Good Question: What Is The Tiger Woods Effect?

MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) - The odds of him winning the Masters Tournament are 25 to 1, but all eyes will still be on Tiger Woods this weekend.

He's had an incredible impact on the game of golf since he joined the PGA Tour back in 1996.

So, what is the Tiger effect that ? Why do we care so much? Good Question.

Doug Hartmann, a sociology teacher at the University of Minnesota, said reputations don't change quickly, for good or for worse.

"Early [in his career] he was he was really, really good at what he did," he said. "His image and personality and background was so different from other golfers."

Since his first Masters win in 1997, Woods has brought in huge TV ratings whenever he plays. And then there's the prize money. In the early 90s, before Woods joined the tour, purses were growing at 3.4 percent a year. After he starting playing, they grew at 9.4 percent a year. Then, post-2009, purses dropped by 2.3 percent a year.

"He transcended golf," Hartmann said. "He was known for not just being a golfer, but for being famous, being a celebrity and that doesn't go away."

Woods finished Thursday tied for 41st place at plus-one.