Get Ready for the Tiger Woods Circus at the 2015 Masters

There’s a saying in golf that no person is bigger than the game…unless that person is Tiger Woods, who turns logic inside out and upside down. And his presence at the 2015 Masters, now that he confirmed his participation, will do exactly that.

Rory McIlroy’s attempt to win a career Grand Slam? Back page stuff. Open up the big top and send in the clowns. The Tiger Woods Circus is coming. It may only last a few days, but those few days will make golf relevant and wild once more.

It’s not Woods' fault. Yet, it is Woods' fault, because of who he has been—a Nike commercial come to life, a headline, a salesman, a scandal, a star—and for what he has done to become arguably the best golfer in history—or if you still go for Jack Nicklaus, as I do, then at the least the second-best golfer in history.

McIlroy arriving at Augusta atop the world rankings? Phil Mickelson striving to win his fourth Masters, which would equal Woods and Arnold Palmer? Jordan Spieth trying to reinforce the idea that he’s the future of American golf? Dustin Johnson, after a scandal of his own, coming in as hot as any golfer around? Piddling stuff.

First, we wondered if Woods would play the 2015 Masters next week, although the probability kept increasing as stories of his supposedly sharp practice rounds kept filtering out of Florida:

Now that it’s a go and he'll be in a tournament for the first time in two months, we have to wonder what it’s going to be like at Augusta National, where the spectators are called “patrons” and rules of deportment were established decades ago by the late Bobby Jones.

No running. No cheering mistakes, such as three-putts or failed bunker shots. Almost no breathing.

If Cypress Point Club, as deemed by former U.S. Golf Association president Sandy Tatum, is the "Sistine Chapel of golf," then Augusta National at the least is the Westminster Abbey. Jim Nantz, in his softly spoken comments for CBS, literally sets the tone. Please don’t disturb the azaleas.

MORRY GASH/Associated Press

But Woods changes everything. Woods was the story when he won four majors in succession. Woods was the story when he took the 2008 U.S. Open on a leg-and-a-half—and who would imagine that he’d not take another Slam tournament since? Woods was the story when he publicly apologized for his sexual transgressions. Woods was the story when he underwent back surgery last year.

And Woods is the story for this Masters, no matter how well or poorly he shoots, no matter if he plays four rounds—something he hasn’t done since the British Open last July—or only two. And even if his back should stiffen, as it did February 6 when he withdrew at Torrey Pines after 12 holes, and he does not complete a round, he's still the story. 

Year	Score	Place
2006	-4	T3
2007	+3	T2
2008	-5	2
2009	-8	T6
2010	-11	T4
2011	-10	T4
2012	+5	T40
2013	-5	T4
2014	N/A	Did not compete

It was admirable when Woods and his people, who do have a true respect for the game, made the announcement of his entry Friday and didn’t postpone it until next week. The run-up to any Masters is busy enough. Think of what the situation would have been if Woods waited until Tuesday—or Wednesday, when the Par 3 Contest is underway.

Woods doesn’t have to succeed next week. He doesn’t even have to make the cut. Although if he does after not competing for six weeks and not playing a full tournament for eight months, that would indicate he’s still got plenty of game.

We’ve been surprised by Woods following lengthy absences before. After his apology and rehab at the end of 2009 and beginning of 2010, he entered the Masters and came in fourth. It’s only his recent play—the bungled chip shots, the errant drives—that have made us question his future. Especially at age 39.

Palmer said on March 19 Woods needs to regain that tremendous confidence he once displayed. Woods once feared nothing, and most of the other players feared him. Yet there must be reason for confidence. It can’t be hatched out of thin air.

Rick Scuteri/Associated Press

He needs a good start, a few birdies on the front nine. He needs the roar of the crowd. He needs his name on the leaderboards. He needs to remind us who he once was.

In the end, despite all of the speculation, the "will he or won't he," Woods was going to play the Masters. He wanted to. His sponsors wanted him to. Golf wanted him to. McIlroy was supposed to take over for Woods, but he hasn’t done so. Nobody else—Jimmy Walker, Patrick Reed, Spieth or Johnson—has yet provided the same electricity.

Only one man can do that: Tiger Woods. For two or maybe four rounds, he’ll help make the Masters the wild attraction golf needs it to be. Woods is back, and for a time that may be only too brief, so is the thrill.

For better or worse, there’s no one like him.

Art Spander is a winner of the 2009 Lifetime Achievement Award in Journalism from the PGA of America.