THE BIGGEST DRAW IN GOLF is No. 413 in the world rankings, sandwiched between Natipong Srithong and Aaron Baddeley. He hasn’t won a tournament in 28 months, or a major in 90, and judging by the funereal tone of his news conference in the Bahamas, it’s safe to assume that drought won’t end anytime soon.

But even as his game becomes more curiosity than cultural obsession, even as the next generation of stars dominates the way he used to, Tiger Woods has remained the focal point of the sport by almost any metric.

When he moves into contention, television ratings skyrocket.

When he adds a new tournament, fans turn out in record numbers.

And when he lands in the news, talk shows produce breathless debate and websites post best-ever traffic reports.

via Tiger at 40: Why Tiger Woods still matters | Golf Channel.