Tiger Woods: Why It's Time for America to Forgive Scorned Golfer

Earlier this week, Forbes released its list of most disliked athletes, and, not surprisingly, Tiger Woods was atop the list alongside Michael Vick.

And I couldn't help but think that it has come time for America to forgive Tiger.

On one hand, these lists dictate that certain athletes will appear on the liked side, namely because most athletes haven't given the public a reason to dislike them throughout the years. So, the Vicks' and Woods' of the world will always stand out simply because they've actually given the public a reason to dislike them at some point.

On the other hand, it's probably time to move on.

I'm a firm believer in the notion that you forgive, but you don't forget. And it's hard to forget the actions of Woods, especially given how jarring they were in light of the moral and upstanding reputation he and his handlers had so carefully crafted throughout the years.

In a sense, the public felt a shred of the deceit that his wife Elin Nordegren must have felt, though obviously in a much less personal or devastating way. His fans, the companies he advertised for and anyone else with any sort of emotional or business attachment to Woods essentially felt that they had supported a sham.

Woods endured what was essentially a public trial on his character, and the public very loudly pronounced him guilty and sentenced him to shame for the foreseeable future. And as his personal life shattered, so to did his golf game. His game simply hasn't been the same since the scandal.

He was hit in the wallet as well, losing five major endorsements after the scandal before companies started trusting his image would recover in 2011.

In every facet of his life, he paid a steep price. Since the scandal, he has done nothing to further earn the ire of the public.

Understand this: I am no Tiger Woods apologist.

But I do think the man has been humbled in a more severe and public manner than most of us could imagine—and that's what comes with being a high-profile athlete that is worth hundreds of millions of dollars—and it's time we forgive him and give him the opportunity to prove that he is a better man and ambassador for the game of golf.

He deserves a second chance. He's earned our forgiveness.

Even if we could never forget that scandal.

Hit me up on Twitter—I'm #Linning.