Tiger Woods Masters - Turns out, he is what they say he is. He is what they shout. He is what they crave. He is what they believe. No matter how much his sleazy behavior has betrayed everything he claimed to be, Tiger Wood is still The Man. That's how it happens in sports, remember? That's how it was Thursday at Augusta National in a roaring, revealing way that will ensure you never again forget.
On golf's grandest stage, Tiger Woods crawled out from beneath a five-month sex scandal into the arms of an adoring public and the strength of an astounding swing. Playing with the desperation of one seeking forgiveness, Woods found it in his score, owning the crowd, controlling the course and finishing the Masters' first day just two strokes off the lead with a 4-under-par 68.
"It's hard to believe,'' Woods said afterward. "I've turned it around.''
Of course he has. You knew he would. No matter how much any fool like me or Billy Payne or corporate America would scold, you knew he was always just one good tee shot from redemption.
We don't want our sports stars to enlighten or influence, we want them to entertain. We judge their morality with a stat sheet and their integrity with a scoreboard. Woods' first round in 144 days was his best first round at Augusta. Now that's remorse.
In a club down the road in Atlanta, one of Woods' alleged mistresses was stripping. Throughout the Internet, the confessions of a new alleged mistress — a 21-year-old neighbor — were flowing. On television, a crass commercial in which Woods exploits his father's memory while trying to profit from his own misdeeds was airing.
Yet none of it mattered, because Woods was ripping it. He sank a putt for a birdie on the third hole. He sank a 12-foot eagle putt on the eighth hole. He curled an approach shot 210 yards around a tree and landed it close enough for a birdie putt on the ninth hole.
On No. 13, he missed an eagle putt and settled for birdie. On No. 15, he made an eagle putt, giving him two eagles in one round for the first time in his career here.
His day ended under rolling black clouds spitting rain. Woods stalked to the final green with his head tucked under a black cap. The crowd enveloped him in a standing ovation that cut through the mist.
It was triumphant, It was cleansing. And, OK, it was also really creepy.
"Just going about my business,'' Woods said. "Whatever the emotions were, the emotions were.''
Just going about his business, indeed. The new Tiger was forgiven so quickly, he immediately figured it was fine to revert to the old Tiger.
His pledge to watch his temper? It lasted 14 holes, before he botched an approach shot, dropped his club, spun on his heels and screamed.
His promise to be more inviting to fans? While he seemed to smile more, when the round ended, he hustled away without even glancing at the mob that cried for him.
Whatever. It doesn't matter. None of it matters but the golf. You knew that. I knew that. End of story. Play on.
On golf's grandest stage, Tiger Woods crawled out from beneath a five-month sex scandal into the arms of an adoring public and the strength of an astounding swing. Playing with the desperation of one seeking forgiveness, Woods found it in his score, owning the crowd, controlling the course and finishing the Masters' first day just two strokes off the lead with a 4-under-par 68.
"It's hard to believe,'' Woods said afterward. "I've turned it around.''
Of course he has. You knew he would. No matter how much any fool like me or Billy Payne or corporate America would scold, you knew he was always just one good tee shot from redemption.
We don't want our sports stars to enlighten or influence, we want them to entertain. We judge their morality with a stat sheet and their integrity with a scoreboard. Woods' first round in 144 days was his best first round at Augusta. Now that's remorse.
In a club down the road in Atlanta, one of Woods' alleged mistresses was stripping. Throughout the Internet, the confessions of a new alleged mistress — a 21-year-old neighbor — were flowing. On television, a crass commercial in which Woods exploits his father's memory while trying to profit from his own misdeeds was airing.
Yet none of it mattered, because Woods was ripping it. He sank a putt for a birdie on the third hole. He sank a 12-foot eagle putt on the eighth hole. He curled an approach shot 210 yards around a tree and landed it close enough for a birdie putt on the ninth hole.
On No. 13, he missed an eagle putt and settled for birdie. On No. 15, he made an eagle putt, giving him two eagles in one round for the first time in his career here.
His day ended under rolling black clouds spitting rain. Woods stalked to the final green with his head tucked under a black cap. The crowd enveloped him in a standing ovation that cut through the mist.
It was triumphant, It was cleansing. And, OK, it was also really creepy.
"Just going about my business,'' Woods said. "Whatever the emotions were, the emotions were.''
Just going about his business, indeed. The new Tiger was forgiven so quickly, he immediately figured it was fine to revert to the old Tiger.
His pledge to watch his temper? It lasted 14 holes, before he botched an approach shot, dropped his club, spun on his heels and screamed.
His promise to be more inviting to fans? While he seemed to smile more, when the round ended, he hustled away without even glancing at the mob that cried for him.
Whatever. It doesn't matter. None of it matters but the golf. You knew that. I knew that. End of story. Play on.
