Golfer takes top ESPY awards

By Chris Gibson
Senior Reporter

Winning awards in the sports arena may not be that out of the ordinary for golfers like Tiger Woods and Jack Nicklaus, but for the first time, golf took center stage on one of the biggest nights in sports.

Monday night, Woods took home the ESPY for pro golfer of the year. He also won for championship performance of the year, come-from-behind performance of the year and Male athlete of the year.

In all, Woods added four of the awards given out annually by the ESPN television network to his already jam-packed trophy case.
Nicklaus was awarded the life-time achievement award.

Southern Oaks golf professional Stack Bowers said that with the increased attention and media coverage given to golf, the game has seen some changes.

“I definitely think we are seeing a lot younger group of people coming into the game,” Bowers said. “With the media coverage golf gets now, kids are more aware of players like (Woods) and want to try it out. It’s seen as a cooler sport.”

The TCU men’s and women’s golf programs reflect that change. In a time of increased awareness, TCU golf has flourished over the past five years, producing players such a J.J. Henry and Angela Stanford.

Current Horned Frog Aaron Hickman said players like Woods have changed the game of golf for the better.

“Tiger has really done a lot for the game,” Hickman said. “Before, people who played golf, were seen as beer-bellied old men. Now, I think more athletes are playing. Anytime you have better athletes, the bar gets raised even more.”

Sports aficionado and English professor David Vanderwerken said the emergence of Woods has had a positive effect on not only the golf world, but society in general.

“I never really sat down and watched a whole tournament until (Woods),” Vanderwerken said. “He does bring a new excitement to a game that some say is about as exciting to watch as paint drying. One of the most positive things to come out of the Woods phenomenon is the increase in young African-Americans into golf.

“Like (Venus and Adonis) Williams in tennis. The two sports usually reserved (for) the white upper class now appeal to a much wider demographic. But this is a good thing.”

With four on Monday night, Woods surpassed basketball great Michael Jordan as the all-time ESPY winner with 11 awards.
Bowers said he can see the day where golf is as popular as basketball or football.

“I think it is very possible that it will become as popular,” Bowers said. “With all of the rewards in the sport today, it will just continue to grow and grow. It’s a sport you can play for a lifetime.”

Chris Gibson
c.j.gibson@student.tcu.edu