By Gary Larrabee
Now that Tiger Woods has announced the taking of an indefinite leave of absence from competition because of the first-confessed “transgressions” he has now upgraded to “infidelities,” it’s time for everyone else to move on and realize one thing: He is no longer the face of golf here or anywhere in the world.
Golf has attained its status in sports, business and society, first and foremost, over the last 130 years, not because of any one player, professional or amateur, but because of what the game represents in the larger sense. And that is character and integrity.
Tiger Woods has forfeited all of that and then some. I want to hear no more about Tiger’s impact on the game of golf. Granted, the game got a dramatic boost in all respects when he turned pro. Viewer and participation interest in the game reached unprecedented heights. The golf industry experienced a boon never before seen. But in recent years the numbers had leveled off.
The game enjoyed a profitable “bubble” for several years, thanks in large part to Tiger. But that bubble has popped, thankfully to a far lesser degree than the recent financial and real estate bubbles.
Golf – the game made great because of what honest, honorable men and women like Francis Ouimet, Bobby Jones, Jack Nicklaus, Babe Zaharias, Mickey Wright and Nancy Lopez represent – will do just fine whether Tiger returns to competition or not.
Can he ever repair the damage he has done to himself, his family and the game? Unlikely. But he needs to try. A suggestion for Earl and Tilda’s son: take actions that will begin – only begin – to display his sincerity to seek redemption. Announce his withdrawal from all golf competition in 2010. Instead, unveil a plan to play in a series of 100 exhibitions, all to benefit the Tiger Woods Foundation. In essence, devote all of 2010 to family and foundation, the Tiger Woods Foundation. Salvage from his marriage what – if anything – wife Elin will permit. Commit $100 million to the Foundation for the explicit purpose of supporting homeless shelters and needy one-parent families. Eliminate all wretched excess from your life, especially the $22 million yacht and the $75 million estate under construction. Keep the plane. You can do much good with it.
As for the game, it will do just fine without TW.
Breakin 90 // Dec 14, 2009 at 4:35 pm
I hope the guy work things out with his family, but I would very surprised if is out of golf for long. My feeling is he’ll miss the Masters, but play in one or two events before playing the US Open in June.
As far as the game goes, I think golf fans will stay with it. The casual viewer ( which is the majority) maybe not.
The Defoliator // Dec 14, 2009 at 7:23 pm
I’m not sure that John Daly and Hooters can step in and fill the Tiger/Gatorade void, but I think the tour will survive Tiger’s absence all the same. I say Rocco Mediate should be the new face of the PGA, with handicap points given for his humility, humor, and character. . .