Read the opposing argument from Bleacher Fan.
Today FINALLY starts the beginning of the four day golf Mecca known as The Masters. Living in Georgia as I do, it is impossible to not have a deep appreciation for the hallowed grounds at Augusta National. Seeing it in person remains one of the sporting highlights of my life. Masters week is a special week in itself, but it is taking on added significance this week to casual fans as it marks the return of the one they call Tiger. After a five-month break, he is back. Now the golfing world, and the PGA Tour, can officially begin the healing process.
No one on this website has ever condoned what Tiger did, and there is absolutely no rationalization for it. But it is time to officially put the extra-curricular activities to rest. He has apologized repeatedly, made a public statement, given two separate five minute interviews with ESPN and The Golf Channel, and held a 34 minute press conference at Augusta on Monday. The commercial released by Nike yesterday afternoon was carefully constructed and should help this healing process. This is not what TMZ wants to hear, but it is time to focus on what happens between the ropes.
I am an avid PGA Tour follower. I check the Tour’s website daily, and though I have enjoyed many of the tournaments that have taken place throughout the first three months of the season, I can tell you that the “buzz” has been lacking. Watching some of the tournaments and seeing the low attendance I can’t help but think to myself, “How is this tournament going to make any money… there’s nobody there!” Mark Rolfing of NBC reported that during Ernie Els’ win at the Arnold Palmer Invitation a couple of weeks ago the crowd did not “have the electricity, the type of feeling I think a crowd would have had if Tiger was in the field.” Television ratings are also obviously down, too. Through the first ten tournaments of the season ratings were down 18 percent. That number alone shows the Tour needs Tiger back as soon as possible. It has been said that today’s telecast on ESPN could possibly be the highest rating ever for the first round of the Masters, and that is due in large part to Tiger. Heck, his press conference on Monday was watched by nearly 650,000 viewers. A press conference! And that was a Monday afternoon presser, too!!
The thing that is really going to help the Tour overcome this scandal is the fact that the players will no longer be bombarded with questions from the media about Tiger. It is one thing to be asked about Tiger’s golfing brilliance. It is quite another to be asked about his personal life and his transgressions. It has to get old. Most have amazingly kept their cool and said all the right things… in public at least.
And for Tiger Woods to begin his long journey back to respectability there is no better place than Augusta. For one, he has quite the track record at The Masters with four green jackets. It is a controlled media environment as well. It is also important to note that the patrons at The Masters are very respectful. Most are older citizens who are very respectful of the tradition of golf. You will not have a bunch of drunk twentysomethings who will be hollering out “Cheetah” at every tee box. He will no doubt face it at places like The Players Championship next month though, if he chooses to play. But not in Augusta. I like to tell people that Georgians are known for their Southern hospitality. The people in Augusta will extend their arms out and welcome him back. And the Tour can hopefully begin process of putting the whole scandal in the DISTANT past.
Glad to see Tiger is back and ready to work, He will not disappoint today. He is a golfer that is his profession so his personal life is something different.
You don’t think the barriers between golf and personal lives are defunct in the era of social media?
Poulter & Westwood, two Brits at the top of the leaderboard. Can’t be bad