Tiger Woods is once again golf's biggest star

Agencies
April 16, 2019

Apr 16: Tiger Woods pulled off one of the most stunning turnarounds in sports history with a Masters win on Sunday, clinching his fifth green jacket and 15th major title -- his first in more than a decade.

It was the first major title since 2008 for Woods, once golf’s most dominant figure until a high-profile sex scandal, divorce and multiple injuries led to a very public fall from grace. There were occasional doubts about whether he’d even continue to play professionally, let alone win another title at one of the most iconic events in world sports.

"It’s overwhelming because of what has transpired," Woods said. "It’s unreal for me to be experiencing this. I’m kind of at a loss for words really."

But he’s still a massive draw, with large galleries following his progress around the manicured fairways and greens of Augusta National Golf Club. He shot a round of 70 to end the tournament at 13-under par, one shot ahead of three players including Dustin Johnson.

Nike released a short video within seconds of Woods holing his winning putt, showing various images of him over the years and with the message, "It’s crazy to think a 43-year-old who has experienced every high and every low, and has just won his 15th major, is chasing the same dream as a 3-year-old."

Woods, 43, turned pro in 1996 and almost immediately became the sport’s dominant player. He won 14 majors before his 33rd birthday, and had a seismic impact off the course, driving new interest in golf worldwide and huge television ratings in the US. He won the Masters in 1997, 2001, 2002 and 2005.

Things fell apart starting in 2009, when news reports detailed extramarital affairs he was having with a number of different women. That began a 10-year stretch marred by a messy divorce, substance abuse and a litany of injuries.

There had been moments of Old Tiger -- he regained his No. 1 ranking in 2013 -- but his play was largely inconsistent. He missed most of 2017 following back surgery, and in May of that year was arrested for driving under the influence.

Tiger’s Masters Win a Major Boost for the Brands Still With Him

Along the way, sponsors came and went. A number of companies, such as AT&T, Accenture and Gillette dropped him after the infidelity scandal, and Nike, by far his most important corporate ally, recently announced it was getting out of the golf equipment business entirely. It still makes Woods’s clothing. Kowa Co., a Japanese sponsor that makes pain relievers, jumped as much as 23 percent in Tokyo Monday, their biggest intraday gain in more than two months.

No one has dominated the golfing landscape, on or off the course, in the way that Woods did in his heyday. Players from Rory McIlroy and Jordan Spieth to Dustin Johnson and Brooks Koepka are among those vying to be the new wunderkind of the fairway, but there’s been no consistent standout.

Top Earner

At the height of his dominance, Woods was making $110 million per year as the world’s highest paid athlete, with $30 million coming from Nike alone, according to Forbes. Last year the magazine reported his earnings as $43.3 million, with just $1.3 million coming from endorsements.

His new partners include Bridgestone, which supplies his golf balls, and TaylorMade, which replaced Nike as his equipment sponsor. Woods’s bag, once branded by Buick, now has logos for Monster Energy drink.

Finally healthy, Woods has been playing better of late. Last September he won the Tour Championship, his first PGA Tour title in five years, and came to Augusta as the world’s No. 12. He’s set to move into the top 10 when they’re updated next.

The championship will stoke renewed interest in his quest to top Jack Nicklaus’s 18 major titles and will reverberate around the golf world.

Ratings for Saturday’s round on CBS suggested a Tiger spike although Augusta’s decision to move the final day’s play to the morning may neuter that effect slightly. Ratings for the third round were 5 percent higher than last year. That halo could extend to golf tournaments moving forward, especially the PGA Championship next month at Bethpage’s Black Course in Farmingdale, New York.

‘Painful’ for Bookmakers

It will also have consequences for sports books across the country. William Hill in Nevada took a $85,000 bet on Woods at 14-to-1 that will pay out $1.2 million, the largest liability on a golf bet in the company’s history taking wagers in the U.S. FanDuel Group said it lost $2 million from Woods’s victory.

"It’s great to see Tiger back. It’s a painful day for William Hill -- our biggest golf loss ever -- but a great day for golf," said Nick Bogdanovich, U.S. director of trading at William Hill.

Superstars are great for sports -- and sports marketing, said Bob Dorfman of Baker Street Advertising.

"Every time someone is head and shoulders above everyone else it tends to bring in not just the hardcore fans, but the casual fans as well," the sports marketing analyst said, citing Michael Jordan in basketball, Tom Brady in football and Woods in golf.

"He moves the needle like no other golfer does or ever has done," Dorfman said. "Nobody can do what he does and it’s amazing he’s been able to do it for as long as he has."

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News Network
February 18,2020

Berlin, Feb 18: Sachin Tendulkar being lifted on the shoulders of his teammates after their World Cup triumph at home in 2011 has been voted the Laureus best sporting moment in the last 20 years.

With the backing of Indian cricket fans, Tendulkar got the maximum number of votes to emerge winner on Monday.

Tendulkar, competing in his sixth and last World Cup, finally realised his long-term dream when skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni smacked Sri Lankan pacer Nuwan Kulasekara out of the park for a winning six.

The charged-up Indian cricketers rushed to the ground and soon they lifted Tendulkar on their shoulders and made a lap of honour, a moment etched in the minds of the fans.

Former Australian skipper Steve Waugh handed the trophy to Tendulkar after tennis legend Boris Becker announced the winner at a glittering ceremony.

“It's incredible. The feeling of winning the world cup was beyond what words can express. How many times you get an event happening where there are no mixed opinions. Very rarely the entire country celebrates,” Tendulkar said after receiving the trophy.

“And this is a reminder of how powerful a sport is and what magic it does to our lives. Even now when I watch that it has stayed with me.”

Becker then asked Tendulkar to share the emotions he felt at that time and the Indian legend put in perspective how important it was for him to hold that trophy.

“My journey started in 1983 when I was 10 years old. India had won the World Cup. I did not understand the significance and just because everybody was celebrating, I also joined the party.

“But somewhere I knew something special has happened to the country and I wanted to experience it one day and that's how my journey began.”

“It was the proudest moment of my life, holding that trophy which I chased for 22 years but I never lost hope. I was merely lifting that trophy on behalf of my countrymen.”

The 46-year-old Tendulkar, the highest run-getter in the cricket world, said holding the Laureus trophy has also given him great honour.

He also shared the impact the revolutionary South African leader Nelson Mandela had on him. He met him when he was just 19 years old.

“His hardship did not affect his leadership. Out of many messages he left, the most important I felt was that sport has got the power to unite everyone.

"Today, sitting in this room with so many athletes, some of them did not have everything but they made the best of everything they had. I thank them for inspiring youngsters to pick a sport of their choice and chase their dreams. This trophy belongs to all of us, it's not just about me.”

In a tweet on Tuesday, Tendulkar dedicated the award to his country, teammates and fans.

"Thank you all for the overwhelming love and support! I dedicate this @LaureusSport award to India, all my teammates, fans and well wishers in India and across the world who have always supported Indian cricket," he tweeted.

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News Network
June 24,2020

New Delhi, Jun 24: Former England skipper Michael Vaughan has slammed UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson for not allowing recreational cricket to resume.

UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson had described the cricket ball as a 'natural vector of disease' and ruled out recreational cricket's return in the country.

Hearing Johnson's argument, Vaughan tweeted: "Hand sanitiser in every players pocket. Use every time you touch the ball ... SIMPLE ... Recreational Cricket should just play from July 4th ... utter nonsense it's not being allowed back ... #Cricket."

Johnson was responding to a question from Conservative MP Greg Clark in the House of Commons, and it was then that Johnson said that it is too soon to lift current restrictions to allow the return of recreational cricket.

"The problem with cricket as everybody understands is that the ball is a natural vector of disease, potentially at any rate. We've been around it many times with our scientific friends," ESPNCricinfo had quoted Johnson as saying.

"At the moment, we're still working on ways to make cricket more COVID-secure but we can't change the guidance yet," he added.

Johnson had announced various relaxations on Tuesday, but the return of recreational cricket was not a part of them.

However, this statement given by Johnson will have no impact on the Test series between England and West Indies, scheduled to begin from July 8.

However, the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) has said that it is looking to resume recreational cricket in the country around July 4.

The board has also said that cricket is a low-risk sport as it is a non-contact sport.

"We believe that cricket is a non-contact sport, with very low risks of exposure, and that it can be played as safely as many other activities being currently permitted," the ECB said in an official statement.

"It is our strong desire to work with Government to see the return of recreational cricket on or around 4th July, as they continue to lift other restrictions more broadly across society," it added.

All international cricket has also been suspended since March due to the coronavirus pandemic.

However, it is set to resume to from July 8 as England and West Indies will lock horns in the three-Test series.

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Agencies
March 1,2020

New Delhi, Mar 1: Former Indian cricketer Mohammad Kaif on Sunday heaped praise on Ravindra Jadeja after the all-rounder took a spectacular catch on the second day of the Christchurch Test against New Zealand.

Jadeja grabbed a one-handed stunner at deep square leg in the 72nd over to dismiss Neil Wagner, who had to depart after scoring 21 runs.

"Sir Jadeja for a reason! Jadeja Airlines, flying high! Terrific stuff," Kaif tweeted.

In the match, Jadeja also impressed with the ball. The left-handed bowler took two wickets while giving away 22 runs.

On day two, India bundled out New Zealand on 235 runs in the second Test. However, in their second innings, Indian batsmen again struggled to tackle the New Zealand pacers and lost six wickets with a lead of just 97 runs.

India went to stumps at 90/6, with Trent Boult doing the majority of the damage with three wickets.

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