Why Tiger Woods Continues to Be Good For the Game of Golf

I love the serenity that playing a round of golf brings. The smell of the grass, the swish of the club, and the sound of contact with the ball is an aphrodisiac that I enjoy.

Unlike others who turned that aphrodisiac into a weekend habit, I have only played sparingly. I could drive the ball long and straight and was adequate when it hit the green but getting it there frustrated me.

I couldn't hit a pitching wedge right to save my life. The worst lay for me (avoiding the obvious opportunity for a Tiger joke) was smack dab between the tee and the green.  Do I hit a seven-iron? Is there a slope in the green to avoid? What about traps? 

Invariably, I would hit what felt right and launch the ball over the green or worse yet, just a few yards closer to the hole.

Great game, amazing scenery, but not the sport for me.

Even when Tiger was the Tiger we all believed he was—before the scandal hit—I didn't watch the game on TV. It seemed even more boring than baseball. 

Sure, it's hell to watch the pitcher go to the rosin bag while the batter adjusts his jewels and the ump bends over to wipe off home plate. Those moments in MLB are yawn-fests.

Watching golf on TV, however, made a Nomar Garciaparra at bat look like an Oscar-worthy movie.

Hey look, there is a guy walking.

Shhh, that guy is about to hit a stationary ball.

Wow, that's a pretty view of the sky.  Oh wait, I think we are following the flight of the golf ball. 

Painful.

Tiger spiced up the game as much as he could. Again, I am referring to P.S.T. (Pre-Scandal Tiger). If you didn't watch every minute his games on TV (like me) you sure didn't click away if you happened to see him on TV hitting a long putt.

His fist-pumps, catchy commercials, general likability and other-worldly game made P.S.T. a megastar.

Now he is a mega disaster.

All is not lost for Tiger or golf, however. The game, of course, is bigger than any single player, Tiger included, but it certainly cares about its image and its ratings. 

Tiger is taking some time off to prioritize, he will return better for it. Tiger and golf will be just fine, it will just take some time.

It's late 2010 and every mistress who wanted to toss her bra in the Tiger hat has long since used up her fifteen minutes. 

Every text message has been read, every book written, every opinion dispensed, and every joke told. 

Tiger spent his time in counseling both for himself and his marriage. Him and Elin, with the ink in the adjusted pre-nup dried, are rebuilding.  She doesn't trust him, but she is willing to learn how to again.

Tiger is seen for the first time in almost a year looking different. He isn't any bigger or smaller or wearing anything unusual, but he has a look about him that we aren't accustomed to seeing from him. 

He has that aura of satisfaction that can only come when one comes clean about who he is.

He smiles.

His kids tug on his pants and he stops to play. He looks less like a megastar and more like an every day dad.

The healing that took place internally now begins to take place globally. Tiger steps up to the microphone and exclaims that he is back.

Not all is either forgiven or forgotten, but America welcomes back its hero. The world wonders what took America so long.

The scrutiny is intense on Tiger but he embraces it. The questions are personal but Tiger answers them. Elin remains hurt but has a new found strength to her. The family seems solid and the golf world awaits.

Americans are a forgiving bunch.

Americans love a good comeback.

Americans value family.

Americans love golf.

In Tiger, if all goes as hoped, we might have all of the above. I, for one, am ready to tune out for a few months and await the emergence of Tiger 2.0.

For golf, and much more so for Tiger, I hope it plays out like my best case scenario outlined here. Imagine if it does. His first tournament back is one golf tournament I will watch from beginning to end.