Last week at the Masters, Tiger Woods got his first taste of the post-scandal scrutiny he will encounter as he resumes his competitive golf career. If Sunday’s interview with TV announcer Peter Kostis is an accurate indicator, Woods is finding the microscope more intrusive than ever.
After Woods finished fourth at Augusta National, one of the first questions Kostis asked was about Woods’ on-course behavior.
“I think people are making way too much of a big deal of this thing,” snapped Woods, who also was testy later in a media interview session.
With every word, every shot and every reaction chronicled, analyzed, and, in many cases, criticized, will Woods be less likely to return to his customary workload?
When asked Sunday which tournament he would play next, Woods was non-committal. Might Woods remain away until the U.S. Open, June 17-20? Last year, between the Masters and U.S. Open, Woods played three tournaments — Quail Hollow, the Players Championship, and The Memorial.
Or is it possible Woods is considering a schedule similar to that of legendary golf recluse Ben Hogan, who even in his prime, played only a few events every year?
The harsh scrutiny Woods now finds himself under was demonstrated last weekend when he used Hogan’s name when speaking of his own post-scandal layoff.
The circumstances of Hogan’s inactivity were much different. He nearly lost his life in an auto accident, throwing his body across the front seat to protect his wife when hit head-on by a bus. The accident inspired the movie of Hogan’s life, “Follow the Sun.”
Two years ago at Congressional Country Club, when Woods was asked if he had seen the Hogan movie and drew any inspiration from it as he recovered from knee surgery, Woods scoffed at the comparison, saying Hogan has been through much worse.
But on Friday Woods made the mistake — if you can call it that — of comparing his practice routine post scandal to that of Hogan.
“It’s very similar to what Hogan went through coming off the accident,” said Woods. “He couldn’t play that much, and when you can’t play, you have to concentrate on your practice.”
Somehow, this innocuous comment — addressing only the practice routine, not the circumstances of their respective layoffs — became headline news, with famed sportswriter Dan Jenkins leading the charge.
“It’s stupid, moronic,” said Jenkins, a Texan, like Hogan, who covered and befriended the nine-time major champion. “Hogan nearly died. All Tiger did was damn near get syphilis.”
It’s likely that if Woods made a similar comment pre-scandal, it wouldn’t have caused a ripple.
But this is Tiger’s new life, at least for the time being.
Woods was treated warmly last week by the genteel patrons of Augusta National. But if he plays events that are more open to the public and the media, Woods could be a target for hecklers and the tabloid press.
What does this all mean for Woods? It might get worse before it gets better.
Kevin Dunleavy is the Washington Examiner’s golf writer. Reach him at [email protected] and read his blog, Pitches & Putts.
