Even though NBC scored extra some golf programming hours – and its highest golf ratings in 30 years – when he tied Rocco Mediate at the U.S. Open on Sunday, forcing a sudden death play-off on Monday, the television sports industry isn't exactly happy with him.

That's because after injuring his knee so badly he needs surgery (he's been playing with a torn ACL), Woods is taking the rest of the golf season off — which the networks will feel immediately once the Nielsen numbers role in.

With all of his winning in recent years – finishing in the top five 54 times in the last five year's 88 tournaments – final-round ratings averaged a 4.4. Without him? Twenty-nine percent lower, at 3.4.

So now that Woods is pulling out, what sort of unhappy ramifications will CBS and the Golf Channel, and sponsors like Buick, be looking at?

• CBS has already sold out most of its golf advertising time through Q3, but without Tiger, their ratings for tournaments like the Buick Open, the AT&T National, and the P.G.A. Championship may not meet advertiser guarantees, which means they could be forced to dole out make-goods, or free advertising to make up the difference.

• Deutsche Bank's tournament likely won't see big numbers, which means they won't be forced to pay NBC, which will carry the broadcast, more cash, which is part of their deal if ratings exceed a specified ceiling.

• Buick, which pays Tiger millions every year for him to pretend he's happy driving an American car, has canceled an online contest that had fans guessing his scores for a chance to win the cars he uses at his tournament, and a grand prize of Woods playing caddy for one of themat Torrey Pines.

• The Golf Channel's ratings drop off 18-33 percent when Woods doesn't play.

[NYT]