Will Tiger Woods Ruin the Masters

From the first speculation that Tiger was planning a return to golf at either one of the Tavistock Cup, the Arnold Palmer Invitational at Bay Hill, or at the Masters in Augusta, my hope has been that he might not choose the Masters as his comeback stage.

I am a Northerner. My ancestors did not have the wherewithal to keep moving South, so my golf season does not usually start until after Masters week. This is golf's version of the Stanley cup, the Superbowl, and the World Series, wrapped into one of the classiest sporting events on the face of the earth.

As I have done before, I'll be in attendance again this year, to walk the hallowed grounds where legends have played the game. If there is such a place, this is where the ghost of Bobby Jones still lives. Every blade of grass, every sandwich wrapped in green, every famous azaelia lined hole - all of it is steeped in history and tradition. But, what will it be like at Augusta National amid the media frenzy?

My legitimate fear is that Tiger will not be greeted with open arms, instead being confronted with hostility. For as many fans as Tiger Woods still has, there are now a multitude of Tiger-haters, all waiting for a chance to heckle and lash out. It is by virtue of being King of the Hill that people will try to knock him down, especially when he has shown such monumental signs of weakness and personal flaws.

Tiger's caddie, Steve Williams, can threaten to shield his boss all he wants, but he will certainly be no match for the anger that has festered in the hearts of Tiger-haters for these many months. As unimaginable as it may seem at Augusta, this could get messy.

The obvious issue is this: you can't do what Tiger did, from his formerly lofty pedestal, and hope to avoid all forms of flack - even at Augusta National.

I know that several players have agreed with the notion that the Masters is secure enough that Tiger can avoid a free-for-all like what would surely have transpirred at a venue like the Phoenix Open, or the Honda Classic. There, Tiger would have felt the full brunt of the anger.

Nonetheless, my opinion remains that the Tavistock Cup would have provided a great warm-up venue for Woods, while also allowing Tiger-haters their stage to let it all out, to get it over with and to finally vent their collective frustration. It would have been an ideal place for Tiger Woods to answer a few questions at a small venue and to ease the media hunger.

Then, Bay Hill would have been less crazy, as the story would have already played out the week before. We all know how short an attention span we have! Only silence seems to drag this on and on! Furthermore, Bay Hill is a place where Tiger has dominated and could have played with some degree of confidence, while getting comfortable with what surrounds him. Nothing shuts up a critic quite like a sound beating, as Stephen Ames once learned.

At last, Tiger could have walked the course at Augusta in relative peace, amid the most well-behaved crowd on tour. The Masters tournament would have been spared the embarrassment of the media frenzy that is now almost certain, while still retaining all of the upside - most importantly the TV ratings.

All this could have been achieved without forsaking the sacred etiquette and decorum that makes Augusta National so special.

As far as I'm concerned, choosing the Masters to make a comeback was another selfish act by a man who often seems to care mostly about what gratifies him. This may be a bit harsh, at a time when we are being sold on the notion of a reborn Buddhist Tiger Woods, who has spent months reinventing himself. Maybe I just don't buy it, yet.

One doesn't hire Ari because one IS a good person, one hires Ari to help APPEAR to be a good person. There is a distinction...

I certainly look forward to attending the Masters weekend. I will see someone win a green jacket, maybe even Tiger Woods. All I hope is that the event doesn't get lost in the buzz...

I'm interested to know what you think.