Based on Tiger Woods‘ publicly-expressed disdain for the media outlets that blew the whistle on his serial infidelity, it’s a pretty good bet that he’s returning to golf at The Masters because he’ll have complete, personal control over who will be allowed on the Augusta National grounds. (Regardless of what Masters officials will state publicly.)
(3-months-rent deposit policy finally pays off?)
In other words, the only way for outlets like TMZ.com to cover the week’s festivities will be to smuggle a reporter and/or photographer in via spectator badge or sneak onto the grounds. Ironic considering the very outlets responsible for insane interest in the event won’t be allowed to cover it.
I’ve attended The Masters as a fan and even before this year’s event can attest that Augusta National has the tightest oversight on spectators I’ve ever experienced at a major sporting event. That includes the Super Bowl and the World Cup. If TMZ and other outlets do end up spending thousands on Masters badges, I think there’s a reasonable chance those staffers will be found out and barred per Woods.
So that leaves one option: Sneaking on to Augusta National.
Impossible? If you believe a PGA Tour pro’s on the record account, absolutely not.
Former PGA Tour pro Taylor Smith, who passed away in 2007, detailed to Mike Stachura of Golf Digest in April, 1999, how he once snuck on to Augusta National completely undetected.
It was August 1985 when he returned to begin fall practice with the golf team, but before he got on campus, before he went out to the team’s home course, before he met the coach, Smith made a slight detour.
He turned down Washington Road past the famous entrance and then made a left on a street that frames the northern boundary of the course. About a mile down the road are the Village Green apartments. From there, it’s a walk of about 150 yards to Augusta National’s back gate. Even now, Smith is a little afraid of telling this story:
“I parked my car in the lot at the apartments and walked down Rae’s Creek. This was during the summer, when the course was closed, and the greens were probably three inches high. There was no sand in the bunkers — they were just totally bare, with mats in there like they put a tarp or something over them.
“The grass on the tee boxes was real high, too, and there was no water in the creek in front of 12; it was totally drained and full of mud. You could see balls lying in there.”
Of course Smith’s story by no means indicates that a similar ploy will be possible the second week of April. Smith snuck on when The Masters wasn’t being played. Obviously there will be considerable security guarding the grounds that week. (If successful, it’ll be over a fence, not through any gate.)
Not to mention that the Village Green Apartments Smith referred to no longer exist, with the buildings having been recently razed and the lot cleared. Though there is still an adjacent apartment complex, Willow Ridge, just across the street from the course. (Paparazzo HQ perhaps?)
If Woods keeps his itinerary secret the days leading up to Masters week, I do think you will see some of the more ruthless paparazzi outfits attempt to crash the course for some candids of him. But if Woods is transparent about his whereabouts, I doubt many of the same outlets that broke the story will even attempt to gain access to The Masters.
An airport ambush and/or appearance by Elin outside the grounds is probably the best any gossip outlet can hope for that week.
Though I’ll be rooting for helicopters and as much random distraction as possible to aggravate Billy Payne & Co. For all The Masters has provided Woods, you would’ve thought he’d have spared Augusta National the indignity of staging the impending three ring circus.
They truly deserve each other.
3:29 pm on March 16th, 2010
My Father has been sneaking into the Masters Tournament for the past 35 years and has never once come close to being caught. He taught my Brother and I how to do it at an early age and we have been doing it ever since. Had a close call with a Securitas officer a couple years ago but other than that, nothing. Remember there badges not tickets.
3:51 pm on March 16th, 2010
I think (most) anyone would have disdain for the media outlets, airing out their (personal!) dirty laundry. And with all the “first-stone-throwers”, and hypocritcal cynics/haters out there, anyone in his shoes would probably do the same (i.e. play at the Masters first).
4:07 pm on March 16th, 2010
Tony , Infideldrick Woods does not deserve that courtesy. Most anyone including me can cast that proverbial stone because we wouldn’t consider ever doing what Woods has done,,,, stones away. No cynics or hypocrites here,,, just haters. and people who would consider wearing tiger’s shoes would need four of them.
4:40 pm on March 16th, 2010
Hi hex R. Well, a sin is a sin, no matter how minor or grave, isn’t it? So, I disagree, and believe that nobody may/should cast the first stone. And haven’t most, or all of us cheated on our significant other anyway? Even if we didn’t cheat her/him by having sex with another, didn’t most/all of us at one time or another, have lustful thoughts of some else? Isn’t that a form of cheating?
5:31 pm on March 16th, 2010
Point taken Tony,,,
but as an advanced species which inherently can not control ones thoughts, but we can full-on, control ones actions, We should be able to discern the difference between reality and fantacy. And there is a clear difference between “not being perfect” (i.e. I, you, most of us) and having such a compromised character as to habitually act as TW has acted. I am proud that I am a better person than TW, because I would never act on those fantacies… and I feel great about casting that stone. TW is the poster person for what wrong with society.
11:04 am on March 17th, 2010
cast that stone toward spell-check
11:46 am on March 17th, 2010
JJ-
F-in’ brutal man, and funny as hell.
11:57 am on March 17th, 2010
Good grief you people might consider focusing all this mental energy on getting something going in YOUR life and stop fretting about Tiger Woods. He plays GOLF for a living for God’s sake. GOLF, a game, GET IT? That along with being a corporate pitch man trying to sell you stuff you don’t need. Calm down and refocus.
2:11 pm on March 17th, 2010
First off, he chose the The Masters because of the privacy and tight spectator security. TMZ and the rest of under dwelling scum will get in but one click, sound or peep and out you go. Don’t foget Tiger is beloved, affairs or no affairs, and spectators will rat out the papanazi’s.
For those concerned about the ” moral dilema” get a life and a grip. He isn’t going to wear a scarlett letter under his swoosh. If dont like him or disagree with his life style then boycott Nike. other than that there is NOTHING you can do. Its a free country, if want to live where they punish these sins then move to the Middle East or some other Muslim kingdom.
2:56 pm on March 18th, 2010
Will there be bitches? I’m there!
1:49 pm on March 24th, 2010
Considering some of the trash those tabloids and paparazzi pull, Tiger may have had to make an 180 and openly admit his mistakes so they are out in the open, and soon to be forgotten, of no further consequense past news. As far as one in here is spouting off, if you con’t cheat on your spouse, that is all well and good, but you seem to me to be of the mold of Bill Clinton the way you talk. “I did not have sex with that woman.” LOL. Everyone knows he did, one way or the other. If you haven’t cheated, good for you, but now that you are openly bragging about that, you better walk the walk and talk the talk so to speak, or you are even worse than Woods. You will be an hypocrite.
12:08 pm on March 30th, 2010
I grew up on Hiawassia Rd. which is in Vineland subdivision bordering the east side of the course. Every kid I knew that lived in that neighborhood snuck on that course. Those that lived directly on West Vineland Rd. that actually had the National fence in their back yard all had their own personal holes cut through that fence. The multiple strands of barbed wire on top did nothing to keep us out. There are several hundred yards of woods between the fence and the actual course on that side. Staying close to the woods for a quick getaway if needed, we used to putt on 10 and play 11 and 12, and every ball we found belonged to Arnold Palmer. (If Arnie really had lost a tenth of the balls we claimed were his, he never would have won one Masters, much less 4). I finally stopped sneaking on after a younger neighbor kid got caught (by Clifford Roberts himself no less) while trespassing with me (I ran faster). The next day, there was a small blurb in the Augusta Herald that said that the National was getting guard dogs to patrol the course. I could outrun a Pinkerton but I figured I couldn’t outrun one of those dogs. (I later heard through the rumor mill that they only kept the dogs for a short time - they kept messing up the course.)
Rae’s Creek, which separated my neighborhood from Country Club HIlls and crosses in front of the 12th green NEVER went completely dry. Before they dammed it in front of 12 and made it into a “pond” there, it was very shallow during dry spells and did have sand bars in it, but the author’s story is totally wrong in this regard. I think maybe he’s making up a story using parts borrowed from other people.