Tiger Woods Needs the Truth More Than Ever

"Then you will know the truth and the truth will set you free."

John 8:32

The story has raged for three days. It's everywhere, it has grown and seemingly has a life of its own.

Tiger Woods, golfer, celebrity, extraordinarily wealthy young man.

And here he is in the center of a media firestorm.

It could all go away quickly.

The flames could be rapidly extinguished. The story could die a quick and sudden death.

All that's needed to make it go away is the truth. Simple, isn't it? The truth, what a novel idea?

Honesty is revered in our society. There is no better title than the "honest person" title.

Tell the truth, it's what most of us were taught early in life and the longer you live, the more you look around, the tougher it is to find truth these days.

Tiger Woods is a man with a fairly spotless reputation. Sure he's got a temper on the golf course. Mini-volcano he is at times.

We perceive that his parents raised him correctly. Corporations love his image, his smile is his trademark. He is a one-man industry. No telling how many people depend on him for their livelihoods.

But with the events of that Friday morning outside his home, we have to wonder: why can't Tiger just tell the truth and make it all go away?

We've all read the "official" statement from him:

"The situation is my fault and it's obviously embarrassing to my family and me. I'm human and I'm not perfect. I will make sure it doesn't happen again.

"Although I understand there is curiosity, the many false, unfounded and malicious rumors that are currently circulating about my family and me are irresponsible. "

That's the official take.

Now Tiger has to host his own tournament this week in California. At his press conferences, Woods dictates what he will and won't talk about. Always has, always will.

Will be interesting to see how it is all handled.

As for Woods, the more he hides, the more reclusive he is, the more he becomes a prisoner of his own fame and celebrity.

He needs to set himself free.

And all he needs to do is tell the truth and the world will forgive him.

It won't be embarrassing and it would make him a better person in everyone's eyes.

It would make him simply an honest man.