Money Matters, Simplified.
Woods targets ‘The Masters’ for his comeback
by Natalie James - March 17, 2010 - comments
As Woods likely prepares for his 2010 debut after a four-month hiatus because of the sex scandal, the PGA Tour has had to make special preparations for the event,
As speculated, Tiger Woods has decided to end his self-imposed exile from competitive golf. The disgraced golfer is planning to return on the green fields, and would possibly start with The Masters.
The scandal-plagued golf great will return to professional golf at The Masters, the first major of the year, beginning April 8 at Augusta National Golf Club in Georgia, according to reports.
Woods' anticipated return at the Masters
Woods’ fraudulent life exploded in the wee hours of Nov. 27 when he crashed his SUV outside his home in Isleworth, Fla. In the wake of the crash, the world came to know about the golf superstar’s infidelities, which further culminated in his self-imposed exile from the game.
Woods, who last played Nov. 15 when he won the Australian Masters, announced his plans Tuesday to return to the competitive golf next month, according to Boston Herald.
Ending his self-imposed, 144-day exile at various sex addiction clinics following his infamous sex-scandal, the world's highest paid athlete said he will return to professional golf at the Masters, beginning April 8, the tabloid reports.
Woods and The Masters--made for each other
Already the most popular figure in golf with his 82 victories and 14 majors, the fallen-from-the-grace golfer has vowed to restore his reputation after showing up for the Masters, a tournament Woods has already won four times during his run at Jack Nicholson's majors record--in 1997, in 2001, 2002 and 2005.
As Woods likely prepares for his 2010 debut after a four-month hiatus because of the sex scandal, the PGA Tour has had to make special preparations for the event, the Daily reports.
In a statement on his Web site Tuesday, the golf icon said: “The Masters is where I won my first major, and I view this tournament with great respect,” adding that “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 awhile since I played,” Herald quoted Woods as saying on his Web site.
“When I finally got into a position to think about competitive golf again, it became apparent to me that the Masters would be the earliest I could play,” Woods said, according to the outlet.
Golf world is thrilled to have Woods back
Woods’ competitors and associates are happy to see him back to the course.
“We’re all looking forward to having him back. We want him playing,” rival Jim Furyk said, according to Herald. “I’m sure we’re also looking forward to everything being business as usual. And it’s going to take awhile. We know that.”
“It’s obviously great for golf that he’s back,” three-time major champion Padraig Harrington told the outlet. “It shows the commitment he has to his family. . . . Putting his family first by not warming up for Augusta, it’s a good statement.”
According to New York Daily News, ESPN executive vice president John Wildhack released a statement yesterday, hoping that "Tiger's return...will surely be one of the biggest stories the sporting world has seen."
"I think the first tournament Tiger Woods plays again, wherever it is, will be the biggest media event other than the Obama inauguration in the past 10 or 15 years," CBS News and Sports president Sean McManus told an SI.com reporter after the NCAA basketball tournament draw Sunday.
PGA Tour to embrace Woods
As Woods likely prepares for his 2010 debut after a four-month hiatus because of the sex scandal, the PGA Tour has had to make special preparations for the event, the Daily reports.
Commissioner Tim Finchem said Monday the tour has plans for the golf superstar’s return but he doesn’t know when is that going to be.
"We have the general information that Tiger is preparing to play, and there's been a lot of speculation about when he might come back out," Daily quoted Finchem as saying on a teleconference to announce Farmer Insurance's continued sponsorship of the PGA event at Torrey Pines in San Diego. "Tiger has indicated to us that he will give us reasonable notice, because we know we have got some preparation to do.
“I don't have the specific date when he's going to come back, and I could only assume that all of the speculation about late March and early April, if he's going to start back then, we will know soon. Beyond that, I can't help you."