He's Baaaack!
BY RON BARR
It’s official, Tiger Woods will return to competitive pro golf on April 8th at the Masters. In a statement Woods said, "The Masters is where I won my first major and I view this tournament with great respect. After a long and necessary time away from the game, I feel like I'm ready to start my season at Augusta." The Woods drama has been one of the most interesting stories that I’ve witnessed in my many years of covering sports.
It has the elements of competition, human drama, self-destruction, embarrassment, ridicule and pain. It tops my list of all-time soap operas. And, now the comeback.
No Woods’ “comeback announcement” would be complete without the obligatory admission his golf comeback is not without the need for continued work on his personal life comeback. "I have undergone almost two months of inpatient therapy and I am continuing my treatment. Although I'm returning to competition, I still have a lot of work to do in my personal life," Woods said. Yeah he does, and it’s going to be interesting to see where he becomes a winner first, on the golf course or at home. Most smart money would say it would be on the golf course where he has the most control on his performance and the outcome.
The television ratings for the Masters is always high, but what do you think they’ll be for Tiger’s “comeback” performance? They’ll probably be higher than any Game 7 of the World Series or the Final Four. But, Woods picked the perfect tournament to make his comeback. The Masters affords him a chance to rebuild his golf and personal confidence in a very controlled atmosphere. The Augusta National Golf Club is the sports’ cathedral and the atmosphere and environment is treated as such for golfer as well as fan. Woods won’t have to worry about being hassled by the media; they’re kept at arms length and will only have access to Woods in a tightly controlled manner. The clubhouse and players’ locker room will be off limits to anyone who might create an uncomfortable encounter for Woods. I wouldn’t be surprised if security had a “shoot on sight” order for anyone who tried crack the security, tried to engage Woods or dared to say anything publicly that might be upsetting to him. Augusta National once banned a CBS broadcaster from working the tournament after he said on-air that the Master tournament greens were “as slick as a bikini wax.” Masters golf decorum is strictly enforced and any breach of Augusta’s ironfisted definition of it will get you banished abruptly. It borders on abusive.
Like a rock star, Tiger Woods now begins his “Comeback Tour.” Elin, his wife, can take comfort in knowing that unlike a rock star’s tour, this one won’t have groupies throwing their undies at Tiger during his performance or waiting outside the dressing room trying to get a hookup with the star. While this may be new ground for Tiger, it won’t be completely strange ground for him. Woods is a four-time winner of the Masters and Woods is doing something he’s familiar with and comfortable doing, playing golf.
When he steps to the first tee it’ll be nearly 5 months since he’s played a competitive round of golf. What can we expect? I think if he can shutout any distracting thoughts early on, he can win this year’s Masters. I’ve found that the truly great athletes like challenges, and challenges have always brought the best out of them. Mohammed Ali, Michael Jordan, Wayne Gretzky, Pete Sampras and Reggie Jackson always performed big time when they had the most pressure and/or controversy surrounding a performance. If Woods attacks this Masters with more determination and focus than he has any other golf effort in his life, you’ll see him hold the Masters trophy on that April 11th Sunday afternoon. If he does, he’ll be satisfied and golf happy, but he has many more personal rounds to go to determine whether he can find happiness in his personal life.
I’m Ron Barr.
Ron Barr is an Emmy award winning writer and the host of the nationally and internationally syndicated sports talk show, Sports Byline USA.
Blue Goo Medicine Minute
Head and Mouth Protection: Think about whatever sports you're into these days and be prepared to take a shot to the head or mouth somewhere, some time, or some how. There are several ways to protect your precious cargo. Click below to listen.