03/31/26 04:28:00
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03/31 16:27 CDT Tiger Woods is a big topic again for the wrong reason as the
Masters nears
Tiger Woods is a big topic again for the wrong reason as the Masters nears
By DOUG FERGUSON
AP Golf Writer
Tiger Woods is taking up all the attention in golf with the Masters
approaching. That's not always a good thing.
Woods has been the center of golf's universe his entire professional career, if
not longer, as one of the few athletes who not only lived up to potential but
surpassed it. That hasn't changed, even with him having not competed in a
serious tournament in 20 months.
And it doesn't matter if he plays in the Masters.
Woods was planning to be at Augusta National, anyway. He was scheduled to
appear with Masters chairman Fred Ridley on Sunday evening to celebrate the
opening of "The Patch," the refurbished municipal course where Woods' design
firm was asked to build a short course ("The Loop").
Then there's the Masters Club dinner Tuesday night, held exclusively for
Masters champions since 1952. No one wants to miss that.
Does he go? Should he go?
These are uncomfortable questions consuming the Masters, the tournament golf
fans look forward to more than any other because of the familiarity of Augusta
National and because it will have been 263 days since the last major. In golf,
Georgia is always on the mind.
At stake for Woods is no longer a Masters green jacket or any other trophy.
Now it's about his legacy.
That probably won't change as a golfer. Even after returning following his
sudden and shocking downfall in 2009 --- sordid details of serial adultery that
were exposed when his SUV crashed into a fire hydrant --- fans flocked to watch
him because he's Tiger Woods.
The other three car incidents --- all in the last nine years --- raised a
different set of questions.
Toxicology reports indicated five medications in his system when he was found
asleep behind the wheel of his running car in 2017. Woods didn't know where he
was or how he got there. At one point, a police officer told Woods his shoe was
untied. Woods fumbled with the laces when the officer said: "It's your other
shoe that's untied. Now that one is, too."
Four years later, Woods was going nearly twice the 45 mph speed limit on a
coastal road outside Los Angeles when his SUV struck a median and tumbled down
a hill. More than 20 surgeries were required on his right leg. Remarkably, he
was never cited and authorities never sought a warrant for a blood test. The
vehicle's black box indicated Woods never hit the brakes.
Why?
"All those answers have been answered in the investigation, so you can read
about all that there in the police report," he curtly replied in his first
public appearance nine months later. Woods was the master of "no comment" even
when he commented.
More details emerged from his latest crash Friday in Florida, where Woods was
going at a "high speed" when he clipped a trailer being pulled by a truck and
his SUV flipped on its side. He was arrested for driving under the influence
when officers determined he was impaired.
In the incident report released Tuesday, Woods told deputies he had been
looking at his phone and fiddling with the radio. According to the report,
Woods said he had taken his prescription medication that morning --- the
accident time was listed as 1:15 p.m. --- and deputies found two hydrocodone
pills in his pocket during a search.
So much remains unknown except that he spent eight hours in jail Friday for
refusing a urine test and he faces an April 23 court date in Martin County.
Save for a not guilty plea he entered Tuesday, there has not been a word from
his camp, or from anyone else who has a stake in him.
That's a longer list now than when he was playing.
It starts with Augusta National, which has embraced its five-time Masters
champion in recent years by asking his firm to help with The Patch. Woods also
is opening a TGR Learning Lab in Augusta to serve educational needs.
The first order of business for Brian Rolapp when he took over as CEO of the
PGA Tour last summer was to appoint Woods chairman of the Future Competition
Committee to shake up how the tour has operated the last six decades.
The PGA of America was close to appointing a Ryder Cup captain. The job was
Woods' if he wanted it, and he was days away from a soft deadline for his
decision. Now it's a matter of whether to move on or have the latest police
incident hang over Woods until the Ireland matches in September 2027.
He is eligible for the PGA Tour Champions and would have access to a cart on
the 50-and-older circuit. The day before his latest crash, Woods applied to
play in the U.S. Senior Open this summer, a formality more than a commitment.
No one has ever won the U.S. Junior, U.S. Amateur, U.S. Open and U.S. Senior
Open. Woods loves a challenge.
The crash took place three days after Woods made his first appearance in the
TGL final, the indoor league his TMRW Sports owns. Viewership spiked to nearly
1 million because he's Tiger Woods.
There is golf and there is life, and the latter is always more important. The
pattern of behavior is startling, and for Woods it's embarrassing considering
all the hats he wears --- or could wear.
His daughter is at Stanford and his son recently committed to play golf at
Florida State.
And there is his foundation.
Woods hosted a 30-year anniversary bash for his TGR Foundation on Jan. 14 with
an A-list of celebrities (Jon Bon Jovi performed) to announce $50 million
raised last year toward education. Atlanta Falcons owner Arthur Blank ended the
night by pledging $20 million for a TGR Learning Lab in Atlanta.
The foundation said it had reached more than 3 million kids and served over
217,000 students since the first learning center opened 20 years ago.
"Tonight was a reminder that the legacy I'm most proud of isn't on the golf
course. It's the work we've done to positively impact the lives of students
through TGR Foundation," Woods said. "I am excited for what's next."
The Masters starts nine days from Tuesday. Even if Woods is not there, he will
be a topic.
___
On The Fringe analyzes the biggest topics in golf during the season. AP golf:
https://apnews.com/hub/golf
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