If we divide Tiger Woods’ golfing career into four quarters, with six years in each quarter, he has just completed his third quarter.
The first quarter, from 1997 to 2002, was a huge success. Eight major victories, a US Masters at just 21 years of age, and winning the US Open by 15 strokes in 2000. All super impressive.
The second quarter, from 2003 to 2008, again was a huge success with six major golf tournaments. He displayed a great ability to get to and hold a lead in a major, and it looked like a matter of time until he would pass the great Jack Nicholas’s 18 major golf titles.
The third quarter, from 2009 to 2015. was a dramatic fall from grace. Zero golf majors, and in 2015 he missed three straight cuts at majors. It was a far cry from the Woods we were used to in his winning days.
So how to fix Tiger Woods?
Woods needs to do one thing. Apologise.
Back to 2009. After winning in Australia, once again in impressive fashion, he had to go home and avoid the wrath of an angry wife who found out he hadn’t just been playing golf when he was away playing golf.
This was no one’s business, except for his now ex-wife and his alleged 120 girlfriends. His apology, if there was one, was between him and them.
What Woods owes people an apology for was telling the golfing public what a great family man he was. When he was asked on 60 Minutes in Australia if family was his main priority he answered ‘always’. Smiling away lying through his teeth. The world believed him.
When the stories broke and Woods was exposed as a fraud, he apologised in the form of a prepared statement. It was plastic, right down to hugging his Mum at the end.
What Lance Armstrong finally did, after he was exposed as a cheat, was sit down with Oprah Winfrey and clear the air. No prepared statements and no hugging Mums. Just answered questions. He got hammered for it, but at least he cleared the air.
Woods still hasn’t done that. He still hasn’t apologised to you and me, the golfing public who bought his cock and bull stories. The golfing world has waited for six years, a time where Woods and golfing success have been far from friends.
Like the West Indies and cricket, there is something special about seeing Woods succeed in golf. However, he owes the public some of his time first, and a chat to clear the air. He still has a quarter of his career to go. If he fixes things, there could be some overtime as well.
wardad
Guest
Lance Armstrong did no such thing ,he did his damndest to minimize his drug use . Tiger Woods only apology is to his family and no one else .
Grizrb0105
Guest
What an overreaching article. You are clearly comparing apples to oranges. Lance Armstrong sold himself as a great athlete who overcame cancer and continued to be a great champion. While in reality he was nothing more than cyclings version of Barry Bonds. Lance Armstrong cheated at his sport and for that he cheated the people who watched and spent money on him. Tiger Woods' appeal was as a fist pumping, Sunday Red, putting, and winning machine. Unless I missed something, Tiger Woods never cheated his sport or the people who came to watch. If you watch sports looking for role models that is truly your problem and your next article should be titled "why adult men shouldn't look to athletes as role models"
Simoc
Guest
What were you watching? Lance Armstrong continued lying on Oprah Winfreys show and continues to do so. The guy is and will always be a total fraud. Bad to the bone. They put Marion Jones in jail for being stupid but the dregs of humanity like Lance Armstrong continue to prosper in sick minds. Woods owes nobody anything and isn't a good enough player anymore to win a major.
RB
Guest
Seriously!!! Do you honestly feel that his loss in form is a mental issue tied with the guilt and shame of disappointing his public? WOW! six years on and he is still bleeding for us! An apology wouldn't achieve anything. Comparing TIger to Lance is too ridiculous. Lance's achievements came through cheating and that Oprah show was no Apology. I think perhaps you should look elsewhere for a return to form.
Nick
Guest
He owes the public nothing at all. So what if sponsors wanted to portray the family man image? It's marketing, it's inherently a fabrication designed to sell products. The righteousness of some people deifies belief. He's a sportsman, not a pastor not a politician, he's a private citizen whose life is his own and nothing he achieved or aquired was as a result of his marriage or his family first image.... It ALL stemmed from his golf. The image helped but it was nothing without the golf.
jamesb
Guest
Even if his apology was "plastic" or not, he did apologize. And I just think we should just move on.
Bill
Guest
He did accept appearance fees based on his image (and his talent) I can see the case for an apology. Don't care though. Just want to see him compete at Augusta with the new breed. Would be great to watch
Beardan
Roar Guru
Because he is a great. And like I said seeing him win is something special. Seeing him play like a weekend amateur is amazing in a different way, and a shame for Woods. He was in more tall grass than a hungry lion last major.
Beardan
Roar Guru
It wont guarantee anything, but in my opinion it will certainly help.
Beardan
Roar Guru
I am not questioning how he lives his life or judging it either. I clearly said that what happened was between his wife and all of his girlfriends. But the message he told you and I (as golf fans) was different to reality. And it wasnt good enough to do that.
Beardan
Roar Guru
I already spoke about this prepared statement.
Beardan
Roar Guru
I dont necessarily think it will guarantee Tiger Woods getting back to number one, but I do think it will help. Forget about his hips and the technical side of golf for a bit. How has that been going for Woods in the last 12 months only working on that? Its a bit like Ian Thorpe, having something hang over your head for so long is not healthy. And Thorpe recently came out and said, just because he came out doesnt mean everything suddenly becomes rosey, but it has helped him overall. The same thing applies to Woods.
Brendo
Guest
If you think an apology is his way to redemption and will be the catlyst for getting back to world number 1, you obviously know nothing about golf. Tiger is struggling because his back is gone. To properly hit a golf ball you need great clearance through the hips. Look at his tape from the late 90s to the early 2000s, his shot was a violent contortion of his body. You cant sustain that. Plus i agree with everyone else above, he doesnt owe anyone crap. I guess you thought youd kick the tyres and write something to get a few clicks and some comments? This happened 6 years ago, no one cares anymore. No one really did to begin with. It was just those that were jealous of his achievements (Chamblee and other conservative americans) that remained outspoken against him. Tiger has done more for the game of golf than anyone else, if you actually like the game, you'd know that.
richardislip
Guest
Correct!!!!
richardislip
Guest
Correct
jamesb
Guest
Didn't Tiger already apologize https://youtu.be/FA7ty2LQwc0
watcher
Guest
I found it laughable (although it is more sinister) that the huge barrage of criticism of Tiger for his morals in the States. Although what he did was reprehensible, he didn't kill anyone. We are talking consenting adults here. His Wife had recourse to deal with these matters as she saw fit, and she did so. Essentially a private matter, however he has profited hugely being in the public gaze so can hardly moan when things go pear shaped. The sheer hypocrisy of some parts of the States (moral majority) that skims over mass shootings and condones a gun culture such as they have is mind blowing. Not to mention economic equality, racism (is there a hint here) dodgy reasons for war etc. Tiger as a golfer deserves to be remembered as one of the very best of all time. Often sporting talent doesn't translate into good character. That is why I ridicule the notion that sportsmen are role models. No doubt, some are. To say all is lining yourself up for a fall.
byron dade
Guest
Why Tiger Woods consumes your thoughts is puzzling. He played the game, he made his money, he put in his time amd now he is done. Next player.
MH01
Guest
If he cheated against the rule of golf, sure apologise to the public that were watching him play. What he does outside of the game, that's his choice, he owes me no apology!! Did anyone watch him play golf cause he was a great family man? I did not even know he was married for most of the time, nor her name. I watched him play golf.
Darwin Stubbie
Guest
So apologise to me and you'll fix your career .. yeah, right .... he owes the public nothing ..