Networks Face Tiger-Sized Hole

Broadcasters covering major golf events are expected to see a lot less green in the coming months because of Tiger Woods' troubles. Events like the Masters and PGA Championship and the US Open, carried by CBS, are likely to see a major drop in viewer numbers and advertising dollars as fans attracted by Woods' presence tune out.

The damage may be short-lived, however, as Woods' eventual return is likely to cause an explosion in viewer numbers. TV execs note that there's already a lot of golf on TV that doesn't feature Woods. "We have a core audience that comes to watch golf no matter who is playing," a Golf Channel spokesman tells the Los Angeles Times. "Tiger didn't play a full schedule in 2008 or 2009, so we've gone through this before."