So this time last week I was somewhere over the Atlantic on my way to West Palm beach. Fast forward 7 days and I now find myself back in Johannesburg waiting for my final flight to George later this morning.
This past week absolutely flew by and I had a fantastic week working with Branden as he prepares for a big stretch of tournaments starting off with the WGC World Matchplay at Austin Country Club next week. Branden’s game is in fantastic shape and I’m confident that all the hard work he’s been putting in will only aid him over the coming weeks. There are no guarantees in this game and winning on the PGA Tour is no easy task, but as long as he continues to put himself into good positions then anything is possible come Sunday afternoons.
Tiger Talk... Speaking of winning, while I was in the US I came across some incredible information regarding TV viewership on the PGA Tour and in particular the effect Tiger is having on how many people are watching golf.
Basically, in the US, programs or live sports are given a rating point based on the % of viewers that tune in. 1 rating point and that basically means that 1% of those watching TV at a certain time will be tuned into that program. The higher the rating points, the higher the percentage of viewers across the country. The Masters attracts the biggest viewership with over 7 rating points. The Open Championship is around 4 rating points and a regular PGA tour event sits at around 1 to 1.5 rating points depending on the field and the location.
![](http://cdn.retailtribe.com/content/newsletter/2018/12/621525/tiger900.jpg) | | So what happens when Tiger competes and is in contention, as was the case at the Valspar last week. Well, how about just over 5 ratings points which roughly translates to 5% of the viewing population tuned in to watch him play. That means the Valspar rated higher than the Open, US Open and PGA and all the WGC events. The effect Tiger has on the game, the viewership and overall interest is just staggering and again highlights how the game of golf wins when Tiger is playing and playing well. The effect he has is incredible as more viewers results in better sponsors, more money for the game and a mass trickle down effect to all facets within the game.
Another incredible statistic from last week saw Paul Casey earn World Ranking points for the 27th event in a row. A streak that started in January 2017 and is now the longest on tour at the moment. This doesn’t mean that he just made the cut 27 events in a row, but rather that he earned points in all of them, meaning that he had to place high enough each week to earn.
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His win last week was incredibly impressive considering who was chasing him and incredibly, this was only his 2nd win on the PGA Tour with his last win coming way back in 2009. Again, this highlights just how hard it is to win on the PGA Tour.
Scariest statistic with regards to all of the above is that Tiger's streak of earning World Ranking Points was 118 events. Just mind blowing.
A fit and healthy Tiger is good for golf. He pushes the needle like no other and when he’s playing there’s no question that golfers and non golfers alike are tuning in to watch what he does. Let’s hope he can stay fit for the next few years and help boost the sport like he did in the early 2000’s, there no question that the sport can do with his influence again.
I have included a link to Tigers incredible numbers from over the years. It’s an incredible compilation of stats and records and well worth the read.
On to some shop news and this week we are running a 15% off promotion on all our push trolleys. We carry two fantastic brands in Sun Mountain and Big Max Carts, so if you’re looking for some help on the fairways or just need an upgrade, then this is the week to take advantage.
In closing, I’m sure many of you have now heard about my incredibly privileged experience from earlier in the week. Out of respect for the values and traditions of the entity I unfortunately cannot talk about my experience on this platform. However, please pop in to the shop or on the range anytime and I’ll share my experience with you in person. Until next week, Pete ![](http://cdn.retailtribe.com/content/newsletter/2018/11/621525/shop-news900.jpg) We are still running an incredible promotion on all our Peter Millar clothing with a buy-1-get-1-at-half-price deal. Peter Millar is one of golf’s most recognised brands and produce only the highest quality apparel and is worn by some of the game's biggest names, including Branden Grace and Brandt Snedeker. Peter Millar does come with a slightly higher price tag than other brands, but always remember that you get what you pay for in this world, and with Peter Millar you only get excellence. So word on the street is that TaylorMade are getting ready to launch a new ball into the market and it will be called Project S. It is not however going to replace any of their other balls and will be an addition to their ball range.
After the success they had last year with their TP5 and TP5X golf ball, I cannot express just how good it is that TaylorMade are keeping this ball as is for now.
What makes the TaylorMade Project S ball so special?
• Urethane Cover - the urethane cover is similar to that of the Project A except this time TaylorMade have opted for a softer and more lower compression. • 2 Piece Ball - there is a polymer mantle that is married to the soft compression core.
The TaylorMade Project S Golf ball will be available later in the year, but for you loyalist looking for a ball to better suit your game, this could be the one.
This ball is entering a market that is already quite saturated, but I feel that if this golf ball has the feel and results that they are trying to achieve, then this ball could definitely be something special.
| | ![](http://cdn.retailtribe.com/content/newsletter/2018/12/621525/tm'900.jpg) | I guess the price point is going to be the important aspect.Till next time, keep it straight. Andrew
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![](http://cdn.retailtribe.com/content/newsletter/2018/12/621525/rory900.jpg) | | PGA Tour Rory bounces back to dominate the final day at Bay Hill
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