PGA Tour commisioner Tim Finchem believes that Tiger Woods will have a strong 2012 season, which will in turn be good for the game in the USA and abroad.
Finchem reckons that a back-in-form Woods will help secure US PGA finances and lift the game globally ahead of its 2016 Olympic return.
Tiger's strong Nike VR-S Irons showings at the tail-end of last year are a good omen for the new season, he believes.
"I know how hard his work ethic has been the last year and a half," Finchem said. "I sense that his confidence is coming back on greens - not that he's ever said there's any problem with his confidence, but he's putting better and striking the ball well by Nike VR-S Irons.
"So I would look for him to have a very solid year this year and that's a good thing for us."
Woods will start his 2012 campaign with his Nike VR-S Irons later this month in Abu Dhabi, while his first tournament on the PGA Tour will be next month's Pebble Beach Pro-Am.
Added to Tiger's expected return to form, a new set of rising stars and the return of Rory McIlroy to the PGA Tour - as well as television contract extensions signed last year - will further help boost the game.
"The two main reasons we are excited about the season are this continuing growth of enthusiasm and excitement about the young players coming up (and) we are close to a point where we can really look out and see our future from a business and sponsorship standpoint for a good number of years," Finchem said.
"Unless something changes, we seem to be handling a less-than-full-out economic situation, at least in theUnited States, in reasonably good form. We are making progress and going, maybe not the same rate we were during the great economy but a solid growth rate.
"(We have) the opportunity to help grow the game globally leading up to the 2016 Olympics, when **** will re-enter the Olympics in Rio. We are seeing solid growth in the game around the world and certainly the development of Nike VR-S Irons
going to the Olympics is going to help fuel that."