Tiger to Return to Palmer, Augusta?

by Matt Sweet

The rumor mill has been churning out every story and conspiracy under the sun since the night Tiger Woods was found unconscious in his driveway.  The buzz is almost palpable, so thick it could be cut with a knife, and so dizzying that the line between fact and fiction is indistinguishable.

It’s been 4 months since Tiger has competed in a tournament, the longest stretch of his entire career.  Thus, a return sooner rather than later would be the most sensible idea for Tiger’s sake, especially taking into consideration his insatiable competitiveness.  Tiger sits on 14 major championships, and is undoubtedly itching to lock up his 15^th and move one step closer to Jack Nikalus’s mark of 18 career majors.  Still, the question remains: When?

Charles Howell, fellow PGA tour member and friend of Tiger's said he looked "As good as ever on the range at Isleworth."

Of late, many educated observers and insiders are convinced the wait will soon be over.  Some believe he will reemerge for this year’s Masters, while others anticipate there will be a Tiger sighting even sooner, and there are a number of factors that would lead even the most neutral onlooker to suspect a return is imminent.

First, it has been reported by both Golf Digest and the Golf Channel that Hank Haney, Tiger’s coach, has been meeting with him at Isleworth Golf & Country Club working on his game, claims that have been substantiated by fellow pro Charles Howell III.  “I spent an hour with him yesterday,” stated Howell.  “He looked as good as he ever has. Seriously, he seemed like he was hitting it the same as he ever did.”

With his game on track, it’s Tiger’s image that is in need of the most glaring maintenance.  With that being the case, Woods has turned to former Bush administration press secretary Ari Fleischer to assist him in shaping his image for is return.  Fleischer, of Ari Fleischer Sports Communications, proclaims his agency helps athletes “handle the bad news and take advantage of the good.”  Fleischer has worked with Mark McGwire through his 2005 congressional committee, as well as college football’s Bowl Championship Series.

The most crucial element in Woods’ timeline would be the amount of control he is willing to submit in the coverage of his return.  The Tiger of old would most likely designate Augusta as the venue of his official unveiling, for a number of reasons; the exclusivity of the event would limit the amount of distractions from spectators and media alike, his reputation with endorsers would sky rocket on the heels of his public statement, and would give him the aforementioned opportunity to claim his 15^th major.  However, it is a new era.  At least, that’s what Tiger has been hoping.

A return sooner than Augusta, the Arnold Palmer Invitational, would be a welcome change from the usual, “close-to-the-vest” Tiger.  First of all, the tournament takes place in his hometown of Orlando, and is a course he knows well (he has won the event 6 times, including the last two years in a row.)  But the larger factor would be the fact that this event is open to those he has done everything in his power to win back: the general public.  Unlike Augusta, all members of the media will have access to this tournament, the player’s locker room will be accessible by reporters, and the gallery will consist of less exclusive members.

Regardless of when he comes back, tour officials are waiting with bated breath, whether they like it or not.  Arnold Palmer executive director Scott Wellington states “This year being a unique situation, we have preliminary plans and a Plan B scenario that would affect certain areas of our operation, security and media being two that come to mind, and some other things we would have to do above and beyond what we normally do.”  This doesn’t bode well for the tour, according to CNN sports business analyst Rick Horrow.  He states “it’s important to the PGA Tour to have consistency and stability and not depend on one individual too much, but the reality is that when Tiger Woods returns it will be the focus of intergalactic attention over an unlimited period of time.  “Whatever tournament is bestowed the historic honor of his return will set records for attendance, viewership, economic impact, media credential requests and every other measurement.”

Whether folks like Rick like it or not, golf is not bigger than Tiger Woods.  Tiger Woods is golf.  A fact we’re likely to rediscover very, very shortly.