By Jeff ShainTiger Woods will return to competition on perhaps the biggest stage in golf -- the Masters.
The humbled golfer, whose winter of discontent included revelations of multiple affairs and subsequent therapy, ended weeks of speculation this morning with a five-paragraph statement sent to media outlets.
"The Masters is where I won my first major and I view this tournament with great respect," Woods began. "After a long and necessary time away from the game, I feel like I'm ready to start my season at Augusta.
"The major championships have always been a special focus in my career and, as a professional, I think Augusta is where I need to be, even though it's been a while since I last played."
Perhaps an hour earlier, Arnold Palmer had confirmed to the Orlando Sentinel that Woods would not defend his title at his namesake tournament next week at Bay Hill Club & Lodge.
Palmer said he had spoken with Woods in recent days, and that they ended the conversation with "See you in Augusta."
Photo: Tiger Woods will make his long-awaited return to golf at the Masters. (Getty)
Billy Payne, chairman of Augusta National Golf Club and the Masters
Tournament, said the club not only supported Woods' decision to make
his return there, but "additionally, we support and encourage his
stated commitment to continue the significant work required to rebuild
his personal and professional life."
Already the major with the highest TV ratings, this Masters could be the biggest yet. The first two rounds are televised on ESPN, with CBS Sports on the weekend.
"Obviously, the ratings will be off the chart," Heath Slocum said. "It will be interesting to watch -- not only the reaction from him, but from the fans, the media, the players. I would venture to say he might be nervous."
Asked about a Woods return last week, CBS Sports president Sean McManus also thought viewership would be huge: "My only prediction is when he comes back, it will be, other than the Obama inauguration, one of if not the biggest media spectacle in recent memory."
It will be Woods' tournament since winning the Australian Open last November. He returned to tabloid headlines of an affair with a New York City events planner, then wrecked his SUV in an apparent hasty departure Nov. 27 from his Isleworth driveway.
Woods was treated at a local hospital after the accident, then disappeared from public view as more than a dozen women either came forth with tales of affairs with golf's top attraction or were linked to trysts with him.
Woods made his first public appearance Feb. 19, admitting to multiple affairs and acknowledging he was undergoing treatment for his behavior.
"I have undergone almost two months of inpatient therapy and I am continuing my treatment," he said in today's statement. " Although I'm returning to competition, I still have a lot of work to do in my personal life."said.
Already the major with the highest TV ratings, this Masters could be the biggest yet. The first two rounds are televised on ESPN, with CBS Sports on the weekend.
"Obviously, the ratings will be off the chart," Heath Slocum said. "It will be interesting to watch -- not only the reaction from him, but from the fans, the media, the players. I would venture to say he might be nervous."
Asked about a Woods return last week, CBS Sports president Sean McManus also thought viewership would be huge: "My only prediction is when he comes back, it will be, other than the Obama inauguration, one of if not the biggest media spectacle in recent memory."
It will be Woods' tournament since winning the Australian Open last November. He returned to tabloid headlines of an affair with a New York City events planner, then wrecked his SUV in an apparent hasty departure Nov. 27 from his Isleworth driveway.
Woods was treated at a local hospital after the accident, then disappeared from public view as more than a dozen women either came forth with tales of affairs with golf's top attraction or were linked to trysts with him.
Woods made his first public appearance Feb. 19, admitting to multiple affairs and acknowledging he was undergoing treatment for his behavior.
"I have undergone almost two months of inpatient therapy and I am continuing my treatment," he said in today's statement. " Although I'm returning to competition, I still have a lot of work to do in my personal life."said.
Tribune Newspapers, AP
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Mr Woods chooses to return to the fray in the most insulated environment and restricted ground in golfdom. Sure the high maintenance galleries will refrain from comment and maintain decorum but the pressure will be there between his ears, unrelenting as he holds his breath waiting for what he is sure will come...not at the Masters but at some venue later in 2010 far from the gentry and fairways of Augusta.
Woods misses the cut by 4 strokes...
WHAT THE HELL IS WRONG WITH THE WORLD.... WE WANT TO LIVE IN A SOCIETY THAT BRINGS PEACE TO ALL BUT YET WE CONDONE THIS TYPE OF BEHAVIOR. WHY BECAUSE HIS NAME IS TIGER AND CBS MAKES MONEY OFF HIM, IM SURE THAT IS WHY.
IN MY OPINION ANYONE WHO GIVES TIGER THE TIME OR DAY IS JUST AS LOW LIFE AS HE IS. "NO BETTER"
WHY CANT WE ALL GET A GRIP OF OURSELVES AND STOP FUELING WHAT HARMS OUR LIVES. KILLINGS, AFFAIRS, DRUGS ENOUGH IS ENOUGH!
What a shock!
His self-imposed hiatus, which was "for the purpose of repairing his marriage" just happened to end in time for the Masters.
Which means he "missed" all the tournaments he normally skips anyway. All the ones in Feb that nobody cares about.
What a joke this guy is.
And, judging from the comments of some here, he has duped many who feel the Masters isn't the same without him. Hogwash! It is now ruined, because that is all that will be discussed.
The combo of ESPN covering two rounds, and Tiger returning, will be the gold version of h@ll.
Count me out
He looks so happy. I totally want to get with him.
switzerland72 - A stripper, a porn star and a Hooter's waitress all get on an elevator together ... oh forget the joke. No lives have been ruined. Feel sorry for Tiger's wife, not the strippers, porn stars and Hooter's waitresses. Tiger's wife's life has not been ruined either. Tiger's has a ding in it. Give him a Mulligan.
He is so gross. Oh, and who ever posted that no one is saying anything about John Edwards - what are you selectively reading? People thing he's a filthy, lying scum bag too. I no longer care about golf.
Stay away from the 19th hole this time, Tiger...
I'll watch to see when hecklers appear what Tiger's caddie does.
Why are so many people so ticked off about this? I don't see people going off about John Edwards screwing around on his wife....what's the difference? It's none of our business, and doesn't affect us at all. If you're a real golf fan, and especially a fan of golf on TV, you should be glad that the best that's ever played is back on the course. People talk about his squeaky clean image...who says he asked for that. The fans helped create that too. Charles Barkley sid it best when he said he was not a role model...maybe Tiger didn't ask to be, off the course. If we were in his position I doubt many of us would. get over it.
I used to love Tiger Woods because he was a great champion. But after that sex scandal... the man is a god!
Tiger reminds me of Michael jackson....bit of a freak who is out of touch with the real world...but he doesn't have to be in touch, there are plenty of dorks that will follow him.........
I wonder if he will use the same nine iron his wife used to "rescue" him from his SUV.
I wonder who he has lined up in Augusta?
Mo Wanchuk - So the fact that this addiction ruined dozens of lives is not reason enough for help - I await the day that your life is affected by this sickness. Good luck then.
Who cares??? Not me. This is now real news but it sure is easier than real news for you to write--isn't it? It's just more celebrity crap.
Tigers is a worthless ..........., his ego will bring him
down. Hope he falls of cliff and take your caddy
Tiger is maybe the greatest golfer of all time. If anyone can tune out the crowd and deliver, he can. Once he gets back in his game, he'll never need to look back. And why would anyone want to be cured of sex-addiction anyway?
Well with everything else my brain is trying to absorb and solve why is this important to anyone. Who cares! He is what he is and oh well!
I was willing to give Tiger the benefit of doubt until I read that he just hired ex-Bush designated liar Ari Fleisher to handle his image/PR control. The same stooge who Mark Maguire hired to address that he'd never used steroids (how's that work for you Mark?). Once the tainted hired guns are hired, nothing Tiger says can eliminate that smell.
After Tigers next win, he will be bigger than he ever was for overcoming these obstacles.
Golf fans used to follow Tiger in droves and cheer wildly for him on the tours. Now I imagine a smaller crowd will follow and gawk at him like he's a freak, and you won't hear much beyond polite clapping when he sinks a putt. As for open heckling, fans can (and have been) ejected for doing that on the tours, but fewer fans and their unusual silence will send Tiger a clear message that his days of being worshipped as a golf God are long gone, probably never to return.
Will his harem of hookers be there too?
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I would be curious to see if any of the "hoochie" mamas show up. Now, that would be a hoot.
I wouldn't worry about his image, everyone knows the corporate sponsors and his entourage of scheming shills. Will recast his image as a martyr.
He is untouchable, the next savior of the world.
Let the fun begin -- off color, that is! My guess is the stuffy world of golf will see a fair amount of what has become of attitudes concerning morals in America today. If it doesn't happen on the course, it certainly will on the Internet and the "anything goes" world of cable TV.
Was there any doubt that he would play at Augusta? Too much has been made of him not playing. He never played very much in the early season in the past. At most he missed 3 or 4 tournaments that he regularly played (Torrey Pines, WGC Match Play, and last week's WGC event). He never plays the two Hawaiian events, the Bob Hope, Pebble Beach, Honda, Pods or Northern Trust.
Biggest Non-Story in Sports today.
You Go Tiger, i'll be watching.
Time to get laid again.
Good news for all the golf groupies... old Tiger is back in action.
Has there ever been anyone who types in all 'caps' who wasn't an idiot?
WHO THE HELL CARES I HOPE HE SHOOTS 95 PLUS WHAT A ASS HOLE
WHEN IS THE GOLF ASSOCIATION GOING TO WAKE UP
SURE GAVE THE Fat boy for his drinking and gambling hell
wake up golf
i will never buy ANOTHER PRODUCT THAT HE PUT HIS NAME TOO
With as many folks out there in dire straits, who really gives a crap about Tiger and his demise/return??
Bruce on March 16, 2010 11:27 AM
Obviously, you don't know much about golf. I have followed it my whole life, so let me clue you in.
He won't be heckled at Augusta. That is probably one of the reasons he chose to come back there. These are ONLY golf fans. And the tickets are handed down from generation to generation. Very rarely can you find tickets even at broker sites. And the few that are there go for $5000 and up. Would a non golf fan really pay that much just to heckle?
Augusta can also pick and choose it's media. So no TMZ or E will be allowed to cover it, either.
Perhaps a few people might not "cheer" for him as loudly. And I suppose a few "boos" are possible. But the Augusta crowd is too respectful to outright "heckle".
IS tiger woods going to have a new title and name change to tiger ho woods or ho the slut woods
Tiger is now cured "wink" of his sexual addiction.
I understand with this announcement the Masters Committee has decided to put two extra cups in each green to suit Tiger's game.
Does this mean they'll need to expand the course beyond the normal 18 holes?
Does anything in this story say WHEN the Masters is being played?
5 W's and an H guys...even what's left of the Tribune can have some basic standards for reporting.
I just love hearing from all the high and mighties out there that have never done anything wrong in their lives. Is what he did right? Nope, but get over it. It doesn't affect us, and really isn't our business. If you like golf on TV, you'd better be glad he's back. Maybe he wouldn't be such and "egomaniac" if someone would step up and beat him once in a while and take some glory away. As a golf fan and nothing else, welcome back Tiger!
Who cares, Bob. Go get a life. I am pretty sure I see how Tiger's personal indiscretion affects your life. Please stop watching all the actors, politicians, etc. who do anything that doesn't please you. He's a glofer, not a priest. I am going to get my clubs.
---------------------------------------------
Here is a news flash.
I stopped watching the phoney politicans long ago. If you want to drink the koolaide, its your right. Some folks will follow any person no matter the consequences.
I blame the sports media in general, they have put this guy on a pedestal from day one.
They made the monster.
Will he also be required to wear a chastity belt?
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the negative people should find something postive to say. It's no like any of us have never made a mistake in life (if you have not you have not lived long enough!)
let see what people think when your personal businessis exposed!! I dont her you now....
Golf was becoming irrelevant, this changes everything.
I can't wait to see him flip out when the fans start to heckle him... and there are certainly those that will heckle him. He has always had issues regarding distractions (regarding golf, not the ladies, although it's obviously true there too)... ever see how upset he gets at the mere clicking of the cameras? Well, what do you think he'll do when 100s of "fans" begin the chorus of boos and catcalls that will follow him around the course. Personally, I'm hoping for a full meltdown on live tv... although I'd be just as happy to see him miss the cut so I can actually watch the rest of the field over the weekend because we all know that even if Tiger is in last place all the TV coverage will still focus only on him (golf has been so much more enjoyable to watch without him in the field, just as it was during his injury).
And as Bob Barker has always told us, "Help protect the pet population... have your Tiger spayed or neutered!"
They should give him a chorus of boos when he approaches the first tee.
He is a no class bum. A fake of megalithic proportions.
I will make it a point not to watch the Masters this year.
--------------------
Who cares, Bob. Go get a life. I am pretty sure I see how Tiger's personal indiscretion affects your life. Please stop watching all the actors, politicians, etc. who do anything that doesn't please you. He's a glofer, not a priest. I am going to get my clubs.
Gold desperately needs this.
You can't take the best out of any game and expect it to be as good, Tiger elevates the entire game with his presence.
They should give him a chorus of boos when he approaches the first tee.
He is a no class bum. A fake of megalithic proportions.
I will make it a point not to watch the Masters this year.
The TV ratings for the Masters just tripled.
This self-centered, egomaniacal jerk has a really screwed up idea of "respect."
He shows no respect for his wife, his marriage, his children, his mother or himself by cheating with at least a dozen other women. But chasing a little white ball around a swanky golf course so that he has the chance to make millions, that he respects.
It didn't think that it was possible but I actually think even less of this creep after this latest stupid statement. Every time that he opens his mouth, he demonstrates that he is incredibly shallow and stupid.
Now golf will be worth watching again. The world has shown that it doesn't want to see golf without the worlds best player out there.
WB Tiger, golf needs you.
I have really enjoyed watching golf with him because it gives the other fabulous players a chance to shine.
Tiger is again showing how little he cares about his family by coming back too soon. He can't be happy just being a family man. He needs the attention.
He will be out with other women on the first night I bet.
I won't watch this year and that will be a first in a long time. I am boycotting golf until he retires or is asked to leave.
"Tiger Woods will return to golf at the Masters"
As if someone would care.
The Tiger circus rolls into town. Forget about golf. Once again it is all about Tiger. If he wins the media will proclaim him to be the great golfer since the game was invented. If he does poorly the excuses will be laid out a mile wide and six feet thick. I would love it if CBS would broadcast two versions of the Masters. One will be Tiger and nothing but Tiger all the time. The other will be for folks who actually want to see the tournament and not hear the word Tiger ever 17 seconds.
Golf has really sucked without him, I'll start watching again.
go get em tiger. he's going to be playing some angry golf and come in at like -34
Was there any doubt in anyones mind that he would never miss the Masters? He has far too much ego to let it go by. I guess he has far too much of many things to let them go by.
As a side career, he should give tips on repairing marriages since he apparently did it so quickly. Wonder how long it'll be until Tiger gets glowing media coverage for "coming back under adversity and trimphing over all the haters."
I can almost hear the PGA Tour exec's collective sigh of relief.
Oh puh-lease! Enough with the 24/7 Tiger coverage already...
Golf crowds should be allowed to get involved noise wise as it is in other sports. These million dollar players are suppose to be professionals and should be able to deal with crowd noise levels. If and when this happens, I hope Woods gets boo-ed off the courses.
Welcome back Tiger...go get em.
Everybody's gotta work somewhere. I LOVE Ernie Els.
After an 8 month layoff, golf will be relevant once again.
They should have one of the CBS TV channels just follow Tiger all day and the other follow the field. My guess is the Tiger channel would triple the field channel 3 to 1.
The golf term "It's in the hole !" will be yelled far too often at the Masters this year.
Let me get this straight, Tiger "respects" the Masters...but his wife, not-so much ~~
Good for tiger.Hope he does well because if he doesn't media will have a field day.
I have enjoyed GOLF so much more without this pompous ASS. Even when he has not been in the lead, the media just focus the cameras on him. I like to see the leaders. There are more golfers out there then just woods. The media like in everything is one-sided. Give us ALL the news, we do want to see more. Don't limit our viewing of the others.
As far as I am concerned woods could stay away from golf for a looooong time.
This is great news,welcome back Tiger!!!!
Everybody's gotta work somewhere. I LOVE Ernie Els and his beautiful family.
That's great news, the best player in the world should be playing at the biggest tournament.
Who cares?
Now the masters will be worth watching.
Welcome back Tiger.