For the first time since his Thanksgiving accident, Team Tiger is now leaking details of his personal life in an attempt to fend off tabloid reports.
ASSOCIATED PRESS reporter Doug Ferguson has long been known for being friendly with Woods, so it’s no surprise that he’s first to report that the golfer is now back to working on his game. (Ferguson also Tweeted about the comeback piece.)
Tiger Woods is back at home after a week of family counseling in Arizona and is trying to get back into a routine that includes golf and fitness, according to a person with knowledge of his schedule.
Woods returned to his home near Orlando on Saturday and has been hitting balls on the range at Isleworth, not far from where he ran his SUV into a tree in a middle-of-the-night accident on Nov. 27 that set off revelations of extramarital affairs.
The person, who spoke on condition of anonymity because only Woods is authorized to release information about his schedule, said there is still no timetable for golf’s No. 1 player to return to competition.
For those in-the-know, the veracity of Ferguson’s reporting as it pertains to Woods’ agenda is unquestioned.
This news is not a case of word leaking out against Woods’ wishes. On the contrary, the news reported by Tiger-friendly Ferguson is from the Woods camp and designed to signal his imminent return.
Much like his recently staged photos, Woods is doing all he can to prevent the tabloids from benefiting from his comeback.
UPDATE: Steve Elling of CBSSports.com reported yesterday that Woods has been practicing:
As celebrity and gossip media have reported that he was undergoing drug rehab in Arizona, he was spotted on the practice range at his home course on Sunday afternoon, hitting balls.
What that means for his return date is unclear, but a resident who lives near Woods at Isleworth Country Club reported to CBSSports.com that he spotted Woods – his personal electric cart parked nearby and his trademark stuffed Tiger headcover peeking out of his bag – working on his game on the club’s range.
Moreover, Woods is said to be staying at the home he formerly shared with his wife, Elin, and not at the townhouse he owns located around the corner from the Isleworth clubhouse.
More reason to think that Woods’ comeback could begin at Bay Hill on March 25.
11:45 am on March 2nd, 2010
Winners always win,
He gets the extra on the side and ends up right back at home.
3:28 pm on March 2nd, 2010
but a chastened, wiser and sadder man in a very small cage
6:16 pm on March 2nd, 2010
Good for him! Great for golf!!! He’ll be ready for the Masters.
7:18 pm on March 2nd, 2010
Hopefully an end to all of this (ad nauseum) negativity!
9:44 pm on March 2nd, 2010
I guess his “heartfelt” prepared speech was only valid until Master’s time rolled around. So much for sincerity. I guess he didn’t need as much time as we thought to become mentally healthy again. Surely it wasn’t all a hoax and the self enforced sabbatical was only good until the majors rolled around. What a piece of work.
9:07 am on March 3rd, 2010
Well,
$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$ for PGA
$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$ for TV
$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$ for sponsors
$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$ for Tiger
Did you think he cared about anything else!
9:31 am on March 3rd, 2010
What a world we live in, where other’s troubles can be so destructive. I wonder how many of us have had Tigers woo’s and the rest of the world could care less. Hopefully he will get back to the game. What a waste of such a great talent to be on the black list. You know what they say about glass houses. Hurry back Tiger we all miss you.
9:36 am on March 3rd, 2010
well said Becky
9:52 am on March 3rd, 2010
I’ve got a good friend who knows the real scoop. The Wood’s stay in Phoenix was at the private residence of a chi chi celeb psycho therapist. The Dr.’s daughter provided nanny service allowing Tiger to reconnect with his inner nanny. No word on why lingerie in size 38 slim was delivered from a local Lane Bryant store. But a wrangler for a local dude ranch said the the bull whip he provided to the address was made from virgin hide with real snake belly trim. No comment from Jenna Jameson who was visiting next door and said her lips were healed. Uh, sealed!
10:44 am on March 3rd, 2010
Well said Becky…I’m still amazed at the millions of people out there who suddenly live perfect lives and derive subconsious pleasure from watching and hearing about his woes..can wait for him to be back playing. I say F’ the media, F the general public…just go play golf and kick some a$$.
11:56 am on March 3rd, 2010
I’ve never been a “gossip hound” but I can’t turn my eyes away from this story and have searched for an explanation. I think it’s b/c this was so out of character for him (at least the lack of discretion) and showed the human/flawed side of a man whose projected inhumanlike perfection and never revealed an iota of who he truly was. Yes there is a precentage of the population who thrives on anyone’s misery but this story transcends that in a very different way
4:29 pm on March 3rd, 2010
I miss watching Tiger hit golf balls and making spectacular shots. I’m selfish. I want him back on the tube and out of the tabloids, but I’ll take both if necessary.
5:29 pm on March 3rd, 2010
Unlike so many of the neurotic jealous and hate obsessed wannabes, I’m looking forward to seeing a great golfer do that at which he excels.
I believe that he’ll have a kinder, gentler atitude towards the game while still retaining his fierce will to win.
Tee it up, Tiger.
This can only be good for the game.
All the rest is for the small minded in line at the grocery check out.
8:25 pm on March 3rd, 2010
Yaaaaay! Tiger’s back…..I hope. Kick butt in the Masters. I hated golf b4 Tiger Woods. I thought it was boring and just couldn’t understand why someone would just walk around hitting a stupid ball around grass!!! Now, I know golf terminology and how important an ‘eagle’ is and how dreadful hitting ‘bogeys’ are; etc. I actually do not watch a golf game if Tiger is not playing. I love him as an athlete………What he did to himself, Elin, his children & extended family is despicable. It’s a tragedy. Whenever he returns, he will be a golfer to be reckoned with as in the past. The PGA miss Tiger and some players who could not beat him are secretly doing cartwheels in the club house restrooms. Drop the crap! He did what the other golfers have done. Move on until the next gets caught. Haters & jealous golfers/ fans/ media need to search their own closets to re-introduce themselves to their filthy skeletons. Whatever happens, it is Elin & Tigers personal business; not ours or the holier than thou media and imperfect people who aren’t his fans.
12:06 am on March 4th, 2010
Tiger Woods = Just another performance enhancing drug user.
Why bother watching his golf game? It isn’t real.
4:42 pm on March 6th, 2010
Tiger is just another BLACK, who the media loves to bring down. They (Media) could not wait to tarnish his
image. Men and women cheat in their marriages sometimes. It’s thier business to make it right. They love when Tiger bring in new fans and more to watch Golf and now the have the best of both world People to watch to just to hate cheaters & the fan who want Tiger to return.
4:49 pm on March 11th, 2010
It’s not a black or white thing Paul, it’s a morals issue, which some people like to overlook. I could care less if Tiger ever came back to Golf!
6:43 pm on March 12th, 2010
tiger makes the game exciting he can make shots no one else can.I’m sorry his family had to go through the pain. But I hope tiger is back.
5:38 am on March 13th, 2010
sss
5:54 am on March 13th, 2010
With Gary McCord being nixed from CBS and the Masters for using the phase “slick as bikini wax” then there should be no discussion of Tigers return at Augusta. If the committee keeps the high standards they claim to hold, then Tiger Woods SHOULD NOT receive an invitation and can watch the tourney in the 19th hole—or should that be in the “19th HO”