golfrewind.com

I completely agree. And it's interesting that everyone is predicting his return based on some golf timetable - 2 weeks before the U.S. Open, at the Master's, etc. Does nobody believe he is truly taking an indefinite leave? He may not play for a year or more.

There's too many factors involved to predict how long Tiger will stay away. As billyg noted, divorce vs. reconciliation comes into play. Maturity comes into play - he's go to know he's in the paparazzi spotlight from now on, no matter what happens with his marriage - can he handle that, and if his proclivity for sexual escapades continues, can he learn to be more discreet? If he can tune his concentration in to his golf game as a way to shut out everything else, watch out - he could go on a tear and win two or three majors in a row, and then all this other stuff becomes a footnote (unless he "stumbles" again). If he can't get past his troubles, his days of golfing prominence may be over.

Either way, I have to admit I'm getting tired of the world's obsession with all of this... and it won't end until he either walks away permanently, or comes back to golf and we learn how everything has affected his golf game.

I am not "demanding a public show of humility".....The media is or does. They will not let it go until he stands up there and gives the "Oh, I'm sorry speach. I have learned my lesson and I am ready to move on now".

Believe me Mr3856a.....I could care less about Tigers infidelities. I like to watch the guy hit a golf ball and make me say...how does he do that? I could care less about who he is banging.

My only hope is that the divorce is quick so we can move on and I can watch him play again. If not, bummer, but I will be watching every week anyway......

The Back 9

...back to more things than just the tour...


...I think he's barely going to take any time off...it was an all out media blitz when he bailed...really nothing that he could do positively at the time; it was a wise decision as any public appearance in the beginning of December would have been a firestorm...so he announces an open ended leave of abscense which essentially gives him liscense to disappear until things cool down enough that housewifes aren't thowing rotten fruit just at the sight of him...he'll need a little more than a couple of weeks tuneup before the Master's, the first one will be dominated by interview requests and a renewing of the firestorm...

IMO he'll surface before the Masters, read a few written statements in some personally staged press conferences, then cocoon up and refuse to comment beyond that, play a couple of tournaments and then the Masters...

I've been divorced before...it was pretty devestating seeing as how I wanted to stay married in part...who knows what he's got in his head and heart, but in any case he'll be having some tough times borne of his own (pro) creation in his private life and while I am certain he'll show up at the latest just in time in Augusta, he's not going to be very settled and I don't expect too much out of him...

Padraig Harrington doesn't expect a long absence. I agree. Poss for the Master's.The longr the better. Maybe Rory or Phil or Pawd will take over as no 1

That would take a few years ;)