The Revolution of Golf in America

In the past century, golf has undergone a revolution in America. In the early 1900s, golf was a game reserved only for the elite and wealthy. Today, people of all classes participate and have interest in the game. Golf was originally mastered by britsh golfer but is now domnated by the united states.

While golf has grown more and more popular over the past century, there is more interest in golf because of four individuals. Bobby Jones, Arnold Palmer, Jack Nicklaus, and Tiger Woods. Bobby Jones established golf as an American game, displaying that it was not a game for only the wealthy. Arnold Palmer and Jack Nicklaus captured the interest of millions across the country through television. Tiger Woods has crossed golf’s ethnic and social barriers to prove that golf is a sport for all American social, economic, and ethnic groups. These four golfers have done the most, on and off the course, to promote the game of golf. Bobby Jones, Arnold Palmer, Jack Nicklaus, and Tiger Woods have all made golf a more well know sport in American society.

Bobby Jones substantially contributed to America by introducing golf to more Americans. Before Jones, golf was a British game, almost every major tournament was won by British players. Jones won in the 1923 US Open, his first sizable title. He established himself in a more world wide playing field in the 1920s he won three British Opens. Every time Jones went to England, he came home with a British Open crown. These wins established America’s place in the golf game. With jones achievements it brout more attention to america, and many more Americans took a liking to the sport. The American people had previously seen golf as a game played only by the weathy, and seeing an average American man wasnt ...

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...listica for the fans, it brought greater interest in and more sponsors to golf. The rivalry appered on live television broadcasts for the first time in 1960s. All the attention paid to Palmer and Nicklaus caused many companys to become interested in sponsoring tournaments and players, which, in turn, increased money. The first time Palmer topped out the money list in 1958 he grossed $40,000. Five years later, he earned over $130,000, lots more than his previous earnings. Nicklaus earned $60,000 in 1962, but since he gt more sponsorship he earned $320,000, ten years later. Not only did the two dominant they increased their paychecks, the tour as a whole received more prize money. Between 1958 and 1968, tour prizes ranged from $600,000 to $6,000,000. The increased income drawn more players to the game, creating a more competitive and exciting field for the near future.