Can Jordan Spieth Save American Golf? Probably Not

Whenever a prolific player is playing in his prime, the sport of golf usually grows in popularity. Thanks to Tiger Woods, the golfing world is well aware of the impact one individual can have on the perception and financial prosperity of the sport as a whole.   

Now that it is safe to say that Tiger is out of the picture, a superstar is needed to energize a game that is unfairly associated with the elite. The world’s top-ranked golfer, Jordan Spieth, thrived this season and may be the one to fill the void. The talented 22-year-old Texan won the two most touted majors this year at Augusta and the U.S. Open, not to mention his top-five finishes at the season’s last two majors and the 2015 Tour Championship title.    

With Spieth at the helm, the PGA tour is doing well; viewership has increased for the season’s premier events. This year’s Masters saw a 26 percent uptick in ratings while Spieth was holding a lead down the stretch. And Spieth is far from the only golfer on tour providing compelling performances.   

Close behind Spieth is the world’s third-ranked golfer and four-time major winner, Rory McIlroy, who has proven that he can dominate on golf’s biggest stage. PGA champion and world number-two Jason Day, along with long-bombing Bubba Watson, are also playing some of their best golf to date. With the competition being better than it ever has been, the PGA tour is enjoying a renaissance of sorts. Unfortunately, the same cannot be said for the rest of the golf industry in the United States.    

To understand the current state of the golfing industry, a little context is necessary. When the Tiger bubble burst in 2009, golf lost its most marketable major winner, and a large chunk of viewers started to tune out. The ripples from that fateful day in November 2009 haven't stopped there. Woods' decline in both on-course success and popularity, along with a number of other important financial factors, have led to a huge drop-off in the American golfing economy.