In Support of Tiger Woods

When will we see Tiger Woods again?

Tiger Woods is no longer the man you thought you knew. Yet in all this hoopla; the dramatic fall from grace of the world’s most popular athlete, those who said that they actually knew Tiger as a man are just plain kidding themselves.

The fact is, Tiger Woods is a golfer. He’s the best anyone has ever seen. He has also never let any of you into his personal life, and has failed to throw his weight into any social agenda of world importance, save of course, his foundation and endorsement of President Obama. Yet now, because of his personal problems and subsequent media firestorm surrounding the details of his private business, the golf world has lost him. And it may be forever.

Tiger’s rapidly unfolding, remarkable story has been told by every sleazy publication in the world. Though I feel it is important for this media organization to now choose its side. We choose golf.

Pros N’ Hackers stands by Tiger Woods, the world’s greatest golfer. We’re in the golf business and no matter what anyone on the PGA TOUR, or otherwise says, golf can’t do business without its CEO.

Even though I’m still in love with golf, my confidence in the game’s future reached a new low on Friday, December 11^th 2009. The day the music died. The day Tiger said he would be hanging up the spikes for an “indefinite” period of time. Mark my word, until his return, minutes will seem like hours.

Part of the Never Ending Scandal

Am I the only one that’s willing to say… “Why couldn’t these sorted details have come out later in life or just remained hidden, for that matter?” because that’s how I feel. I don’t give a damn. Tiger Woods was in his prime, and in-sight of the two greatest records in this sport: Sam Snead’s 82 PGA TOUR victories and, more importantly, Jack Nicklaus’ 18 major championships. Who knows when he’ll be able to refocus on those tasks, or if he will be the unbreakable figure we all came to know. Does a broken Tiger dominate?

Woods, with 71 PGA TOUR wins and 14 major championships has done things on the golf course that are simply unthinkable. As a 34-year old lifelong golf fan, I only have room for a few dramatic golf memories that don’t involve Tiger Woods.

He won the 1997 Masters by 12 shots. He dusted the field by 15 at the 2000 U.S. Open. The list goes on and on.

He makes clutch shot after clutch shot, and every single putt that he needs to make, no matter the distance or opponent.

Say what you will about me, but I will not join the crusade to vilify this man. I don’t care about his wife, his girls on the side, his wrecked SUV or his wrecked personal life. I could give a damn about the millions of people, publications and web sites who cared nothing about golf or Tiger Woods, the magnificent corporate ornament, yet can’t report enough on the flawed infidel who is apparently addicted to sex, drugs and even rock and roll if they look hard enough I’ll bet.

Partly, Tiger Woods is being punished for creating Tiger Woods. There is no doubt in my mind that, in his veneer, he manufactured a double standard for himself. He’s up there with Babe Ruth, Muhammad Ali and Michael Jordan, in terms of his athletic achievement, popularity and importance to his profession, all of whom were supernatural athletes, yet flawed men.

I could write a novel about the indiscretions of sporting celebrities. And then I’ll follow it up with one about actors and entertainers, followed by Vol. III, The Politicians.

And suddenly, I’m supposed to think that my sport’s brightest star has burnt out, just like that. Just because Tiger can’t seem to get enough when it comes to the opposite sex. Maybe he shouldn’t have gotten married. And he definitely shouldn’t have made some of the choices that he has apparently made, time and time again. However, none of this has anything to do with Tiger Woods the world’s best golfer. But listening to many reports, one might think he’s the world’s worst human being.

This is the image of Tiger that most should want to remember.

This is disastrous in more ways than one. The PGA TOUR will take a huge sponsor hit from these shenanigans. Tiger will never play the schedule that he once did. In my opinion, he may begin a Hogan type existence- Reclusion for most of the year and then perhaps we’ll see him at the majors. This has all gone too far and has ripped golf apart at the seams. In terms of notoriety and financial impact, what Tiger once giveth, he now taketh away. But it doesn’t have to be lost forever. I know he will be back, healed and ready to excite us all over again.

To many, Tiger may not fit the image of the squeaky clean, perfect man anymore. But he’s a perfect golfer. That’s all that I care about.

-Chris Counts, Editor

Tell Pros N’ Hackers how you feel about the World’s Number One Golfer.