Will it be the Year of the Tiger?

WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 4: As everyone knows the PGA Grand Slam of golf has been agreed to be in Bermuda for another two years.

It is with excitement that we are all hoping that one man in particular qualifies and then can actually make it.

If Tiger Woods actually comes, it will be the single most important event that Bermuda has ever hosted.

Tickets will be like gold dust and traded for many times their face value.

Previous years tickets have been easy to come by and they were often given away.

Extra security will need to be hired and it will be possible to say ‘Tiger Woods played from this spot’ when you play Port Royal.

TV executives have long said there are three types of golf tournament as far as ratings: those without Tiger Woods, those in which he plays, and those in which he contends.

The general rule has been that when Woods is not in the field the ratings are off by 25 to 40 per cent.

Tourism boast

The numbers were even more startling in 2010 — Tournaments that Tiger played in 2009 and not in 2010 were down 50 percent.

So if Tiger comes, the TV ratings will be off the charts and I am sure will have a record attendance both of visitors and locals.

My hope is the Grand Slam leaves a lasting legacy for golf on the island.

That we can get the kids into golf and encouraging families to play.

As I have mentioned before it would be great to see a low cost alternative for golf, and there are some offers at Ocean View at the moment!

So let’s all keep our fingers crossed that Tiger can come this year, and it will be a real start for tourism and golf in Bermuda to be heading in the right direction.

There have been a number of ideas floated around during the Grand Slam.

One was to give the crowds something else to watch while the main group was going around.

It would be fun to see the top four junior golfers or even the top four pros, play for a Grand Slam Trophy.

It would give the crowds a reason to stay in one place rather than follow just one group, because if Tiger comes that could make it very difficult to see anything.