Tiger's return indicates nothing will change... on the course at least

After over four months in a hiding spot that Bin Laden would be proud of, Tiger Woods has finally returned to the PGA Tour with a fourth-place finish in the year’s first major at Augusta. Though the eventual winner, and Tiger’s main nemesis, Phil Mickelson left this generation’s greatest player in the dust on Sunday, Woods’ play in his first competitive tournament since October only strengthens the belief that normal service in Tigerland will resume quicker than first anticipated.

There is still much work to be done to restore golf’s most marketable image. Maybe it will never be completely repaired. The mind-boggling sex scandal that surfaced following his Thanksgiving night car crash brought Woods to a level of infamy nearly as unthinkable as his countless infidelities. But regardless of what we think of Tiger, his performance at The Masters confirms the guy can still play golf better than anyone else on the planet.

As Tiger’s tabloid drama unfolded deeper and deeper, the world’s number one golfer became the number one villain almost overnight: an identity Woods never dreamed he would have to fight. Suddenly, the question became not how Woods’ extra-curricular activities would affect his golf game, but rather would they cut short a career destined to be the greatest of all-time?

With 71 career victories, including 14 majors, Woods is knocking on the door of every significant record golf can provide. For nearly a decade, the thought of Tiger eventually reaching Sam Snead’s career mark for wins (82) and Jack Nicklaus’ record in majors (18) has been nothing short of a foregone conclusion. However, his latest transgressions have seemingly thrown a massive hazard in his path as many have questioned if he would come back and whether he would be the same player.

But anyone who has followed the illustrious career of this jaw-dropper of a golfing machine can believe with some confidence that not only will Tiger return as himself, he will be even more unbeatable. Fourth at The Masters is proof.

As one of sport’s all-time clutch athletes, Woods has developed an uncanny ability to block out any conceivable form of adversity on his way to winning. Whether it be overcoming the death of his father to win the 2006 Open Championship or hobbling to the 2008 U.S. Open title on a broken leg and torn ACL, Woods always seems to be at his best when he is surrounded by darkness.

In fact, it seems most athletes conjure up career performances when something has gone wrong in their personal lives (take Phil Mickelson for example). The adversity Tiger now faces is completely dishonorable, but it’s adversity nonetheless, and that will no doubt fuel him to become an even better golfer.

It’s true he’s never faced anything quite like this. But nothing is more “Tiger-esque” than going out and doing something no one thinks he can do.

As for climbing back to the top of the mountain on which he’s been perched for so long, Tiger should be looking at fellow clutch athlete Kobe Bryant. In 2003, Bryant found himself in a similar situation after an extra-marital affair and rape accusation. Just as in Tiger’s case, sponsors dropped Bryant instantly in an attempt to distance themselves from his wrongdoings and save some face. An NBA championship, an MVP award and two scoring titles later, Bryant is back on top of the basketball landscape locked in an epic battle for supremacy with Lebron James.

And before long, the golf course will once again host a familiar battle. With Mickelson playing inspired golf and looking better than ever physically, Tiger will be pushing even harder to streamline his resurgence to the top. So any professional golfers who thought this could be the year to capitalize on a down Tiger might want to get back to work because golf’s premier figure is ready to reclaim his crown.

Here kitty, kitty, kitty...

What better to bring me out of my hiatus than Tiger Woods returning to the forefront of the the sporting world?

For nearly three months, the world's greatest golfer has somehow managed to live in absolute darkness without even a single paparazzi photo being snapped. It's been simply amazing.

Woods' press conference, check that... statement (press conference implies we can ask questions) brought his marital issues back into the national spotlight as he finally apologized for his wrongdoings.

But after much examination and reflection over the issue, it has to be asked, who does Tiger really owe apologies too? In reality, the list is short.

As it stands, Tiger has done nothing breaking the rules of golf. As a matter of fact, in his home state (Florida), he didn't even break the law.

While I will never condone adultery, Tiger doesn't need to apologize to me. It's not for me to act as the executioner in a matter such as this. The only people Tiger needs to deal with is his family and his endorsers

Here's why:

1. At the root of it all, this is a family issue. Tiger's biggest apology should (and will) go to his wife, Elin. Tiger let down his family and he should have to pay for it, but not by us. Countless amounts of Americans commit adultery. Do we make every one of them stand in front of a camera and apologize to the nation? Tiger said it himself in his statement, he lives by the same rules as everyone else. The fact he can hit a golf ball 300 yards shouldn't change that.

2. Over the years, Tiger's endorsers have poured billions of dollars into supporting him. Tiger makes a ton of money winning golf tournaments, but let's face it, his real paycheck comes from the sponsorship deals. Like he has with his family, Tiger has let down his sponsors who have counted so much on his image. A big, big apology is necessary for these companies that put so much on a "role model" who, in all honesty, was never really much of one...

So who doesn't Tiger need to apologize to?

Us.

I keep hearing about how Tiger should make special mention of the parents and kids who considered him a role model. In the end, he made the smart move by issuing a special apology to this demographic. But really, it's unnecessary.

In my opinion, parents allowed their children to idolize Tiger Woods at their own peril. The facts are there. Tiger has always been a brat on the golf course. The club throwing, the cursing, the crowd scolding. I've seen him play in person. Quite frankly, he's a jerk. He's everything that golf isn't supposed to be. But that's what makes him so good. And he's friggin' good.

We have been blinded by how good Tiger has been over the last 15 years to realize that he's no role model. His talent has been so, for lack of better words, awesome, that we have overlooked the fact that he's an unpredictable toddler. So I have no remorse for those who feel they've been let down by Tiger's shortcomings.

At the end of the day, this is exactly the type of situation that will make Tiger stronger on the golf course. The guy responds to adversity by winning. His legacy might be ruined, but I doubt it. We are guilty of being an extremely forgiving culture if you can produce results. And believe me, Tiger Woods will produce results.

For now, let's let Tiger handle this the way he should (and the way he is), behind closed doors with his family.

Don't apologize to me, Tiger. Save it for the people who really deserve it. Meanwhile, get back to doing what you do best... making our jaws drop on Sundays... for the right reasons.

It's the most wonderful time of the year...

It has begun.

This stretch of days from mid-March to mid-April serves as my favorite time of the sports year. In the next month, we will experience all the drama that makes the sporting world so great. Underdogs will rise, miracles will come to fruition, and champions will be crowned.

It all started half an hour ago with the tip-off of Butler and LSU to signal the start of the big dance. The NCAA basketball tourney is without question one of the most dramatic events in all of sports. Anybody can beat anybody and the little minnows are given a chance to take their shots at the whales of college basketball. Forget the NBA, those overpaid babies don't know what it's all about. This is basketball at its best. The passion displayed by these 64 teams over the next 3 weeks will be enough to last the pros for the next 10 years. Of course, like the rest of the world, I've filled out my bracket and North Carolina is my national champion. I don't really care for the Heels too much, but as long as Ty Lawson doesn't miss more than the first weekend, it's their tournament to lose.

But hey who knows? Nobody. Who called little George Mason going to the Final Four 3 years ago? Provide me that bracket and I'll eat my words.

*My dark horse for the tournament: Michigan State. Tom Izzo has the Spartans playing some good ball right now. But they're not getting much love. I've got them in the championship, falling to Carolina.

In perfect form, the end of the NCAA tournament leads right into my favorite yearly sporting event: The Masters. I say yearly because I must confess the World Cup is my undisputed favorite, but I have to wait 4 years for that one. But there's nothing that beats The Masters. Golf at its highest form. Everyone knows the course, the holes. I can tell you the ins and outs of every single fairway and green at Augusta National. It's the most dramatic golf tournament in the world and it seems to always come down to the back 9 on Sunday. If I could, I would plop myself on the couch and watch The Masters from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Thursday through Sunday and honestly not feel like I'd wasted a second of my day. For me, there's nothing better. Plus, Tiger's back and Phil Mickelson is playing out of his skull right now. The stage is set.

*My dark horse for The Masters: Bubba Watson, the big hitting lefty (and my favorite player... I'm also a south paw) has started 2009 well and performed well last year in his first Masters. If it comes down to the back nine on Sunday, Bubba's got the power to drop two eagles. I'd love to see him in the top 10. If he wins, I'm a prophet and the golf channel needs to get me on the air!

He's baaaaaaaack!

After seven months twiddling his thumbs on the sidelines, Tiger Woods, the man responsible for the survival of golf in America finally announced his return this past week at the World Golf Championships Match-Play event. This was without question the highlight of my sports week as I wanted to know what would be different about the 65-time PGA Tour event winner.

Coming out of his extended layoff due to torn knee tendons and fractured leg bones, you'd be hard-pressed to find someone who was betting on Tiger actually winning this week. But at the same time, it'd be even harder to find someone betting that he wouldn't win it.

The guy walks around a golf course with this vibe that if he has a club and a ball, he always has a chance. If he was forced to play an entire week with just his 7-iron, I would still find him lifting the trophy on Sunday plausible. I've seen him do nearly everything, so who's to say he won't take one more step towards impossible.

So standing on the first tee Wednesday, I gave Tiger a chance for a win in his first event back. Imagine how good I felt when he birdied the first and went 1-up right out of the gate. Imagine how elated I was when he birdied the second to go 2-up. A few holes later, all I could do was shake my head as he eagled and went 3-up on the front nine. "Here we go again!"

Tiger ended up winning that first match handily but was topped the next day by a dangerous #8 seed in Tim Clark. The rustiness ended up biting Tiger, but in those two days, he showed the world why he's the best.

Ever since the golf season started in January I've been listening to people say that Tiger won't win a major this year. After watching his first few holes back, I'm saying he won't not win a major.