We're sure there have been lots of times in the past five months that Tiger Woods wishes he could go back in time.
Well, as it turns out, he can.
His decision to delay his much-anticipated return to golf until the first full week in April -- without so much as a tune-up tournament -- is undoubtedly a statement about the character of Augusta National and the Masters.
He knew it would be safe.
He knew that this is a place, and this is an event that -- even while offering telecasts in 3-D -- is of a bygone era, when you respected the game of golf and respected its participants above self-interest and gain. In these parts, anyway, the game is bigger than even its biggest name.
Woods knows that's how golfers, fans and media are expected to comport themselves at the Masters. He knows it is just the place for a Tiger still licking his self-inflicted wounds who wants to focus on golf. He's counting on being able to do that, more so than he could at any other venue.
Augusta National will afford him that comfort zone to the best of its ability -- not because he deserves it, by any means. Rather, because sporting's most dignified game deserves it. Because the game's most storied and tradition-bound tournament demands it. No one will throw a protective blanket around this gentleman's game more quickly and completely than the folks at the Masters.
Yes, this is a story about integrity and character -- not of Woods', but of the Masters'.
However sad and reprehensible the indiscretions and the injury to others, whatever the debasement of the man's image, the Tiger Woods soap opera will have to be viewed on another channel. It won't and shouldn't be allowed to be played out anywhere near the Masters.
A sanctuary within a larger sanctuary of the CSRA. That’s the National. There’s a reason the super rich have been coming here for a century. No one even knows what house Tiger stays in, but I know he works out at the same gym I do and everyone leaves him alone. (I swear it's not something the gym made up, I saw him there two years ago.) It’s a Southern thing.
Someone asked the other day what Augusta had to offer beside the National and Walmart. I say ask Bill Gates and others what they like about the CSRA. It’s not only the horses, hunting, lake and river…it’s the genteel nature of the people who respect the privacy of others.
Tuesday, I came home kind of early and turned on CNBC. I was surprised that they had this huge debate going on about the effect of Tiger coming back at the Masters. They noted CBS stock jumped millions at the announcement. (Think about that.) Another commentator, brought them down to earth by reminding the audience CBS was limited as to how many minutes of commercials the network could run. Another noted the National doesn't care one bit how much money they make. True, but our local economy does.
tiger woods is not the best of subjects for the editorial page
wyo, without actually living in Augusta, there's no way you can understand what the Masters means to the city, it's economy and it's self esteem. The tournament and it's effect permeate every aspect of business in this town, even for those not directly involved. While Tiger isn't the best of subjects for the editorial page, his return to the Masters is, for Augusta.
PGA "dollars" are down 50%. The "Masters" may not care about money, but Tiger and the PGA care a lot. This is the place for Tiger to return, if he was every going to return. He us a tremendously talented athlete. Gt a "statue ready for the museum. But the timing is "all about the Benjamins". What about the "emotional" plea for "time with my family to heal"? "Well, done that and move on with my life". What about a "sabbatical" with your family in Figi? Yea, him and every other "celebrity". He used to stay in Dr. Dent's house in Conifer Place.
When you "sell yourself" to the public for money, i.e. celebrities, athletes and politicos, they have purchased a piece of your life.
I care. Glad he is coming back. There is no defending his personal mistakes. But, what is he suppose to do? He is a golfer. He plays golf. If he were a plumber or a doctor, he would continue in his career. As for the money aspect, for Augusta and the Tournament, the effect is minimal. For other tournaments and golf in general, it's huge. Welcome back Tiger.
Heaerd the pga is changing the name of the STIMP meter to the Pimp meter. Chose the right club--LOL...
What a coup for Augusta! Tiger Woods always represented himself as a family man with a squeaky clean image, and that is what the public and all his corporate endorsers bought into. It was not rumor, or lies told by others that ruined that image. It was the actions of Tiger himself. Tiger owes only his family and his corporate endorsers apologies for this debacle. He owes the public an apology for misleading them. I am sure there are a lot of young golfers who have idolized Tiger Woods and many who wish they had his talents on the golf course. The sport of golf will go on, and Tiger Woods will continue to play, as he should, but the damage he has done to his own image is irreparable.
I don’t think some get the magnitude of Tiger’s comeback. We are at the epicenter of what the CBS president calls the biggest news story with the exception of Obama’s inauguration in a decade. Fox News just discussed the importance a few minutes ago and this prompted me to post again.
The whole episode of Tiger, his wife and the golf club is like something out of a movie. It’s surreal…Marilyn Monroe attacking Joe DiMaggio with a bat. It’s Tom Brady’s super model wife attacking him with a football helmet.
If that Chilean earthquake knocked earth slightly off its axis, Tiger’s return will have the planet wobbling like a flat tire about to come off the rim as news people, the paparazzi and the curious shift the weight of the planet to Augusta. A 10 on the Richter Scale. Get ready.
I think the National should take a moral stand and prohibit Tiger from playing until some time has past and he's made some amends.....like that would ever happen! And actually, I don't care what Tiger does, but I know that when it comes to money, any moral posturing from The Chronicle or the conservative bunch at the National goes right out the window.
Grouse, the Augusta National could not care less about money. Their members are the super rich. They give tens of millions to good causes in Augusta every year. CBS pays them a fortune already, but even that does not deter them if things are not right. Remember the year they televised it without commercials for free during the controversy.
Good grief, I mean really. Some people must live really miserable lives. I feel sorry for them.
The price of The Discotheque lap dances have gone through the roof!!!!!!!!!
johnston.cliff---balderdash, went to about 20 masters. one time i even got bobby jones autograph.
grouse - to who or what does Tiger need to make ammends? Are employers able to terminate their employees for cheating on their spouses? Any "moral posturing" by the AC or the National crowd would just be hypocritical. It isn't like adultery and divorce isn't frequent with conservatives.
if tiger had wanted to play, he should have gotten a .......
grouse---"prohibit tiger from playing until some time has passed". how much time ?
Tiger Woods- what sets him aside from every other overpaid, over-hyped, over-idolized, undisciplined so-called athlete who makes millions from playing children's games? In this group, he is not the worst, as at least he's assaulted or killed no one, no, just another lying, cheating foul-mouthed serial horndog who was peddled and sold to the public like any other defective product by advertising. And precisely who believed that image of a meteoric rise to stardom by some clean cut uncorruptable youth, untouched by ego or human failings? Anyone? Anyone?
If you don't believe a crime took place try this little experiment tonight:
Take enough vicoden to put you in a haze,give the bottle to your wife,
and tell her to put you in your car in a couple of hours.
Advise her that when the ambulance,police, coroner, etc,etc, & etc,
arrive on the scene where you have
wrapped your car around a pole, person, etc,etc,etc,,,,you want her
to give the bottle of vicoden to the authorities and inform them that you
are under the influence of it.
I will bet you any amount of money that when all is said and done you
will not be nearly so ignorant as to whether a crime has taken place.
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