Sympatico Golf Column: Tiger's Masterful Return?

My take on news of Tiger Woods’ return to Augusta for the Masters is now up at Sympatico — and here’s a taste:

The rehabilitation of Tiger Woods’ public image after a sordid sex scandal may never be complete, but rebuilding of his professional career on the golf course will start next month at the Masters.

In a short statement posted today on his website, Woods said that “after a long and necessary time away from the game, I feel like I’m ready to start my season at Augusta.”

Truthfully Woods, who has been linked to extramarital affairs with up to 14 women, hasn’t been away that long. He usually plays a minimal schedule early in the season, so in fact he’s probably only missed a couple of tournaments. And though Woods says he’s returning out of his love for Augusta National and the Masters, the truth is much more cynical.

Tiger Woods loves to control things, from his golf ball to the media right through to, apparently, the multitude of women with whom he had secret liaisons over the past few years. By returning to play at Augusta, Woods is once again demonstrating that, regardless of whether he went into rehabilitation or whether he’s becoming a born again Buddhist, you can’t get a Tiger to change his stripes.

“I think Augusta is where I need to be, even though it’s been awhile since I last played,” he said in his statement. “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.”