It seems sort of ironic that after spending the better part of the past 2 years complaining about the constant Tiger Love-fests going on that I have found myself unusually interested in the drama that has unfolded since the fateful run in with a tree and fire hydrant a few weeks ago.

Here's the thing I just can't get out of my head - why?  Why risk all that you have?  Did he really think that when this behavior was exposed that there wouldn't be an uproar?  Did he believe that none of these women, none of his handlers, would eventually spill the beans on something that so clearly was out of character for the public persona he had created?

I'll admit I'm completely naive when it comes to understanding humanity sometimes.  Here's what I've learned in the past few weeks - what Tiger did, which I find completely appalling, appears to be not that uncommon when it comes to guys, especially guys with power.  Some people think Tiger did it because he thrives on taking risks/gambling, some think it's because he craves power, others think that he's searching for love and acceptance outside of the golf world because he hasn't been able to find true happiness, and others think he's just a dog that has been able to hide behind his money.  On the other side of that are the people speculating that he was just the victim of countless women throwing themselves at him.  He didn't want to, but how do you say no?

And for some strange reason I just want to know the real reason...from Tiger.  But the part that stinks is that, how do you believe what he says now?

I know it's none of my business.  I know that we all played a part in creating the persona we thought Tiger was.  I know that his off course actions should be separate from golf talent he puts on display when he's out on the course.

But I can't stop feeling betrayed by him - it's just the weirdest feeling... I've never been on the Tiger fan bus, so why in the world should I have any feelings about this at all? 

If the whole performance enhancing drug thing becomes an issue (and I'm not saying it is, but it's out there now), then we've got a whole new ball game.  Up until now we've all been measuring his character off the course...but if disrespected the game by using drugs then I see more fans stepping back away from him.

Do you still care?  Do you feel different about Tiger?  Are you as shocked as I was?

I haven't been a Tiger fan ... I've never liked how he interacts (or, rather, doesn't interact) with the fans ... don't get me wrong, I really enjoy watching the guy play golf, but I'm definitely not a fan ... if I made up a list of the top 10 golfers that I would most want to play 18 holes with, Tiger wouldn't be on it ...

I also despise the tabloids and related media, who wait in the weeds for someone famous to mess up (or, in absence of that, they make something up) and then pounce in order to sell some magazines or gather some viewers ...

The combination of the above leaves me very uninterested in the entire subject except from the viewpoint of how it might affect the game.  How many people will stop watching golf now?  How many sponsors will switch to different sports because fewer people are watching golf?  There are some exciting young players coming up, but can they pick up the slack?  And, even more importantly, how many potential future exciting young players will never start playing the game without a huge superstar to inspire them?

As an aside, Chip, I must admit a bit of disappointment at your statement: "what Tiger did ... appears to be not that uncommon when it comes to guys" ... but that's for another thread in another section of the forum ...

Thanks for your thoughts, 2Putt.   I think we're pretty close to the same feelings about TW.

I think the motives and role of some of the "media" has become less than honorable over the past decade or so...my personal feeling is that with the creation of cable news and the internet, those 24 hour stations had to "find" things to report about since they needed to keep viewers interested...repackaing and looking at an issue from all different angles is how they keep people coming back.  I am not immune.

 An aside on your aside...I should clarify - my statement regarding guys came out of responses and commentary from folks on other web sites...I was shocked to read over and over again how this "behavior" should not come as shock to people (for the record, my initial reaction to all of this was, yes, Shock!)  I didn't mean to imply that it was true ...I only meant to say that the majority of what I have read on the internet in (golf related web sites only) showed me that my appalled reaction to all of this is not shared by everyone out there.

This week Matthew Adams wrote about his take on the whole Tiger Woods incident...  if you haven't already, you can read it for yourself here:

http://www.tees2greens.com/blogs/fairways_of_life/archive/2009/12/17/tiger-s-wayward-drive.aspx

I actually had to read it twice because the first time I got so irritated that I know I didn't really read the last half or so with any sense of focus.  Reading it again really didn't help change my opinion...but it did confirm for me that this story has really become a lesson about ourselves...about what we believe, what we think about others, our level of compassion and openmindedness, where we point our moral compass.  And maybe it was about time we refocused our own set of eyes.

My first response to his article wasn't very nice - and as soon as saw myself typing "his holier than thou attitude" I knew I had sunk to a level that was no better than what I claimed he was doing.  So I deleted it.

But for the record - I think it's important to be careful on broadbrushing statements. Using "we", "society", "the self-righteous public" includes me - and let me tell you, I am not anything like what he describes in some of his "reasons" why Tiger is probably the most searched Google word for the past month.

I do NOT "love to drag my heroes down".  I am NOT along for the ride, hoping to see Tiger "die by the sword", and Tiger is no where near a "celebrity-diety" status in my mind.  I guess some people probably are exactly as Adams described, maybe even a majority - but no WAY are all of us this way and I'm offended to be lumped into this finger-pointing rant.

Am I curious?  Yes, absolutely.  It doesn't make me self-righteous...it's human nature.  I don't relish that Tiger is suffering...but at the same time, studying the trends that happen when it comes to the life those who are in the public eye,  it's a bit hard for me to believe that Tiger didn't have some understanding of the risk he was taking by choosing his actions.  That's what still rolls around in my head...did he really think that none of this would ever happen?  I wish no ill will for Tiger.  But I am appalled by what he did - that doesn't make me self-righeous either...it is where my moral compass is.

I probably wouldn't have really cared about this whole article if it weren't for this sentence towards the end of the article...

"One does not have to condone nor condemn the behavior of another without realizing the hypocrisy of judging another human being."

In my humble opinion, you just don't get to spend an entire article bashing society and the public (aka, ME) and then think you can write that.

Hello Pot.  Meet Kettle.

Heh heh heh ... you crack me up sometimes, Chip ... that's really good stuff ...

I will add one thing about society enjoying the suffering of celebs ... it's obvious that it's a very popular (read: lucrative) pastime ... all you have to do is look at the number of publications, TV programs, and web sites dedicate to nothing else ... so it's not difficult to understand why somebody would make the mistake of generalization ...

Another observation, from Sam's blog, I believe:  If Tiger were a basketball player the whole thing would have blown over in a week.  So I guess we're paying a price for being involved with a "gentle" game like golf.

And regarding that last quoted sentence ... I can't resolve it in my head ... maybe it's too many negatives and mis-matched verbs ... I think I know what he's trying to say, but I'm not certain that sentence says it ...  "One does not have to condone nor condemn the behavior of another without realizing the hypocrisy of judging another human being." ... nope, can't resolve it ... I try very hard not to judge others, but I'm not sure that doing so would be hypocritical by definition, as he seems to suggest ... or maybe I'm just dense ...

Anyway, you keep 'em honest Chip, and I'll keep readin!

Now that the holiday stress is over, I hope I'm on a more even keel.  Sorry about the rant last week...I think what triggered it was that I read Matthew Adams' 2009 year in review and there was no mention of Steve Stricker - not one...how do you review the 2009 PGA Tour season and NOT mention Stricker?  Three wins, 2nd on the money list, 3rd on the OWGR, awesome President's Cup and a chance to win the FedEx cup - and nothing.  Now THAT bugged me!!  We got the usual Tiger, blah, blah, blah...for a second I thought I was reading a Sam Johnson post (hee hee hee).  His last paragraph mentions that golf is all about the cold hard numbers being the measure of victory...well, Stricks put up some awesome stats and gets nothin'.  Not cool.  (okay, next week I'll be on an even keel!!)

Happy New Year!

Okay, Chip ... take a breath ... and another ... feeling any better yet?

I will grant you that writing a year-end wrap-up of the 2009 season without mentioning the world's #3 golfer is a bit odd, but after skimming the blog it does appear that he was consistent in his coverage ... the article talks about Tiger, Phil, and the four majors ... if you're not Tiger or Phil, and if you didn't factor into any of the majors, your name is not in that article (with the exception of a quick statement about the Race to Dubai inserted at the end) ... and Steve Stricker falls into that category along with a number of other great golfers who had good seasons.  FWIW, he also didn't mention Furyk (#6) or Casey (#7), and he only mentioned Westwood (#4) and Harrington (#5) in passing with the aforementioned reference to the Race to Dubai.

I'm not a follower of Matthew's blog, but he appears to favor sensational topics ... and let's face it, Steve Stricker is a lot of things - an excellent golfer, a great guy, steady, even-keeled (heh heh heh) - but "sensational" is not one of the words that comes to mind when I think of him.

Combine that with the fact that Steve is your favorite golfer, and I'm not the least bit surprised that you would take exception to Matthew's article.

So let me give you a little present ... check out the front page of pgatourcom today ... and breathe ... in and out ... in and out ...

Thanks for being the voice of reason 2Putt - you make some excellent points.  Okay, breathing...

Huh, funny, I'm still ticked!!

I guess I'll just have to write up my own Top 10 favorite moments from 2009 to make sure people get the credit that's due to them.

What a great present to find on www.pgatour.com today!!!!  Now I'm in my happy place!!   You're the best!

And I'm sure it will come as absolutely no surprise who my Chipshot player of the year is.

I will go home tonight and do some of the goofy Wii yoga stuff and find my "center".    Just in time for 2010!

Cathy Erickson:

I will go home tonight and do some of the goofy Wii yoga stuff and find my "center".   

Right ... don't let your candle blow out!  Relax ... focus ... and for gosh sakes, breathe!

2puttbird:

Right ... don't let your candle blow out!  Relax ... focus ... and for gosh sakes, breathe!  

The first time I did that my candle went out in like 3 seconds!!!  I think my best plan is to do some rhythm boxing and visualize a few people in the bag.   

Happy New Year!!!

Hey with all the crap John Daly has and is still going through and people still love him, TIger will be just fine. I know I'll be watching and supporting him. He's got some serious issues. He should have listened to his dad and never gotten married. Apparently Pop's knew what was up.

If Elin sticks with Tiger after all this, then she is the ultimate woman. It would have been easy to take the money and run like most people thought she would do.