PGA National Teacher of the Year Jim Hardy believes that Tiger Woods' comeback will bring even more people to the game of golf. (Photo: The PGA of America)

GREENSBORO, Ga. -- The announcement that Tiger Woods would miss the remainder of the 2008 golf season sent shock waves around the golf world. Tournament officials, media analysts and sports pundits from around the globe spent all day Wednesday trying to assess the impact of the stunning news. But what do the true experts in golf say about Woods' announcement?

PGA.com talked with top PGA Professionals, including some of the 312 PGA Professionals competing this week at the PGA Professional National Championship at Reynolds Plantation and members of the elite PGA.com Editorial Advisory Board to gauge their reactions and their thoughts on what Tiger's absence would mean to golf; from a national and grassroots level.

Joe DeBock, PGA Head Professional at Torrey Pines Golf Club, La Jolla, Calif.
"News traveled fast here at Torrey Pines. We are all very happy that Tiger stuck it out, he made our tournament very exciting, maybe one of the best ever, but we're very saddened to hear the news today. It wasn't that long ago that he came back from an injury and won the Buick (Invitational), now his first tournament back from surgery and he wins the U.S. Open. Who knows, his first tournament back from this injury could be the Buick again in 2009 at "Tiger" PinesI. I heard the doctors advised him to wait another six weeks but he insisted on playing, Tiger was not going to miss this U.S. Open at any cost. I understand his reasoning, the set-up was perfect for a great story and he delivered. He is the reason everyone including our Mayor and the USGA are considering doing it again, maybe around 2018. It is hard to imagine if Tiger did not play this year at the U.S. Open. All the build-up and history was about him, the Junior Worlds, Buick Invitationals and pure battle for No. 1 would have been lost. Tiger knew there was a lot on the table and, like so many times before, he delivered. We certainly are grateful that he took part.

What he does for the game is unmistakable. I have never seen more emotion then when he made that putt to tie on the 18th green during the final round. He can make or break many of the PGA Tour stops -- they do not need him to win (which he does most of the time) but I think they do need him to at least show up. We hope he shows up for ours and is ready for our tournament next year!

One final aside, I heard on Friday, Tiger said that was one of the loudest galleries he has ever heard coming in on the 18th hole. My son Blake agrees as he was the standard bearer for his group walking 8 yards behind Tiger, Phil (Mickelson) and Adam (Scott) all day long! What a great experience for my son and a very proud moment for me."

Todd Anderson, PGA Director of Instruction at Sea Island Golf Club, Sea Island, GA
"Tiger is the best player of all time and will be missed greatly. There are two kinds of tournaments: Tiger tournaments and non-Tiger tournaments. Now they are all non-Tiger tournaments, which hurts TV ratings and ticket sales. I just hope the surgery and rehab are a success because golf needs Tiger Woods. He is an awesome ambassador to the game of golf."

Chip Sullivan, PGA Director of Golf at Ashley Plantation, Troutville, VA
"What he just accomplished at the U.S. Open was such a great boost for golf, all of the excitement and attention his win generated is going to reverberate a long time. So I think many people will use that momentum to keep their interest in golf high while they monitor his recovery and progress as they can. And really, this gives some other great players an opportunity to step up their games and show off their skills a little bit."

Gary Wiren, PGA Director of Instruction, Trump Golf Properties
Tiger Woods is a great competitor who -- once he teed it up -- was not going to be a quitter. What he was able to accomplish at Torrey Pines was simply amazing. And he did it at risk to his future, which becomes more evident now that he has announced that he will play no more in 2008. This may be the beginning of more injury the way he punishes his body by making such a forceful swing. We all know he is in excellent physical shape, but so are other athletes who break down due to the demands of their sport.

How will it affect interest in golf? For a short time it will hurt the viewership, listenership, and readership. But people came back to golf after Bobby Jones retired, boxing after Jack Dempsey, and baseball after Joe Dimaggio. There will always be new stars, but none of them may match the playing ability or charisma of Tiger Woods.

Bob Ford, PGA Director of Golf, Oakmont Country Club, Oakmont, PGA
"It's very sad to see a talent like Tiger Woods -- a guy who can win the U.S. Open on one leg! -- have to miss time. We all lose when we can't watch a marvel like that."

Brian Puterbaugh, PGA Head Professional at Northcrest Academy of Golf, Atlanta, GA
"Tiger Woods is a genius and we're all really fortunate to have a chance to watch him play. As a fan, I really appreciate every time he's on television and the excitement that he can generate. As far as business goes, I think that the industry might not see any real effects until the end of the year, though I'm sure television ratings might see more immediate effects. But to me, the bigger loss is not being able to see his work on the course."

Gary Robison, PGA Director of Golf at Brookside CC, Canton, OH
"It's huge. It is going to make a big difference in attendance and even more, fan enthusiasm. I don't know that it will make a difference in the number of tee times or other sales, but I think at the PGA Tour level, you're going to see it make a tough impact."

Randy Brooks, PGA Head Professional at Settingdown Golf Club, Roswell, GA
"I tend to think the impact will be minimal because he's only out this year. It would be a totally different story if it were more permanent, but he's already done so much to grow the game and that splash has been made. And now here's a chance for some of the other players on the Tour to really step it up, and that's not a bad thing."

Darren Stanek, General Manager at the Oak Club of Genoa, Genoa, Ill.
"It's disappointing as a fan to know that he's not going to be playing, but at the same time, he doesn't play every week as it is. From a business standpoint, it's always fun to see the buzz that is created when he is playing in an event but I don't anticipate that it's going to affect our sales too much."

Jim Hardy, PGA National Teacher of the Year, Houston, Texas
"Injuries are a part of all sports. Jack Nicklaus suffered back pain and back spasms most of his career; same with Fred Couples. Ben Hogan almost lost his life in his prime. It is a shame that this has happened to Tiger in his prime as well, but the sport is far older and greater than any one player. Like Hogan, Tiger's comeback will potentially even bring more fans to the game. And like Hogan, I believe Tiger will come back even greater than before. It was a matter of willpower with Hogan and it will be the same for Tiger; and willpower is the stuff Tiger is made of."

Jay Overton, PGA Director of Golf, Innisbrook Resort, Palm Harbor, Fla.
"My first thought is I hope he visits several of the tournaments and does some interviews and commentary. Also, wouldn't it be great if he still took part as a non-playing member of the Ryder Cup team!"

John Hughes, PGA Director of Instruction, Advantage Golf Schools
"Tiger's injury is identical to what I am currently experiencing after my fall last October. Having had three surgical procedures on the same knee over 25 years ago and re-injuring it last fall has had a serious impact on my ability to play golf. Now knowing that Tiger played with his weight-accepting joint in that type condition further exemplifies his accomplishment this past weekend as arguably the bet major championship performance of all time. That same injury puts all other athletes immediately down for the season, immediately. No one can ever argue the fact that Tiger is one of this century's greatest athletes, if not the best, and we still have 92 years left. Working 10 months on the torn ACL as well as torn medial meniscus is an absolute medical wonder, given the forces Tiger puts on that leg."

Rodney Green, PGA Director of Instruction, Walt Disney World Golf
"In Tiger's case there are countless people hoping for a speedy recovery. The entire golf industry is bound to be affected by his absence. Particularly the PGA Tour. I have personally seen the impact of what happens when Tiger participates in an event and then doesn't return the following year. He is the most "needle moving" element in sports. At the end of the day if it takes him 8-10 months to come back it's worth" it. Then maybe we'll get to watch him do his thing for the next 20 years."

Joe Plecker, PGA Director of Instruction, Baltimore Country Club
"Tiger Woods brings a level of excitement to every event in which he plays. Since we heard him speak the words, "Hello world" we have been awe struck witnesses to golf history. In the short term, TV ratings may drop, but Tiger's impact is now more lasting and permanent. The British Open and PGA Championships will be filled with spectators and new golf fans Tiger brought to golf; now curious like the rest of us to see who will take their place in history alongside golf's greatest."

Carol Mann, LPGA Hall-of-Famer
"The US Open was absolutely riveting, from Friday afternoon/evening until the very last putt on Monday afternoon. As a sporting event, I cannot imagine a better one. Regarding the latest revelations from Tiger about his knee, I am in more awe than I was during the event. I was hoping that his injury would not be career ending. Now that we know the extent of it and his courses of action, I hope it all goes well."

John Crumbley, PGA Head Professional, Mystery Valley Golf Club
""If it's just half a year it won't hurt interest. Tiger is big but he is not bigger than the game of golf. Now the talk will be about the "come back". I think Sergio is ready to make his move to #2. Now is the time."