VIA: CNN.com
Tiger Woods returns to the sport Monday at the Masters, ending a self-imposed exile stemming from a car accident in November outside his home and his subsequent admission of extramarital affairs.
Watch the Press Conference here:
Woods is practicing this morning at Augusta National Golf Club, and is set to participate in a news conference – his second since the scandal broke – at 2 p.m. ET. (Our partners at Golf.com will live blog the news conference here)
The golfer – even since his early childhood – has thrived in the spotlight and it may shine brighter today than it has before with millions of spectators turning on nearly any channel to catch him – not even on the course but at a news conference. SI.com’s Richard Deitsch (also a partner blogger for us on this blog) says the news conference will turn the Masters into one unlike any other.
And our partners at Time.com wonder if Tiger, let alone any athlete, can be mentally prepared for what will happen at the Masters this year given all the attention. The tournament, they said, will effectively be a test of his toughness in the face of all of the drama. For other golfers, the spotlight on Tiger could be a good or bad thing. Golf.com’s Peter Kostis says while all eyes will be on Tiger at the start of the Masters, the real drama surrounds some of the players over 40 and under 30.
While some other players may have strong chances to take the tournament (and there are a variety of things golf fans are looking forward to at the Masters), many fans and even a plethora who never watch golf, certainly will be zeroing Woods’ every move – just as they have since his whirlwind drama unfolded.
He delivered a carefully managed statement in March to a small, hand-picked crowd, and has given two one-on-one interviews, the news conference will be Woods’ first in months. Golfer Brad Faxon, who has gone through his own similar turmoils, wonders in a column for Golf.com if this was the right return for Woods – given all of the hype and some of his recent decisions. Faxon isn’t the only one who things Woods needs to make some big changes – our partners at Golf examine why the biggest change Woods needs to make might not be related to his marriage, his therapy, or his game, but instead to his inner circle.
Woods’ public woes began with an early-morning crash November 27 outside his Orlando, Florida-area home. He suffered minor injuries after striking a fire hydrant and a tree with his Cadillac SUV. Woods – one of golf’s biggest names who had always maintained a squeaky-clean image – was not required to talk to police about the wreck and declined to talk with investigators on several occasions. Eventually, he was cited for careless driving.
The wreck occurred days after the tabloid National Enquirer alleged Woods was having an affair with a New York nightclub hostess. The woman has denied the allegation, but several others have come forward to claim that they had sexual relationships with the fiercely private Woods, who is married to former model Elin Nordegren. The couple has two children.
Woods’ alleged mistresses have released voice mails and text messages they claim are from the golf champion. In March, Woods said he would be in inpatient therapy until early February for “issues” he did not explain. He acknowledged multiple extramarital affairs.
he controversy prompted several corporations to suspend or drop their multimillion-dollar sponsorships with Woods, who also apologized to his business partners for his behavior.
