Unless you've been living under a rock this week, you have heard by now that Tiger Woods will make his triumphant return at this year's Masters. All the talking heads and pundits have had their say, but we here at RSS have always been about cutting through all the crap ot give you the straight answers in the world of sports...Tiger being no exception. So, here are five observations on Tiger's return and what it really means for sports fans.
1. Tiger's #1 priority is and always will be golf...specifically majors.
-For all the talk of Tiger's therapy and work on family issues, everybody who knows a golf ball from a football knew Tiger Woods wasn't going to miss the year's first major. Tiger might claim he has an addiction to sex, women, money, whatever...his real addiction is major championships. His sole goal in life has been to break Jack Nicklaus's record for majors, and nothing will stand in his way, not IHOP waitresses, failed endorsements, family instability, or lack of preparation, which leads us to our second point...
2. For all of Tiger's shortcomings the past year, he is still supremely confident in his abilities on the course.
-Let's not forget that there would be questions about Tiger coming in to this year's Masters without the entire sex scandal he's been embroiled in since Thanksgiving. He failed to win a major last season, including his shocking loss to unheralded Y.E. Yang, his first loss when in the lead on Sunday. Still, without playing a competitive tournament since Australia in November and facing more scrutiny than any athlete this decade, Tiger feels he'll be ready to win in just a few weeks time. Tiger's always competed against a field of one, and if he believes practice alone will get him ready for the Masters, who are we to doubt him?
3. There is no cocoon in sports like Augusta National.
-Doubting Tiger though is what I did in December when I predicted he'd need a warm-up tournament before diving in at Augusta, which is why I thought he'd return at the Arnold Palmer Invitational. What I didn't give enough weight was the protection returning at Augusta would provide Tiger. I mean, Augusta has shown in the past it knows how to keep controversy at arm's length (speaking of which, I think I saw Martha Burk working at my local Target the other day). Magnolia Lane isn't just a picturesque driveway to the most famous club in America, it might as well be a transport to an alternate universe. And you can bet the beefed up security will keep all the photogs and TMZ's light year's away from Tiger all week. Oh, and forget about the "patrons" causing a ruckus...there won't be a peep while Tiger's on course, let alone any heckling.
4. The happiest people to see Tiger back are TV executives and his fellow pros.
-The pros and CBS Sports head honcho Sean McManus have already said as much. Of course, the reason isn't because of missing Tiger's companionship, or because he's just such a swell guy. It's about the almighty dollar. Ratings have plummeted this year without Tiger, and the fellow pros know their bread is buttered by Eldrick. I'm not saying it's a good thing Tiger Woods is bigger than his sport, in fact, I think it's unfortunate. But, in the present it's true, and you can bet the rest of the tour and the networks that cover golf will treat Tiger with the utmost care upon his return.
5. Despite the odds, Tiger isn't the favorite in this year's Masters, or any other major.
-The most baffling part of Tiger's return is the fact that he's been universally installed as the favorite for the 2010 Masters. After all, if the events since last year's PGA have proven anything, it's that Tiger Woods is human after all. In this ultimate age of "what have you done for me lately", what has Tiger done lately in the majors? He hasn't won since the 2008 U.S. Open and his reconstructive knee surgery, and even Tiger has to be susceptible to the stress and changes in his life the last few months. Although Tiger has dominated in the past at every 2010 major championship site, he has to prove that he can still rise to the occasion before I'll truly consider him back at the top of the golf, and sports world.
That's my 5 takes on Tiger, what's your opinion? Don't forget to follow us throughout the madness of Tiger's return as well as the actual March Madness on the hardwoods. Until next time, it's bye for now!
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