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 Tiger Woods, shown at the 2007 Target World Challenge (now sponsored by Chevron), won't be at this year's tournament (PHOTO: Eddie Meeks). There is one portion of the site that doesn’t mention Woods (there is a photo of him with former Los Angeles Lakers star James Worthy), a news link entitled “New Tournament Policy.” The page trumpets the fact that players like L.A. native Anthony Kim and 2009 major winners Lucas Glover and Stewart Cink are part of what should be another great field at Sherwood Country Club in Thousand Oaks this week. That’s old news. But the “Policy” is that 2009 ticket holders can save 20 percent on next year’s tickets, and those who have tickets for this year’s event can receive refunds beginning Monday, December 7, one day after the tournament ends. Where’s Alanis Morisette when you need her — the website that parades Woods can’t bear to mention he won’t be competing this year? Ironic, don’t you think? With all that Tiger has been through in the last five days, it’s still unacceptable that he’ll be a complete no-show at his own event. In an official statement posted on his website Monday, Woods announced he would be absent from the Chevron World Challenge “due to injuries sustained in a one-car accident last week.” The controversy surrounding Woods during Thanksgiving Weekend — his early-morning car accident, his wife Elin smashing the car with a golf club, the postponed police discussions, the rumors of him being on painkillers while driving and affairs with New York club hostess Rachel Uchitel and cocktail waitress Jaimee Grubb — has created as much buzz as any celebrity news story this year. The exact severity of Woods’ injuries isn’t known, but if they were serious enough that he had to go to the hospital, then his decision to forego playing 72 holes for physical reasons can be justified. But last year, it also was a foregone conclusion Woods wouldn’t be playing at Sherwood because of physical reasons — he was still rehabilitating from reconstructive knee surgery. He still showed up, showing support for the event and doing the right thing for his Foundation — an endeavor focused on improving the lives of children by imparting moral values and providing incredible education opportunities. The charitable organization was a vision he collaborated on with his father, Earl. On the Foundation website, Woods said he took his family’s values to heart as a child, specifically mentioning “integrity, honesty, discipline [and] responsibility” as cornerstone principles. The available facts from this weekend don’t directly slander Woods in each of these areas, but what’s happened so far has prompted people across the world to question if he’s being honest and whether he’s taking responsibility for his actions that may have demonstrated a lapse in discipline and integrity. Woods’ steadfastness in declaring the ordeal a “private matter” is acceptable. He is a public figure, but also a U.S. citizen who has the same right to privacy as anyone else. His absence from the World Challenge will spare him from a media circus — for this week, at least. Whenever he makes his 2010 PGA Tour debut, likely at the Century Club of San Diego Invitational at Torrey Pines, the circus will have merely traveled just a little further south. If there’s one skill Woods has learned as well as his ability to get the ball in the hole in fewer strokes than anyone else, it’s his swift avoidance of questions that concern his life outside the ropes. And that’s why his decision to remove himself from the tournament this weekend is not only devastating for his Foundation, but unnecessary. Woods would have almost certainly deflected any question pertaining to the incident this week, so he could still show up to support his charity and simply not speak to the media. He’s used to staying mum, so he would certainly be capable of not adding any fuel to what has been the biggest fire of his career. But instead, the tournament will be missing its centerpiece. Woods is the driving force behind his Foundation, and the fact that he at least won't be in attendance is going to hurt something he's worked hard to promote — instead of the focus being on a quality off-season event whose funds support a wonderful Foundation, it will be on the beleaguered host, who is not helping his own cause nor the cause of his charity by being a no-show. Eli Miller is the managing editor of Southland Golf. Reach him at emiller@churmmedia.com. |
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You are rediculous. Leave him alone its none of your business and the FHP have also ruled the same. So he crashed his car on private property. and he gets a citation. Let it go and leave the man alone.
| Comment at 12/1/2009 |
If Tiger feels that he can't make it due to injuries, then he can't make it. I'm sure he realizes the consequences of his actions and thought long and hard about it and has his reasons (hopefully honorable). For the fans, I would call this an unfortunate turn of events. As a golfer who understands the tradition of honor observed in this sport, I'm giving him the benefit of the doubt that in time, we will understand the nature of his actions. However, to say that his actions are "unacceptable" is simply prejudicial. How do you know what is really going on? Do you think that these injuries are purely physical? Perhaps his wife has sustained some injuries. Basically, it sounds like you're making Tiger choose between his family and the foundation. Would you judge Jack or Arnie the same way? Overall, we have gotten so used to having the "facts" revealed to us in real-time that he have lost the faith typically associated with honor. With all of that in mind, I feel that your view of this situation is simply "unacceptable."
| Comment at 12/1/2009 |
Eli speaks for a lot of us who are crest fallen over the events of recent days surrounding Tiger. His stoic, almost religious pursuit of excellence on and off the course, was a model of behavior in a sports world often void of stand up guys. His tournament will not only be missing its centerpiece, but it will be missing the sole it so desperately needs. Let's just hope Tiger uses the time away from the game to do some serious soul searching.
| Comment at 12/1/2009 |
Tiger should man up and come to his tournament. It's the perfect opportunity for him to douse the fire, apologize for any mistakes and then move on. Billion dollars in sponsorships and earnings should buy him a lot better pr.
| Comment at 12/1/2009 |
Eli: while I appreciate the fact that you have appointed yourself the guardian of the Chevron, and thank heaven you have done so, as I fear without your stewardship, the entire event might sink into the ocean like a Ca sunset, GET A GRIP! This story is about four people's lives and how they will move forward from this day. Mr. Woods contibutions speak for themselves as I'm sure yours do as well,and while he may not be the all-time golfing philanthropist, when they speak of the all-time golfing philanthropists, his name will come up, even if he nevere contibutes again. This is life on the line, and his family's and it's easy to see that two peoples lives don't amount to a hill of beans..... Ahh, you've seen the movie.!0 yrs. from now, 2009 will be big deal in ETW's life. Maybe it won't be important in yours.
| Comment at 12/2/2009 |
It is interesting how some will decide what someone else should do when dealing with their personal life beyond what the law requires. Is it because of a relatively inocuous life that some folks cannot ignore the personal life of others?
The tabloids have developed an industry out of people who actually care about the affairs of celebrities beyond the what that person contributes that creates their celebrity. Is it the abscence of any significant contribution or self esteem that drives this need. There is a simple abreviated advice that this type of individual should seriously consider; "Get a life."
| Comment at 12/2/2009 |
I totally agree with your commentay, he should at leat show up even if he has to sit in a wheel chair and not answer any questions whatsoever about his private life.
| Comment at 12/2/2009 |
What family values? He has women on the side. I will be asking for my refund on Monday and I have removed the autographed picture of tiger that was in my den to an envelope in the garage. (It may be worth something in a few years). I will no longer be a tiger fan, if he had the honor to admit he fooled around, fine, but the cover up is what I can not take. Her's hoping he's a bachelor by this time next year.
| Comment at 12/2/2009 |
I agree with Eli and so do a lot of others. Those of us with families know that family is our main and first concern. Staying locked up and posting vague and speculative comments that only fueled the fire is hurting his family worse. If Tiger would of accepted his "transgressions" from the beginning and talked with police, said he was sorry for misbehaving over the holiday it would of been over by now. He shows up at the tournament that benefits a lot of people in need. People and the media would rallied behind him, forgave him and his legend of a stand up guy who is not perfect would only exploded. Like we all have seen Tiger evade the media and questions he could of showed up with some scratches on his face and just said "no comment". (Come on at some time in your career we have all had to walk in on Monday morning with a black eye or scratches something that we where not proud of, but we did it.) Then this media circus would of had no fuel and maybe the other girls would not of come out to get their share of the spotlight as it would of been turned off. Just an opinion. This just shows hind sight is 20/20 and Tiger is only 34 so he has a lot of learning still to do. Lets just hope he can recover from this and get back on the course asap. Golf is not the same without him.
| Comment at 12/2/2009 |
Well, Tiger has made his apology. However I feel that the "holier than thou's" are still looking for more "detail" believing that this is the only form of reconciliation. At this juncture, the only person he has to "man-up" to is himself and his family. Also, there were probably some legal ramifications for not talking to the police, like possibly a charge on his wife (yes, not him, his wife) for domestic violence. As for these "fans" that are looking for a "refund" from this week's charity tournament, I ask the question: are you taking that refund and giving some of it to the foundation it supports?
| Comment at 12/2/2009 |
I think it is a shame that Tiger is not showing up to his own hosted event. He could at least came out here for the rest of the players, he doesn't have to play. (even thou it would have been nice- I love watching him play) As far as is personal life, I think his problems are just beginning. OH WELL, It happens to the best of people. Good luck Tiger.
| Comment at 12/2/2009 |
He should attend the entire event (without playing) to support his own Foundation as he did last year while in rehab. He made his public statement and need not answer any further questions about his personal life issues. His stature will gain more by attending and may suffer by staying away.
| Comment at 12/2/2009 |
It is understandable for his decision, he is a human too, we have to understand his situation and KEEP QUITE now. That is only way to help him.
His life is not a subject for gossip.
Hope he has a Merry Christmas with his family.
| Comment at 12/2/2009 |
Since when are we judge and jury and no one is perfect. Would we all like to live our lives and have a mistake played out in the public forum. Seems the news media these days is here to upstage one another and create news. I doubt that any of us would want any of this on our plate, so to speak. Let's let the guy deal with his problems privately and move on. No one died and this is small potatoes in the realm of what is going on in our world and we need to look at ourselves
| Comment at 12/2/2009 |
Earl of blessed memory promised the world before he departed that his son would be very, very special. The question is: did Tiger make himself so special or have the golf fans been the source of all the adoration? All I know is that golf without Tiger, for a week or a season, is pretty tame. Number one is truly Number One as far as golf goes.
As far as the "incident": yes, we should back up and give the guy some slack. But I am not really sure why he deserves the space. He is, afterall, a public figure. He has established his greatness, reputation and social standing based on the public perception we have of him. In our rush to adore Tiger, the public has been forgiving of his general bad manners, churlishness, ego mania and aloofness. Our hunger to witness his greatness has allowed all of us to turn a blind eye to the shortcomings of the public Tiger.
Let's try, though to put the latest episode into some kind of context. Yes, in America Tiger deserves his money and space. The fact that it is our money, money from sponsors etc, that has allowed him to buy his space is irrelevant. But what is relevant is that the "public" Tiger has become a spectacle as of late. The screaming, foul mouthed golfer, a glaring menace who will bust your camera before you can say "cheese", is a sorry spectacle these days. Whatever led up to the recent contretemps, we are seeing a rather creepy, unheroic Tiger these days.
And please, don't give me any of the tired rhetoric about role models: the guy, or at least the industry that he has put in place around like a moat around a castle, spins his good qualities everyday of the year.
Tiger has to decide who he wants to be. For all of the fame and glory, money and status, experience and education, Eldrick has yet to figure out the enigma we call "Tiger". Earl would be saddenend.
| Comment at 12/2/2009 |
How funny is it that he's pictured with James Worthy? Both icons of their respective sports with notoriously wandering... "eyes."
| Comment at 12/2/2009 |
O. J., Kobie and Eldrick---entitled, take no responsibility. Now all sports are above the law and and shame themselves. Why do we continue to reward this type of behavior. It is no wonder that our society is crumbling if these are our rolemodels.
| Comment at 12/2/2009 |
