Do you still watch golf if the big names don't show up?

Golf’s live coverage is as good as it’s ever been. But are you still switching on if the tournament isn’t quite as, shall we say, “sexy”? Or if the big-name players aren’t in action? Two of our writers differ with their views…

Yes, says Keel Timmins

If there’s golf on TV I’ll likely be watching it. It doesn’t matter what level it is – PGA Tour, European Tour, LPGA Tour, Ladies European Tour, Seniors Tour, EuroPro Tour – you name it, I’ll watch it. Except the Trilby Tour. I have to draw a line somewhere.

Watching Tiger Woods, Jordan Spieth and Rory McIlroy play at The Masters is obviously a lot more exciting than this week’s Texas Open, for example.

But it’s still fascinating seeing the lesser known players battle to keep their tour cards or even try and win for the very first time in their career.

Take last week for example: Si Woo Kim vs. Satoshi Kodaira in a play-off might not seem like exciting viewing, but Kodaira has now gone from being an unknown journeyman in Japan to a player with full PGA Tour membership with exemptions into the big events in the golf calendar. It was a true life-changing victory, and in many ways, was equally as exciting as watching the elite play in the majors.

No, says Steve Carroll

I’m sure Alexander Levy is revelling in his fifth European Tour title, and Andrew Landry was a worthy winner of the Texas Open.

But I’ve got post Masters blues in a massive way and I’m longing to see the big guns back in action.

Andrew Putnam, Trey Mullinax and Richy Werenski are clearly excellent players but they just don’t get my blood pumping on a Sunday night the way Rory McIlroy propelling a drive into the stratosphere does.

I’m longing for a bit of star quality, a leaderboard packed with names like Spieth, Johnson (DJ rather than Zach), Thomas and Rose, not Bjork, Lagergren and Pavan. No offence to those players, of course.

I’m aware this is a myopic view and the players we’re watching on the weeks the stars sit on their sofas, or recreate Spring Break at Smylie Kaufman’s wedding, could well be the next top 10 talents.

That doesn’t mean that – at the moment – I want to spend my limited leisure time watching them plod round TPC San Antonio.

Give me the Players Championship or the BMW PGA Championship any day. I want Sawgrass, Muirfield Village and Shinnecock Hills.

I really can’t wait for those. But right now? I’m off to watch the snooker.