golf not a sport?  golf is definitely a sport.  it's competitive, its got rules, and physical conditioning does in fact have an impact on performance.  but golf more popular than tennis?  I don't know, tennis seems more accessible.  i would think basketball would be more popular than golf.  and when you say popular, is that how many people participate, how many people watch the sport, some formula that combines the two, or some other formula that involves differential equations.  didn't the USA PATRIOT act ban all sports though?
 
after some reflection i think i lean towards the idea that chain-smoking in the US is more conservative but chain-smoking in the rest of the world is more liberal.  but then again there are arguments either way.  what a great topic for high school debate teams.