Reluctantly, the Tiger Woods saga continues

OK, a few more observations on the Tiger Woods disaster, and I’m done for a while.

We always thought Tiger Woods took so much time off between tournaments to focus on the important and major events. Turns out he was really busy.

Tiger says he’s taking an indefinite leave from professional golf. Most of what I’ve heard in the national media seems to think he’s doing the right thing. I’m not so sure. How will he fill his days ? month after month of daily therapy? An indefinite vacation? I’ve gotta think this will get old fast for everyone involved. Look for Tiger to come back before the Masters or take up another vocation.

In an informal poll I took among women, none of them seem to think they could stay married to someone who did what Tiger allegedly did. I don’t know how his wife could ever trust him again. Besides, there are reports that wife Elin Nordegren has already purchased a home. Saving their marriage will be a monumental undertaking.

I heard Charles Barkley the other day on ESPN with Dan Patrick. My opinion of him hasn’t changed. He says Tiger doesn’t owe his fans or sponsors anything, that he was only signed because of his golf ability. Not true. His performance on the golf course is the impetus of his endorsement contracts, but they would have never come had these companies not thought he exhibited superb character as well. Tiger’s dad, Earl, labeled him the “chosen one;” Nike’s ads were clearly political and held Woods up to a standard that transcends “athlete.”

Barkley also said that Tiger should take notes of those in the media who have burned him, that there will be payback time. It’s called reporting, Chuck. You take the bad with the good. The media helped build Tiger into the brand he has become, and when you screw up, they can take you down, too. You can’t have it one way without the other.

Golf will survive. I would be surprised if Tiger isn’t back by the time the Masters rolls around, but if he’s not, golf and the world will go on. Yes, he’s by far the single biggest draw in the history of the game, and his presence helped elevate golf to a new level, but he isn’t a God. What if he comes back and doesn’t perform? What then? Remember, he did not win a major this year. Maybe he wasn’t that focused. Yes, golf may suffer for a while, but as it is, it hasn’t come close to reaching its peak from the Tiger effect in the late ’90s anyway. With or without Tiger, golf needs another young superstar. Hopefully someone takes the reins.