Golf’s first major is truly a tradition unlike any other. 
When the Masters gets underway each April from Augusta, Ga., it serves as the universal signal that spring has finally begun. Some argue that honor belongs to MLB’s opening day, but that’s probably because they’ve never attended an opening day with temperatures hovering around 35 degrees.  
From Jack Nicklaus’ historic charge on the back nine to win the 1986 Masters to a young phenom named Tiger Woods breaking every record in the book in 1997, the picturesque course has been the backdrop for many of sport’s greatest moments. 
Woods’ legacy has and always will be defined by his play in major championships, and the Masters is the highest profile of the four. There’s always been something special about the sport’s biggest star performing on its biggest stage. 
Unfortunately, Woods, who owns as many of those moments as anyone, will not be able to compete for his fifth Green Jacket this weekend. He announced last week that he’d miss the Masters because of a pinched nerve in his back. 
The news is yet another tough setback for Woods, as this weekend will now mark his 23rd consecutive major championship without a victory. Without a set timetable for his return, there’s no telling how long Woods will remain stuck at 14 major titles. 
It’s just as big of a disappointment for golf fans. Despite his drought in major championships and well-documented personal scandal away from the course, Woods remains golf’s dominant storyline and the biggest single reason people tune in to the PGA Tour events on a  week-to-week basis. 
Since the beginning of Woods’ career, TV ratings for golf tournaments tend to rise and plummet based on whether or not Woods plays. During his longest absence — a result of knee surgery following the 2008 U.S. Open — golf’s ratings dropped dramatically until he returned the following season. Though this is the first Masters Tournament Woods will miss since turning pro, it’s safe to assume his absence won’t hurt the tournament’s rock-solid ratings. The Masters is the one golf tournament immune to any such rise and fall in popularity. It was a huge draw well before Woods hit the scene, and its mystique will live on well past Woods’ permanent departure, whenever that is.
The Masters will be a big deal no matter who wins, but the clock is ticking for either the old Woods to return or a new star to emerge and carry the sport       week-to-week. 
It’s saddening for someone who has grown up watching him, but with injuries mounting against the 38-year-old Woods, the latter is looking like the more likely option. 
The PGA will get another freebie at June’s U.S. Open because Phil Mickelson, golf’s second-biggest and more-likeable superstar, will take his shot at finally winning the major that’s eluded him to complete a career grand slam. 
Mickelson isn’t quite as popular as Woods, but he is big enough to draw in an audience of casual fans. However, since he is 43 years old and has a family, his playing schedule will continue to shrink until he’s only playing  major championships. 
This doesn’t in any way mean that Tiger and Phil won’t contend or win in years to come, but in order for golf to maintain the popularity that the two players have created going forward, it needs a new star to emerge. 
There’s been no shortages of promising players labeled as “golf’s next Tiger Woods,” but the time is approaching where the TV ratings for regular PGA Tour events will fall off a cliff without a new generation of stars. 
For years it seemed like the title was going to be either Rory McIlroy or Adam Scott, and each of them have had success at the highest level, but personally I’m partial to an American — 2013 PGA Championship winner        Jason Dufner.
The Masters will always be immune from such problems, but there’s no better stage for the game’s next big star to be crowned than at Augusta. 
James Moran is a 21-year-old mass communication senior from              Beacon, N.Y.