Open 2014: Tiger Woods’s return highlights major issues

“Golf should be very grateful that Woods is still part of it,” said Giles Morgan, the head of sponsorship at HSBC, who back tournaments all over the world. “But he won’t be around forever.

“Tiger has done a wonderful job of broadening the appeal and scope of golf globally and will continue to do so. But his time will come to an end and golf needs to weatherproof itself by making sure new stars are created.”

Golf has always been keen to preserve the link between elite performers and amateur players. A unique selling point is that we hackers can share the same stage as the top stars if we have the opportunity to play leading courses, thanks to the handicapping system.

And it is fair to say that for the professional game to remain healthy, the grassroots level has to remain strong.

It provides the talent for the future and generates a love for the game that translates into television viewers and the galleries at tournaments like this week’s Open. So there should be concern about the current decline in participation levels.

Dana Garmany is the chairman of Troon Golf, the world’s largest golf operator with courses in 23 countries and 31 American states.

He told the 5 live programme: “In five or seven years’ time, there will be some gaps in participation and spending unless we make some inroads with that younger group to make them love the game.

“Give them a reason to play golf, not a reason not to play.”