It was more than the end of an era. It was an industry exhaling as the bull run may have come to an end for Tiger Inc, otherwise known as the PGA Tour. The bean counters are now left to rue the simmering of once overheated cash registers.
A child had put a sport on his back and single-handedly turned it into a multi-billion dollar industry like no athlete ever. Not even the accomplishments of the mythical Michael Jordan can match those of Tiger Woods.
For five straight years he was the number one ranked gofer in the world. His aura was so brilliant that Woods was the first golfer to ever become the most recognisable athlete in the world.
When Vijay Singh beat Woods last week in a dramatic final-round showdown at the Deutsche Bank Open, he also overtook Woods' top spot. It was the first time in 264 weeks someone other than Woods was ranked number one. During this remarkable run Woods was voted player of the year five straight times and in perhaps the most dominant stretch of golf ever played, he won seven of 11 Major championships.
It got so routine, so Shumacherish that many around the game were questioning the heart of his competitors while bemoaning the imminent demise of golf. But Woods built the modern game and even when he was dominating he was still compelling viewing.
This is what happens with transcendent athletes. They transcend. They bring the neophytes out of their seats and the money out of their pockets. Sure, golf has exploded in popularity over these last 10 years. But there are still many more Woods fans than there are golf fans.