The AT&T National has one theme — how will fatherhood impact Tiger Woods?
The golf world is watching for a sign of weakness in Tiger Woods. The kingpin of the PGA returns Thursday for his first tournament since becoming a father on June 18 and competitors are so hoping Woods loses a little something off his driver as a dad.
Sorry boys, that’s a long shot over the short term. If Woods could lose the U.S. Open by one shot while his pregnant wife was hospitalized with complications only to give birth hours after the tournament, then little will phase him.
“When [Woods is] on the golf course, he’s a golfer,” said long-time friend and golfer Notah Begay III.
Sam Alexis Woods’ arrival spotted the field a freebie in the Buick Open while keeping her father home, but Woods arrived Tuesday at Congressional Country Club ready to resume work. Ironically, his first night away from the family proved restless as Woods joked of awakening every 45 minutes anyway.
“I don’t sleep much,” he said. “I definitely don’t sleep now.”
Fellow golfers have told Woods to get his rest, to be home whenever possible. Neither is easy for one of sports’ icons. He doesn’t have home games or much time off. There are always business meetings sandwiched around five days each week on a course.
“It’s just time management and understanding where your priorities are — and our priorities are Sam,” Woods said. “That’s the one priority. And from there, you work it out.”
Spoken like a naive new father. Woods certainly has more support than many parents with a working spouse and a long daily commute. It will be a few years before Woods truly faces the biggest challenge — making peace with being a part-time father. It’s something most parents, especially those who travel for work, either accept, feel guilty or change jobs.
The phone calls of a tired spouse and sad children are the foundation of country music. Woods will get his turn. That’s when PGA competitors may get the baby bump they seek rather than this weekend.
“I know I can’t always be there physically,” Woods said. “That’s going to be frustrating, but I’ll try to be there as much as I can.”
Woods spoke of having another child. Indeed, it’s all still in front of the 31-year-old legend. The golf course is no longer the sanctuary it once was. Life is creeping into his world a little more. The loss of his father last year. Growing family comittments. Hosting his own golf tournament.
But Tiger, please know family is the real joy of life. Everything else is extra. If children cost you a couple of strokes, it’s a fair trade.
“How can you love something so much that didn’t even exist the day before?” Woods pondered of his child.
How can you not?
Rick Snider has covered local sports since 1978. Contact him at [email protected].
