Reader Offended Wafflehouse Patron pointed me to this story in yesterday’s Globe op-ed section by my friend Guy Nicholson that cuts to the chase on the Tiger Woods situation — and here’s a taste:
Tiger Woods has announced his return to golf at the Masters after a four-month break and unsavoury disclosures about his personal life. Due to his reclusive nature, a number of questions remain to be answered.
Why did he choose the Masters for his comeback?
Augusta National is a notoriously exclusive private club that runs its tournament with an iron fist and little outside scrutiny. Debuting there, rather than at a regular PGA Tour event, will allow Mr. Woods to control his contact with fans and reporters. It is a complete coincidence that there are no female members at Augusta.
What shape will his game be in?
Mr. Woods has a mixed record when returning from extended absences. He missed the cut at the 2006 U.S. Open after a nine-week hiatus to mourn his father, but won the same tournament in 2008 after a similar break to recover from knee surgery. It’s unlikely that he played in either of those tournaments after several months without sex.
How will the public react?
Despite intense publicity surrounding Mr. Woods’s accident and affairs, many fans remain supportive, saying coverage of the golfer’s private life has been hypocritical and in bad taste. Internet users communicated this displeasure in December, after the scandal broke, by Googling his name 5,000 per cent more often than they had in November.
Will he be staying in one of the Member’s cabins on the property?
Gary,
I don’t know that the Club would extend that courtesy to him.