Last week the world’s #2 golfer Steve Stricker made clear to Bob Harig of ESPN that he didn’t think Augusta National would be too excited about hosting Tiger Woods‘ return to golf.
(Tiger Woods and Steve Stricker: Frenemies?)
“Whenever he comes back it’s going to draw a lot of attention to that tournament and the focus is going to be on him coming back. I don’t know if Augusta would like that to happen, you know? To turn it into Tiger’s comeback instead of the Masters Tournament itself.”
Those comments are all the more ironic when you consider Stricker’s relationship to Team Tiger. Stricker was college roommates with Woods agent Mark Steinberg and is currently represented by Steinberg. Stricker is also friendly with Woods and was his most recent playing partner, at the President’s Cup, before the Thanksgiving car accident.
That makes Stricker’s statements that much more credible, considering they came from a guy with close ties to Woods’ inner circle. No hidden disdain for Woods that’d be cause for an agenda.
On the subject of Woods’ comeback at The Masters, it is now clear that all that mattered for the golfer in his decision was the ability to control the environment at the tournament. Otherwise why would Woods play his first competitive round after a long layoff at such an important event?
The decision makes me think that Woods may have initially planned to play the Tavistock Cup at his home course in Orlando, but when TMZ.com reported the possibility he changed his mind. Tavistock is the only other PGA-sanctioned event where Woods could have complete control over the setting. (Why did Woods apologize to Tavistock Cup Director Joe Lewis if he had no intention of playing?)
Woods’ relatively quick return to golf after this recent public appearance also indicates that the timing of that speech was indeed a ploy to damage his former sponsor Accenture. While Team Tiger claimed that it was critical to Woods’ personal affairs that he make the appearance right in the middle of Accenture’s match play PGA event, it now appears that probably was not the case.
If Woods was in such bad shape that he had to give the speech that day, why has he confirmed his return to golf a mere few weeks later?
Amazing how Woods has the uncanny ability to engender zero sympathy. At least he’s consistent!
12:23 pm on March 16th, 2010
If he had had any taste, he would have had someone doing a little more P.R. control on his behalf during the whole media scandal…His lack of contribution made him look like a complete ass, and now he wants to wipe off his clubs and jump back on the fairway? That guy has it way too easy!
12:23 pm on March 16th, 2010
Hoping he doesn’t even make the cut….
A-Hole…..
12:41 pm on March 16th, 2010
The PGA will love Tiger coming back.
1. the TV ratings will be through the roof, far better than any masters in history, 50% of the world wants him to fail 50% wants him to win.
2. CBS will be able to double the price of a tv spot for late ad buyers
3. there wont be paparazzis and protesters being the masters are the most protected tourney on the tour, and the way the course is set up they cant get to it
4. the amount of photos that will be sold by Getty during the event will be amazing, Tiger will get the SI cover the folowing week win or lose
If Tiger aint in the masters, it will get ratings like a Tuesday night NHL pre season game.
12:55 pm on March 16th, 2010
I hope he comes back an wins by 10 strokes!!!
1:04 pm on March 16th, 2010
If he misses the cut this will not be the ratings bonanza that many think it will.
And that is a very real possibility given his layoff.
1:07 pm on March 16th, 2010
“he would have had someone doing a little more P.R. control on his behalf during the whole media scandal…”
he’ll come back and kick everyone’s ass
that’s PR for Tiger
1:13 pm on March 16th, 2010
he is a god among men
1:37 pm on March 16th, 2010
By bringing his circus to town, he now has zero chance of ever becoming a member at Augusta.
1:46 pm on March 16th, 2010
I SAID IT HERE FIRST!!!
But I know none of you will remember.
2:35 pm on March 16th, 2010
hey goose..aka dumbass, when you get the green jacket youre a member by rule at Augusta
5:26 pm on March 16th, 2010
You write “Woods may have initially planned to play the Tavistock Cup at his home course, but when TMZ.com reported the possibility he changed his mind.” Stop giving the media — yourself included — so much credit. TMZ is good but, c’mon, since Tiger’s speech one media outlet or another has been attributing to a source or outright guessing it was possible he’d return for each tournament that has subsequently come up on the calendar…that’s the whole Throw-Enough-Darts-And-One-Will-Hit-The-Target-Theory. Enough overvaluing your own worth already.
7:30 am on March 17th, 2010
really? I mean really. This clown is so see through. Stricker my friend…now that every car company and bank under the sun is hurting financially, your cheques at the end of the tourneys have one chance of being paid, and thats by Tiger’s goodwill.
Golf is in big trouble without Tiger Woods, of course golf wants him back. That said Stricker is right…the old boys at Augusta no doubt feel that their club is a draw in itself. But I’m sure they won’t mind reminding the networks what kind of ratings it drew this year when TV contract talks come up!
1:11 pm on March 24th, 2010
Media
Is this Tiger Woods bashing going to go on forever ??
Keep hounding him till he retires, and THEN u will have NOTHING to write about !!
The media are bigger $cum than Tiger !!
I hope he wins the Grand Slam this year, and Flips everyone the bird and retires !!
Then u will all be screwed !! No one to bash !!
1:15 pm on March 24th, 2010
You would think the pompous jerk would have the courtesy of not making the #1 major into a joke. So much media will be on Tiger the cheat, Tiger the comback kid, Tiger this and that, the whole F***ing tournament will just be 4 days of CIRCUS golf with ” those other guys, you know, the ones that are ALSO the best in the world, getting a second or two of airtime” and every time Tiger bogeys a hole or hits a bad shot, or pats some slut in the crowd on the arse, the rest of the 150 in the field will be forgotten. CAMERAS ON THE ADULTURER… frankly I hope he misses the cut so we don’t have to listen to 4 days of this crap…
2:06 pm on March 24th, 2010
Some of you just don’t get it. Tiger Woods is not the first celebrity who screwed up; nor will he be the last.
If he starts winning again, and making exciting shots and putts, he will be forgiven as have all other sports celebrities, including greats who incurred fan ire like Mickey Mantle and Billy Martin. But if you don’t want to watch 4 days of Tiger or two days or no days, the way to take care of that is simple. Don’t turn on your idiot box or boob tube.
No need to gripe, just turn the stupid thing off.
10:23 am on March 25th, 2010
What Tiger did is between he and his family. The females involved should be ashamed, as they knew he was married. The one releasing cell messages must be advertising her skills to solicit new johns. I’m looking forward to the Masters so I can once again enjoy Tiger’s great incredible skill on the golf course. Have not watched golf since Tiger quit playing.
10:48 am on March 25th, 2010
WHO CARES
10:49 am on March 25th, 2010
I think his coming back for the Master’s is a slap in the face to Jack Nicklaus. He continues to “trophy-hunt”. P.O.S.
2:33 pm on March 26th, 2010
One of these days, someone is going to call Tiger a Child of God, which he still is because God forgives, even though we self-righteous, hypocritical, sanctimonious human beings will not sometimes. The guy cheated on his wife, he was wrong for doing so. But does this verbal lynching have to continue ad infinitum? On the Insider on Wednesday night, they announced the publication of a book entitled “The Tiger Woods Syndrome”, which the author said explains why men cheat. My goodness, you would think that he was Tiger actually invested adultery, which makes me wonder if he did, why it was talked about in The Bible, even before Jesus even walked the face of this earth!
And I hope he sues the pants off the author and publishing for using his name and image in that book. And I also hope he does well in the Masters, even if he does not win it! I just want to see him play!!!!
12:23 am on March 27th, 2010
Man i hope Phil and the other respectful gentlemen kick ris butt. I haven’t liked him since that first Nike commercial came out and never will.
5:24 am on March 29th, 2010
Tiger won’t go away because the media won’t let him.Yeah, he’ll turn The Masters into a media circus despite haw hard the Masters try to control the media. I am so tired of seeing and hearing about Tiger that I’ve gone from fan to don’t care. Tiger adnausiem.
7:41 am on March 29th, 2010
who cares if he comes back. once an idiot always an idiot. too many other good golfers i care to follow. guys with real class. you can’t shine a turd.
9:16 am on March 29th, 2010
I will turn off the set enert time the put the camera on him.he has been a jack ass.. he talkes all the time about his father who do you think was his example????
9:05 pm on March 29th, 2010
im will never buy a nike product if it is erndorsed by tiger
9:07 pm on March 29th, 2010
I WILL NEVER BY A NIKIE PRODUCT IF IT IS ENDORSED BY TIGER. HE IS AN EXCELLENT GOLFER BUT I QUESTION HIS CHARACTER AND HE HAS AN ARROGANT ATTITUDE.
9:42 pm on March 29th, 2010
Did not like Tiger when he started, did not like him when he won every thing in sight, still did not like him when he got caught and still won’t like him when he starts winning everything in site again. But unfortunately I love golf and the PGA tour needs him for the money and the audience. Too bad really.
10:43 pm on March 29th, 2010
A sitting president, sex in the White House.
A presidential candidate cheats on wife, fathers a child, hide the entire situation, expensive hotels as hideaways.
A governor flies state aircraft to meet mistress.
John Daly has his own reality series
Golfer strips down to underwear (wow, if that was Tiger).
Steriod star back in majors as a hitting instructor
Mickey Mantle confirmed drinking problem
Big Ben gets preferential treatment. Why so much against Tiger? What is the one thing that distinguish all these other individuals from Tiger? Think about it. Was it Jack or Arnie that caused the income to go through the roof and create the ratings that we see now. Ladies and gentlemen, ladie lay down all the time for men with or without money that are married, men want to cheat and find a way to get it done. Give it all a break, take a minute off. His wife is still with him, give her a break. And how did the young lady get a ticket to the Masters anyway.
3:21 am on March 30th, 2010
IF U DNT LIKE TIGER…then keep ur mouth shut as ur ass…..IF HE HAS BEEN FORGIVEN BY HIS WIFE AND IF THEY HAD PLANNED TO START A NEW LIFE….why are we making it a bit noisy….
please PEOPLE MIND UR OWN BUSSINESS…IF U DNT HAVE THEN SLEEP…DNT TALK
4:39 am on March 30th, 2010
in tigers race it is accepted for a man to have as many wives as he can afford , just like some whites such as the mormons; so what’s the problem. if anything his only mistake is getting married, besides , tv and the media basically inform us 24/7 that the more sex one has with multiple partners the better person or hero they are ( especially for their ratings) right? so shut up and play golf or take porn off tv and disqualify him. you can’t have it both ways you retards. call me @ 1-607-643-2796. i have lots of answers. regards doug
9:18 am on March 30th, 2010
All of you people doging Tiger act as if it was your sister he cheated on, that’s right she was white,if she were black there would have been hardly any flak.I dont care how many white sluts he sleeps with as long as he plays Golf and breaks all the white records.
11:16 am on March 30th, 2010
He who is without sin cast the first stone. All these whiners should shut up and let live. Just because they were not caught should not be opening their mouths to cast hate. He screwed up and admitted it. Thats more than I can say for the rest for the rest of players.
12:29 pm on March 30th, 2010
he s an asshole just like T O just like Cinco ochino just like… just assholes. she s a moron for marrying the chump ugly bastard in the first place
9:15 am on April 1st, 2010
What can one really say? All guys for that stuff, which is totally unrelated to the sporting world. As long he and the lady get stuff together, It ain’t anyone’s business. i root for him because of the talent. Don’t let the shitheads utter their freakin ‘ crap over something that everyone engages in, fantasizes in, or gets one totally in. Kick their butts, Tiger!!!
10:22 am on April 1st, 2010
We all should not worry what he did or done in his personal life. I’ll bet we all did things that we were not proud of and we all know that all of us has done them whether it’s stealing or cheating. Everyone here some point in their lives have cheated on their significant other, if not, bravo to you. Here, Tiger is the most recognizable athlete in the world so he is much more scrutnize than any athlete in their own sport. My opinion, he should not have gotten married and play the field as much as he wants…if he wasn’t married and played the field, this whole thing would not even be talked about.
10:36 am on April 1st, 2010
ENOUGH of this already
TW is and will always remain an arrogant over-conceited way over paid and what else?because of his colour..
I can just imagine how all the enjoyment of watching the Masters will be sapped by him..every conceivable minute the camera will pan over to him..leading or dragging
MAY HE MISS THE CUT!!!
10:53 am on April 1st, 2010
First, I am not condoning anything that Tiger has done. Second, unlike most, I am not judging him either. It is amazing to me how fast everyone is willing to pass judgment. My hopes are, if you are passing judgment, you are looking at yourself in the mirror as you do. If you are Joe Bagofdonuts, this type of behavior wouldn’t even be newsworthy. If you are Tiger Woods, it is News Breaking which is a very sad testament to our society and our voracious appetite for negative and sensationalistic news…if you can call it that. The real problem transcends Tiger Woods, his fame and his money. The real problem is, most parents aren’t worthy of being considered role models by their own children so children look for role models elsewhere. And this is a reflection of our shallow, me-me-me society where the pervasive feeling appears to be “he who dies with the most money wins” at whatever the expense. Why don’t we spend less time worrying about other people’s lives and focus on our own. When you look at yourself in the mirror, ask yourself if you are worthy of your family’s, friend’s and colleague’s respect and if not, make a commitment to be honest with yourself and do something about it. Life is very short and there are far more important things to occupy one’s time with than the illicit affairs of a great golfer. In the end, this will all blow over, be forgotten and Tiger will be remembered for what Tiger is…the greatest golfer in the world, ever.
11:00 am on April 1st, 2010
Your kidding right. Without Tiger there is no Golf. He wrote the book. Love him hate him trash him whatever no golfer will ever win or do what he has done to golf and he has years to go. Not els, stricker,palmer, jack. We would not be watching golf if it was not for Tiger. Masters GO Tiger
12:29 am on April 2nd, 2010
Steve Stricker- how ARROGANT AND BRAGGADOCIO!!! You’re only # 2, in case you forget. Your’re no TIGER WOODS as far as golf skill and will never be # 1 in the world.
You S H U T U P!! UNLESS you can say you’re 100% a faithful husband and 100% excellent father to your children. The same with every other golfers. If you have ZERO affairs before or other transgressions, then you can criticize Tiger. If you’re not sure, then STOP TALKING and GIVE OPINIONS OR ADVISE. DON”T BE SELF-RIGHTEOUS. We don’t need it nor want to listen to you. You’re ENVIOUS of TIGER. Now, it SHOWS.
10:01 am on April 2nd, 2010
I have never been an ELRIDGE fan, anybody who is too good to be true, ISN’T.
It is obvious that his pric… is bigger than his brain but to hear that the whores he slept with want an apology makes me want to puke.
How come they suspend DALY for unprofessial behavior etc
football players get suspended for inappropiate behavior yet ASSH.. gets a red carpet welcome back treatment which turns the game of GOLFS RULES INTO GARBAGE
I hope his knee gives out and he falls down and ruins the stick between his legs so it can not be used again
10:26 am on April 2nd, 2010
h
10:27 am on April 2nd, 2010
Tiger wasnt forgiven by his wife, he paid her off ,just like the rest of his concubines.
10:28 am on April 2nd, 2010
Like p daddy , gonna change what i want to be called and it will make it all better.
10:29 am on April 2nd, 2010
or is it diddy, while the pee part is right.
6:42 am on April 6th, 2010
I think every living sole should live Tiger alone and let him play golf. I don’t like anyone who cheats, but like someone said golf isn’t golf without Tiger. i never liked golf til I started watching Tiger. I blame the d—- b——! they should have kepted their mouths shut! They just want to make a name for themselves. What happened to the saying YOU DON’T KISS AND TELL! you should keep something like that to yourself instead of trying to ruin some-ones life. Look at the hooker that got caught with Robert Downey Jr. she became a rich B—-! Just leave Tiger ALONE and let him play golf. I think everyone had embarassed him enough! Tiger has said he was sorry so let it be.