The PGA wants and needs Tiger out there playing. TV numbers increase by 100% when he's in the hunt on Saturday and Sunday. Millions of people (I'm one of 'em) don't play golf and generally don't give a rip about the "Greater East Overshoe Open," but when Tiger's there, ahhh, that's different. Some of 'em doubtless want to see Tiger get his butt kicked, but they're watching.
Any tournament he enters has a stamp of approval no amount of money can buy. This guy has dominated his "sport" (that's another argument for another day) like practically no one has. The one exception might be the Babe, who not only saved baseball, but changed it forever. It's a real short list: Tiger and Babe.
In any discussion of who should be favored in any tournament he's in, the TV guys always say "Tiger," then they hunt around for someone else to mention. It's always the same. This season, coming off a surgical knee, how many did he win? Was it 6 or 7? No matter. Nobody else won more than 2.
So now the question is his future. Is his "standing down" real or just a publicity stunt? And is it temporary? And if he returns will he still be Tiger?Only time will tell us how sincere he is here (and maybe not even then, given his penchant for privacy). Photo ops of him and his family won't quiet the cynicism, and I don't know what will. Even so, I can't imagine he'll stay out of the game for good or even an entire season, for that matter.
Some will suggest he ought to give up golf because of his bad behavior. Why? Would we expect anyone else in any other line of endeavor to give up his career under these circumstances? No. So why should Tiger?
Then the question becomes, when he returns will he still "be" Tiger? To me, what has always been scary about this guy is his unparalled competitiveness. We've all seen him, many times in fact, just will himself to make a shot and win a tournament. I'm betting his drive to win will remain in tact and be augmented by a desire to restore his place in golf. And the way to do that is by playing and winning.
This guy is a true prodigy. The combination of immense talent, the perfect physique, and unbelievable competitiveness all honed to razor sharpness by his father. Early in his career, when we still talked about his race, there was a lot of talk about Tiger's success pointing the way for other black kids to be sucessful. Well, I hope so, but guys like Tiger come along once a generation.
And while his success may open the doors for other black kids to take up the game, maybe play for their high schools, possibly get a college scholarship and then maybe turn pro. None of that is predictive of another Tiger.
So, I think he'll return, sooner rather than later, and he'll still be Tiger. Some will never forgive him. But most will. And the PGA will do everything to protect him while he's out there. Because what's good for Tiger's bottom line is good for theirs.
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), but jack put up with people yelling during his swing and many "fat jack!" calls along with other weight related barbs during rounds because he was stealing tournaments from arnie.