Once the action gets underway at Augusta, non golf enthusiasts will turn the channel.
Jeff Newton
Tiger Woods finally cleared the air on Sunday. For the first time since his suspicious November 27th car accident, Woods answered questions about his infidelities, his treatment schedule, his marriage and his return to professional golf. Much like every move Tiger has made over the past three and half months, the interview ignited polarizing, passionate responses from the general public.
His supporters found the two on camera interviews, with ESPN and the Golf Channel, insightful, revealing and a positive step in the right direction for a flawed individual, anxious to make amends with the people he’s hurt. He addressed the tough questions with thoughtful perspectives; a resounding personality switch for a man who consistently tackled media inquiries in a safe, almost robotic fashion. The Tiger loyalists took the golfer at his word and respected his candidness. As for his detractors, especially women, the Q&A sessions provided just another pathetic example of how Woods and his staff have consistently botched this PR nightmare.
From the moment Woods confirmed his various romps with multiple mistresses, women have torn into the player’s character and values. As a majority, the fairer sex hates Tiger. Oh, how they hate him. They think he’s the scum of the earth, a prime example of a privileged athlete who shamelessly chased barflys while his dutiful wife played Mommy back in Orlando. Although women have provided the most vocal oppositions, Woods’ adversaries lie on both sides of the gender line. His critics, regardless of chromosomal structure, saw a calculated, contrived, smug individual who, like he’s done most of his career, wants the public to believe this false image. Yeah, he busted out the sad puppy face and unveiled the Buddhist emblem and pointed the finger at himself time after time, but he still wouldn’t divulge into the details of his accident. They believe he manipulated the situation, the recorded interviews took place under a gazebo at his home course in Florida, to come off as a good guy wary of his previous mistakes. No matter where they stand on the Tiger Woods debate, most people can’t wait to see the world’s best golfer out in the open, away from the press conferences and taped segments, at Augusta National.
Augusta, home of the Masters tournament, provides Woods with some public relations perks he wouldn’t enjoy at any other tour stop. The Augusta higher ups, who gush over their traditions and private operations, firmly control media credentials and crowd attitudes. This Georgia compound tolerates nothing less than tip top, classy behavior from its patrons or anyone else who walks the fabled fairways at the season’s first major. The odds are one in a million that an inappropriate sign, stray comment or press question will wiggle past the course’s strictest of strict etiquette. Woods couldn’t ask for a better site, where the sexual jokes won’t fly and the actual scores and shots trump all social gossip. The scrutiny over his extramarital activities will be limited, if not altogether nullified, at one of golf’s treasured sights. With the juicy possibilities of heckling likely extinguished, the golf will matter most when Tiger tees it up for the first time since he essentially disappeared from society. While golf enthusiast will relish Woods’ return to the game he so often dominates, those indifferent to the sport will ultimately wonder, “What’s the big deal?”
For every PGA fan, Tiger’s return makes the “real” beginning of the 2010 tour season. Television ratings and on sight attendance numbers have plummeted at events Woods normally plays. When he shows up, a tournament takes on a whole new dimension. Wood’s appearance instantly brings credibility to whatever venue he attends. Golf fans miss Tiger; while some may still disapprove of his character, they acknowledge that the game needs him. For this particular pocket of Americans, the opening round of the Masters marks a supremely important day in the sport’s history. As long as he’s there, golf matters again. However, anyone who dislikes, or feels indifference towards, the gentleman’s game will find themselves oddly unattached to this supposedly important event.
Anyone who hates golf REALLY hates golf. The opportunity to watch privileged adults walk after a little white ball doesn’t pique their interest. Heck, who calls this a sport anyway? Every five minutes, they stand over a ball, slap at it, hand the club to their man servant and slowly hoof it to where that little Titleist or Callaway has landed. At least Curling scores points for the obscurity factor. Golf, on the other hand, is just a game played by out of shape country clubbers and these pros happen to do it better than anyone else. Those who fall fancy themselves indifferent to the sport still find it tediously boring and uneventful.
This Masters, on paper, should shape up as a full blown ratings bonanza. With the first two rounds covered on ESPN, Woods’ reintroduction to the public could shatter cable television ratings. Who wouldn’t want to see this divisive figure, who’s been so noticeably absent, and his return to center stage? Actually, once the discussion turns solely to golf, probably a lot of people.
On April 8th, Mike Tirico and the ESPN announcers will have no choice but to recap the major bullet points of Woods’ self imposed exile and subsequent return to golf. Once Tiger reaches the first tee, though, the conversation will quickly focus on birdies, bogeys, fades and putts. No TV station wants to touch on this subject any more than they have to, Woods’ play will be a welcome transition for nervous networks. According to several sources, Tiger has regained his championship form. If he doesn’t miss the cut, develop a case of the shanks or forget where the golf ball should go, the situation will eventually return to business as usual. He’ll tighten his game sooner rather than later and we’ll cast aside any thoughts of a monumental career collapse. The whole scenario will seem awkward, at first, to golf followers, but they’ll be happy to have their best performer back inside the ropes. Everyone else will quickly realize that this is still a golf tournament, played under somewhat unique circumstances yet still a golf tournament all the same. These curious outsiders may stick around for a hole or two, just to see if Tiger’s body language or overall demeanor reveals any hidden secrets. Once the mystery evaporates, these disappointed viewers will spring for the clicker immediately.
Curious observers, who tune in specifically for the hypothetical “what ifs” of a potentially uncomfortable day or the possible beginning of the end for a disgraced public figure, will feel totally unsatisfied.
Tiger, whether we like it or not, set the ground rules with his weekend interviews. He’s voluntarily tipped his hand as to what questions he will and will not answer. From this point on, he may do the Today show or Oprah, but he’ll fall back on the “it’s in the police report” strategy once the details of his car accident are questioned. There won’t be any more shocking revelations and he won’t divulge any new information. We’re stuck with what we already have so golf now becomes the added wrinkle in the ongoing Tiger Woods saga. ESPN and CBS will get their massive ratings, but most of the country will hastily tune out on the Masters. April 8th-11th will not provide them with an intriguing, relevant batch of fresh stories. There may be a time, at some other tour event, where a wise guy attendee will make a snide comment, thus bringing the topic back on the table of public issues. For viewers looking for juicy images or actions, though, Augusta is not the tournament for them.
