Woods chooses the safe route for return

Tiger Woods announced Tuesday he will end his self-imposed, adultery-inspired hiatus from golf by returning to play in the Masters.

“After a long and necessary time away from the game, I feel like I’m ready to start my season at Augusta,” Tiger Woods said in a statement.


Tiger Woods will seek a more genteel gallery, tighter media control and the calm grounds of Augusta National from April 8-11 over the potentially more rambunctious and unpredictable Arnold Palmer Invitational two weeks prior.

Tiger Woods, 34, has twice returned from long layoffs to play in major championships. Following the death of his father, Earl, in 2006, Tiger took nine weeks away from the PGA Tour, returned to the U.S. Open at New York’s Winged Foot and struggled mightily. Woods missed the cut at a major for the first time since 1996, when he was just 20.

In 2008, he sat out two months due to a knee injury before the U.S. Open at Torrey Pines. Tiger  won a dramatic 91-hole victory, outdueling Rocco Mediate in one of Tiger’ most memorable triumphs. Woods had knee surgery soon after and missed the final two majors of the season.

This return isn’t like either of those. While the time off to mourn his father’s death was his own choice, his return garnered mass sympathy and support from fans. Tiger will no doubt have fans among the patrons of Augusta, but he is also stepping back into the spotlight after starring in one of the all-time tabloid scandals.

His mental state in dealing with that spotlight is the question. Whatever kinks Tiger needs to work on his game will be less of a concern, although still a factor. Augusta is unforgiving in the best of times.

Tiger was free to return to golf at any point. Woods knows he will have to deal with uncertainty, taunts and just sheer discomfort.


“When I finally got into a position to think about competitive golf again, it became apparent to me that the Masters would be the earliest I could play,” Tiger Woods said.