just too tough.

The top 140 or so players on the PGA tour can make a good living. Past that, they are on the bubble, and their expenses are quite high. They probably have to earn $200,000 a year just to break even. Considering how many people try to reach that level, the odds are slim indeed.

You certainly can argue about the social implications of such big salaries to the best players, but that's capitalism. People pay to see the best players, and they buy their endorsed products. Tiger Woods deserves to be well-paid for his efforts. I don't know where the payscale is too high, but I can't blame him for signing the checks. If someone can't afford it, the checks will stop coming.

Answer 4

"I think it spits in the face of average workers who don't have great tax benefits from their pension plans."

These are not "average workers" these are extremely hard working, talented, top of their profession athletes. Have you ever finished 70th in a professional golf tournament? Neither have I.

The PGA is a private entity who is entitled to gave what they want to who they want and, by the way, are a huge giver to charitable and worthy causes. Athletes are being paid what the market can bear. When the market can no longer do so, we will see a change. Of course it doesn't seem fair, but who ever said it would be? And would you really want that? How could you ever accurately dictate what people deserve?

I actually take some joy in the fact that of all the groups of professional athletes, this is the only group who 1) Can, will, do, and are expected to call penalties on themselves 2) Have nobody but themselves to throw under the bus when it all goes bad, no matter what they say and 3) In order to excel must be physically, mentally and emotionally at the top of their game.

In my opinion golf is almost as noble a profession as you could have short of firefighters, police, teachers, and parents. I don't call that "mediocre" at all.

Answer 5

I think that the FedEx Cup is kind of forced on the competetors. It just to get more money and so that the PGA gets more TV time. It is ridiculous the way that they are just handing out money especially Tiger's billion dollar pension. He is good but not a billion dollars worth.

Answer 6

Any sport or vocational occupation is corrupted by money.

Answer 7

money has corrupted ALL pro sports.

Answer 8

That's why I'm practicing really hard.

Answer 9

No