Tiger Woods: Love him or hate him, he’s still the show
Tiger Woods may never dominate the PGA Tour again, but he remains golf's biggest star going into the Masters. (AP photo)
If you can get past the circus and past the character defects, if you can get past Tiger Woods’ bizarre obsession with the Navy SEALs, and that three of his alleged former mistresses (porn stars) are releasing a movie Tuesday (“Notorious Tales of the World’s Greatest Golfer,” and we’re just assuming it’s not about No. 1-ranked Luke Donald), and that his former swing coach is pimping a book, here’s one undeniable truth: Woods is gold — for the PGA Tour, for the sports world, for us.
Other golfers tire of answering questions about him, but they know who moves the meter. They know who sells tickets and sponsorships and ultimately brings more money and attention to the sport, and therefore them.
Fans may be divided on him – some still clinging to the being (not human) who won 14 majors and 71 Tour events in 14 years, others refusing to let go of the being (less than human?) who burned bridges with his arrogance, rudeness, infidelities and Nike-packaged phoniness.
But Woods’ win at the Arnold Palmer Invitational last week should be considered welcome news, even for those who want him to do a royal face plant this week at the Masters.
He makes things interesting. He makes you watch. He creates drama. He ignites galleries.
He makes everybody ask two questions: 1) Who’s leading? 2) Where’s Tiger?
Nobody else does that.
Golf purists may not care and probably prefer otherwise: But Woods, as one of those few stars who transcends his sport, will bring eyes to the TV this week from those who otherwise find golf kind of boring.
“Say what you want — good, bad or indifferent — you’re writing about him because he’s the greatest golfer in the world,” said Billy Andrade, the long-time Atlanta pro and now analyst for the Golf Channel. “Any time he shows up, he’s Elvis. He’s a rock star. I remember taking him around for a practice round when he was 16 at the Honda Classic, and he was that way back then. He’s a game-changer.”
We’ll learn this week about the significance of Woods’ first win in over two years. We’ll see if he can drive straight and avoid three-putts and meltdowns, like those we witnessed at the Atlanta Athletic Club in August, when he failed to make the cut of the PGA Championship (77-73-Hartsfield).
We’ll see how the kid who no longer is a kid (36) can get around for four days at Augusta National after four knee surgeries and with a tender Achilles.
If Woods succeeds, the thought of catching Jack Nicklaus in career majors wins (he’s four behind) is within reach. It’s a storyline, better than some of the others we’ve witnessed.
Two years ago, it was the TMZ Masters, with stories lingering from Woods’ split with his wife, the one-car/one-tree collision, stories of porn stars and affairs and a plane pulling banners over hallowed Augusta National.
Joslyn James, one of his alleged exes, picked Masters week to display her store-bought wares at the Pink Pony. (She briefly wore a green jacket that week. He didn’t.)
This year, it’s Hank Haney, Woods’ former swing coach of six years, who’s dancing on stage with his book, “The Big Miss.” It was perfectly timed for release last week.
The book has a few interesting insights. But that doesn’t make Haney any better than James. Both are looking to profit. The only difference between the two is breast size.
Haney writes that Tiger is cheap. He writes that Tiger ate his dinner fast, left the table before he was finished and wouldn’t get him a Popsicle out of the freezer. Move over, Michener.
Haney waxes on about Woods’ fascination with the SEALs, suggesting that became more important to him than golf or the pursuit of majors. He contends Woods’ well-chronicled knee problems can be traced to several days of training (including parachute jumps) with military personnel. He writes Woods even went on long jogs in army boots around the posh golf resort of Isleworth.
Probably petrified the poor ducks.
Haney sent Woods an email: “Focus on your destiny, and that isn’t flushing bad guys out of buildings in Iraq. Just play the video games some more.”
OK. That’s funny.
“I think for Tiger it was more the challenge of thinking, ‘I can do this,’” Andrade said of Woods’ SEALs fascination. “But come on — we’re golfers, not triathletes. Stop training like Mr. Universe. All you have to do is get that little ball in the hole — and the little ball has no idea if you lifted weights or ran five miles.”
The story has changed, even somewhat mutated. But Tiger Woods is still the story.
By Jeff Schultz
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108 comments Add your comment
Mike
April 1st, 2012
9:01 am
Im rooting for Tiger to win next weekend.
I wish he would embrace his dark side and fully become evil Tiger Woods. Dress in all black. Sink a 25 foot putt, club between the legs hip thrusting. Start drinking mid-round. Openly hit on all chicks on the course. More cursing.
Screw all the boring, conservative, golf dorks that root for FIGJAM.
Saint
April 1st, 2012
9:24 am
Some people do not know what a Saint is! A Saint is not a perfect, sinless person. There is no such human. A Saint is simply a believer in Christ. I am a Saint, just as John, or Peter, although Paul has nothing on me as for as sin!!!! I really enjoy watching Tiger play and compete, however, his language often caught on tv, are words I never heard from Jack or Arnold or Lee or Gary etc. Thinking is one thing, saying out loud for kids to hear is another. As the Bible says, even fools appear wise if they keep their mouths shut!!! Perhaps Tiger should take a lesson….
Dan
April 1st, 2012
9:34 am
Gene, excellent
timboy
April 1st, 2012
10:02 am
Still the greatest golfer and an even greater person to play the game was Jack Nicklaus. Jack dominated in his time just as much or more than Tiger.
pawleys island jacket
April 1st, 2012
12:35 pm
i am tired of the media fawning all over woods. i hope he never makes another cut!
wxwax
April 1st, 2012
1:22 pm
This whole SEAL business seems pretty obvious.
Daddy was in the Special Forces and measuring-up to Daddy seems to be a big part of his life. He cheated like Daddy and he wanted to be a super-soldier like Daddy.
Can’t fault a guy for the soldier part.
Bill
April 1st, 2012
1:36 pm
Vinning you are wrong.It doesn’t matter who Tiger ran around with.Is is the fact he ran around with these women while his wife and 2 young children were at home.
I feel for those kids and what their peers will say to them about their Dad as they grow older.Yes they have all the money they will ever need but that is not everything.
It has been widely reported that Tiger is a lousy tipper.That tells you something about the man.
He also leaves dinner when he is finished not waiting on friends or guests to finish.
Bottom line he is s great golfer and a compelling watch.He is not a good person or a good man.
Ken Stallings
April 1st, 2012
1:48 pm
“… bizzare obsession with the SEALS …”
Schultz, only you could write a column about a subject for which many others have written and manage to form words that would be highly objectionable. I suppose you are somewhat familiar with Tiger’s family, so I suppose you knew his father was a special forces Lieutenant Colonel, career officer who retired from the US Army.
Therefore, Tiger’s respect and interest in the military, and special forces units in particular is entirely consistent with his personal history growing up and his makeup.
What it seems to me is that every jerk on the planet looking to cash in on Tiger’s celebrity is writing the worst junk about him one can imagine. If people did not see justification in Tiger firing his former caddy, then the bizzare behavior of that former caddy on his slash and burn campaign for a buck has validated the move and answered all the questions. Said caddy seems to be a first class ______ (fill in word I cannot write here).
In terms of the Navy SEALS, Tiger was able to tour the SEALS training facility as an invited guest. It was something a number of noteworthy people have been able to do. It was not bizzare — far from it. Perhaps, Schultz, one day you can emerge from your shell of a media world and understand why it was not bizzare.
Tiger is certainly not the angel he was portrayed to be originally. But, he’s not the devil many try to portray him to be today to score a cheap payday.
Jeff Schultz
April 1st, 2012
3:20 pm
Dan, very kind comments. Thank you.
Jeff Schultz
April 1st, 2012
3:22 pm
Ken Stallings — I’m well aware of Tiger’s background with his father and his love for the military. Not sure I follow the comments.
Golf Swing Videos » New ‘Tiger Woods’ game not quite a hole in one – USA TODAY
April 1st, 2012
5:02 pm
[...] Woods, McIlroy have starring roles in MastersDubuque Telegraph HeraldDaily Camera -Atlanta Journal Constitution (blog) -New York Daily Newsall 637 news [...]
eddy
April 1st, 2012
5:03 pm
The golf media are the problem…..”Did you see that!! Tiger was walking upright on two legs.” The media particularly the TV guys and gals let him get by with swearing after a bad swing, throwing his club or slamming his club after another miss. the sound you hear from the TV idiots….”Crickets”. He is very gracious only after he has won otherwise is rude, abrupt and mostly classless but he is allowed to get away with all of this because of the fawning media. There should be a Tiger-free commentary at every tournament he enters…ignore him totally…..not a word, not an interview even if he wins. Then at the end of the tournament, a TV golf analyst would read a statement citing Tiger’s stats leading up to his victory but nothing else. Ignore him deliberately and in his face. It would be wonderful if he never wins another major and only one tournament during any year.
Only in America
April 1st, 2012
7:04 pm
I’d wonder how all you self-righetous idiots would behave if you worth a Billion dollars like Tiger Woods. You have no idea if Jack Nicklaus ever cheated on his wife. Steve Jobs was known as a pompous jerk, but i bet you own an Apple product. The people that claim they hate Tiger Woods are the same people that hate Lebron James–jealous fools. These same fools have bumper stickers supporting politicians—politicians that would let the families of these fools starve if it meant more money in their pockets. Only in America.
JB
April 1st, 2012
7:18 pm
The “prime” is over. He’s got too much game to not be a force here and there. He’ll win 1 or 2 times a year. Now that he’s single, I wonder if he’s got his Johnson until control?
JD
April 1st, 2012
7:22 pm
I don’t hate Tiger, just the TV broadcasters that urinate all over themselves evertime they mention his name, which is more often than he deserves. Once when he was not in contention and played earlier, TV coverage came on the air and spent l5 minutes talking about his already completed round before ever mentioning the leaderboard.
Bravesfan79
April 1st, 2012
7:22 pm
Tiger sucks and hes overrated. I hope a alligator bites off his arm like the black guy in happy gilmore.
Montgomery
April 1st, 2012
8:17 pm
” Nike-packaged phoniness ”
I like what you wrote, Jeff Schultz,
those words jumped off the page.
Pat
April 1st, 2012
9:57 pm
Golf is supposed to be a game of honor. Tiger Woods is a liar and a cheat both on and off of the golf course. He has neither honor nor integrity. He should not be allowed on a golf course to even cut the grass. He gives the game a VERY bad name!!!!!
Lacey Underall
April 1st, 2012
10:16 pm
Only in America…Leave it to you to play the race card. Tiger is rude, classless, never tips a dime at tournaments(I know this as a fact!) rude to locker room attendees, rude to chef’s, rude to everyone. Has nothing to do with his cheating on his wife or color of him skin! BTW. Scott Hoch is a total jerk! Rory Sabatini is a total jerk! Crosses both lines.
#1 Fan!
April 2nd, 2012
12:31 am
Tiger Woods has faced a lot of hate! Nobody in sports history has ever fell so far and bounced back from such hate, his win last week was a hurdle that will mark the return of Mr Woods(aka)” The Game”! is back! Who else could carry the game of golf like he has? Welcome back Tiger!
KAR
April 2nd, 2012
7:39 am
@Pat if every player who’s cheated on his wife was banned from the game I believe there wouldn’t be a game. People get over your hatred…he’s just a man. Oh that’s right…he’s a rich black man. Enough said…
Double Zero Eight
April 2nd, 2012
8:11 am
Most “superstars” are jerks, There is an exception to
every rule. The TV ratings are higher when Tiger plays.
Tiger is a golfer, not an evangelist. The lack of morals
by superstars in other sports does not prevent most
from watching UGA, GT, Braves or Falcons games.
If you want to see impecable character, you may want to watch
the Mormon Tabernacle Choir on PBS.
dennis montecalo
April 2nd, 2012
9:10 am
to those who keep saying what a great guy jack nicklaus was must have never met him, approached him with my grandson after a round back in the 70’s guy was atotal ass, would’nt sign for my grandson of even speak to the fans what a jerk
former st. clairian
April 2nd, 2012
9:29 am
“Move over, Michener”. Great line Jeff.
dawgfan
April 2nd, 2012
9:38 am
It sounds to me like things came a little too easy for Tiger and he got bored. LMAO @ the Navy seals thing. Wow, what a freak. Anyway, I respect his ability to soldier on on the golf course after all that has happened. If everyone on the face of the earth knew all the intricate details of my personal life I probably would never leave the house again. He’s paid the price for what he did so let’s just move on. I hope it has humbled him.
Thanks.
PMC
April 2nd, 2012
9:55 am
If the final pairing is Woods and McIlroy the world will be watching.
Nelson Warner
April 2nd, 2012
10:14 am
“If the final pairing is Woods and McIlroy the world will be watching.”
Yes, but in America, viewers will have the audio muted.”
UGA Insider
April 2nd, 2012
10:24 am
Ready to party every night in Augusta. I remember a few years ago bumping into an intoxicated Damon Evans following Tiger Woods. I said to myself…”self, is that stange or what’? 2 months later he was fired and I now think Evans thought he was the Tiger Woods of UGA athletics.
Larry
April 2nd, 2012
11:18 am
phil,
Spot on!
I find it sad and disconcerting that so many on here whom are in full support ot this trash of a human being simply because they idolize how well he can put a little white ball in a hole in the ground. What father would want one of these losers as a son-in-law; what wife would want one as a husband?
To all here who are better men (and I men a real man of honor and courage), I salute you!
Therut
April 2nd, 2012
11:23 am
When the episode happened I called my friend and asked what kind of person with a wife and two children at hom would be doing at the club playing cards on thanksgiving? His answer was, he is a jerk, always been a jerk and always will be. At that time we new nothing about the “whores”.
bill mann
April 2nd, 2012
11:28 am
well said larry,don’t understand why people idolize these sports stars,most i have ever come in contact with are self centered jerks
David Vetter
April 2nd, 2012
11:56 am
i hear that jeff still sucks donkey koch.
DP
April 2nd, 2012
12:10 pm
Tiger Woods is the obsession of every sportswriter and ESPN talking head who has never broken 90 on the golf course. Charl Schwartzel did something at the Masters last year that neither Tiger or anybody else has ever done, birdie the last 4 holes to win a major, and it was all but forgotten after a couple of days. Why is watching Tiger shoot 65 so much more exciting for so many than watching anybody else shoot 65? I don’t get it, is there some kind of homoerotic thing going on?
Skeezix
April 2nd, 2012
12:14 pm
Tiger, before his fall from grace, is a great example of why we shouldn’t form opinions about someone based on their “public image”. He is a no doubt one heck of a golfer, one of the all time best–but I can’t respect him as a man. I use to think he was a great role model for kids; but he turned out to be a major disappointment. Respect is something you earn.
I do hope Tiger is working hard to become a better man.
However, I think his ex-coach Haney is a sleaze for writing his “tell all” book.
Wisemule
April 2nd, 2012
12:26 pm
Techster
You’re been a hater every since Woods stepped on the course.
Now that he’s winning again, I hope you sleep well. Speak for yourself.
Your hate for the guy runs deep. Hope no skeletons fall out your closet…
Sneakers O'Toole
April 2nd, 2012
12:52 pm
Seems that there are a bunch of perfect people on the board today. Those who never had thier transgressions broadcast on too many outlets to mention. Those whose lives are 100% without sin. I do not need a moral compass and never looked at Tiger to be mine. I am a fan because he is great, the greatest of my generation (age 30). I am a fan because I still have a VHS recording of his sunday in ‘97 when the 16 year old me was beginning to fall in love with golf. I will be rooting for Tiger this week as I always do, as will Mr. Finchem.
Focus on the Family
April 2nd, 2012
1:00 pm
Just hope that
Tiger doesn’t get pelted in the face
with a pimento cheese sandwich.
Techster
April 2nd, 2012
1:17 pm
Wisemule – you are kind of right. I never have cared for the way Tiger has been crammed up our @$$&$ by the media, going all the way back to his college days. I realize he is an excellent golfer but he should be, since he was actually raised to do that and nothing else. Tune into the news coverage Friday night, and if Tigger is 8 shots back and in 56th place, he’ll be the lead story anyway, not the guys on the leader board ! I sleep just fine at night hoping he stinks it up, while supporting the other golfers on tour, especially the good guys like Phil. I hope Tigger the disgraceful never wins anything again. I will admit that perhaps I was a little harsh on Schultz though – I realize there is a requirement to write the “we love Tiger” story, and he got the job this time.
Jimmy Crack
April 2nd, 2012
1:43 pm
He is quite the attraction, whether for fantastic shots or uncomfortable blowups. He may end up the greatest of all time, but right now he is inconsistent, and there is an impressive new group of hot shot youngsters coming to challenge him on a weekly basis. That said, if he can control his driver like he has recently and get better reads on his putts, watch out!
blue
April 2nd, 2012
2:00 pm
You are right, KAR (and a couple of others); it’s another example of the white man ‘hate-in’ on the brotha. It’s clearly because he is rich and black, which is why SO many white people were (and some still are) fans of his. For the idiot earlier that said we “glorify” Clinton? Ummm…you do know that he was impeached for lying under oath for that whole thing, right? And really? So you think if a rich WHITE “best at a sport” (let’s say…Peyton Manning for example) was caught having sex with porn stars, waitresses, etc…while he had a wife and kids at home, they would not face the same backlash? You poor, oppressed soul.
Ken Stallings
April 2nd, 2012
2:06 pm
I will follow up once more and then leave it for what it may be worth.
It is not bizzare for the child of a career military officer or NCO to carry a lifetime intense interest in the military, its mission or training. It is a way for a child (”military brat”) to connect to his parent. For Tiger, this is especially true since his father passed away.
All Tiger did was tour the SEALS BUDs training area, do a buddy jump, and fire heavy weapons on a training range. Contrary to his former swing coach Tiger was not seriously entertaining ideas of joining the SEALS. He was doing what a lot of military children do when they get older — connect to what they saw their father do for decades. In short, there was nothing at all bizzare in him doing it.
I appreciate the level of connection Tiger has to the military. I find it completely healthy and laudible. What I object to is some jerk like Butch Harmon trying to derive something sinister in the effort so he can cash in on a book payday.
Frankly, as fewer and fewer American citizens serve in the military, the cultural divide between those who did serve (such as myself) and those who did not is becoming unhealthy. A democratic nation must preserve the connections so that what the military does is not seen as strange, alien, or unfamiliar with the citizenry. What Tiger did was leverage his golf celebrity to have the chance to experience to a higher degree than most what performing those routine military missions is like.
When people in this country start to see that a truly bizzare, then we have reached a point of cultural divide unhealthy to our future. I had hoped my previous words would have conveyed that understanding. I hope these do!
Ken Stallings
April 2nd, 2012
2:11 pm
BTW: It was Hank Haney (not Butch Harmon) who wrote the sleaze book. My mistake on that one. I suppose apologies to Harmon matter not since he doesn’t read this blog.
JASon
April 2nd, 2012
2:32 pm
“I am a fan of Tiger Woods, will always be a fan. I don’t care what he did with his personal life.” -jbet at 4:24pm
Its not just his personal life though. He was raised to be a christ figure and trotted out his dead dad to sell shoes. He talks like a complete dork, and a yuppy. He is like a 14 year old around women, he’s so socially awkward. And the media fawns over him-which I have no problem holding against him. Yeah, tiger woods is a piece of crap.
aprilglaspie
April 2nd, 2012
2:41 pm
Most of the women that came out of the woodwork to claim trysts with Tiger Woods were undoubtedly lying their butts off. Fact is, golf is worth spending Sunday PM on the couch watching if he’s in contention. It’s a petrifying bore if not. The players and sponsors are well aware of this simple fact.
Terrible Truth
April 2nd, 2012
3:10 pm
Old Eldrick ain’t been the same since his name popped up in the HGH investigation of that Doctor in Canada. Of course the media ignored it but Old Eldrick ain’t quite as chiseled as he used to be and as usually happens when someone gets off the juice, the joints are starting to deteriorate. He should send Hank a lifetime supply of popsicles for playing up the SEALS angle, he can use that as an excuse and the suckasses in the media will eat it up.
Ken Stallings
April 2nd, 2012
4:47 pm
BTW: Truly enjoyed the photo of Furman Bisher’s hat in that photo in today’s online paper! I knew something classy would be done at Augusta for the man, and that is very fitting!
Tigers Woody
April 2nd, 2012
5:02 pm
I hope he can get his putter up this week
D man
April 2nd, 2012
5:35 pm
Tiger is an amazing golfer who will still be remembered in 200 years from now no matter what he does the next 10 or so… I really enjoy watching him play. I didn’t watch before he played. He is the reason I started watching golf.
redweather
April 2nd, 2012
6:28 pm
I’ve always liked watching Mickelson better than Tiger. But Tiger does look like he has his game back in order which means watching the Masters will probably mean watching Tiger.
bpjim
April 2nd, 2012
10:14 pm
The funniest thing I have heard is Tiger wanting to be a SEAL. One of the core values of SEAL training is putting the needs of the team ahead of your own. Tiger is INCREDIBLY self centered and NOT a team guy. He wouldn’t make it past lunch on the first day of training.