Augusta, US:
Funny how rapidly story lines change, how what was in such strong demand on Monday becomes an afterthought on Sunday.
Going into Masters week, the world held its breath and was ready to hang on every word, every movement of Tiger Woods as he made his way back after a 144-day scandal-induced layoff.
By Sunday afternoon, the story had become the popular Phil Mickelson, who won his third green jacket.
Woods finished in a tie for fourth, five strokes back. By Sunday evening, his off-the-course troubles seemed to be an afterthought. That may be the best news yet for Woods.
Woods' fall from grace was one of the unlikeliest stories of the decade. The question of the week became how would the world's No. 1 golfer, famous for shutting out the world, respond to a scandal that put his personal life on a global stage.
How would this extended stay in the rough affect his ability to be the most dominant golfer the world has ever known. If his performance at Augusta is any indication, Woods continues to be a force, but seems far more vulnerable - and human, than ever. This is a good thing.
By the time he tapped in his final putt for birdie on the 18th hole on Sunday, Woods had answered a number of questions, had satisfied the public's curiosity.
The short answer is that Tiger Woods is back. But his performance raised more long-term questions than it answered. He hit remarkable shorts, some magical shots, and hit some wild shots as well. The highlights came on Thursday and Saturday, when Woods played as if the past five months of a humiliating sex scandal had never happened.
Through five holes Sunday, Woods showed the rust that many expected he would have shown on Thursday. His shining moment, though, came when he made an eagle at No. 7 to go to seven under. There was a birdie on No. 8 that pulled him to eight under for the tournament as he crept back to even par on the day and into fifth place. He fired a three-under 69, good for 11 under par for the tournament.
But if we are to believe Woods, this first tournament back - and his public life hereafter - was more about a spiritual evolution than his physical performance. He has had myriad psychological issues to deal with and Augusta was part of the therapy.
In many respects, Woods is fortunate. Many of us never have to stop and face the demons on our trail. We are able to outsmart, outmaneuver, outrun or simply ignore them. Woods was caught, blindsided by fate and knocked cold. He was forced, in a public and humiliating way, to confront his dark side. And who knows what the real count of those he hurt is - besides his wife, his children, his extended family? By comparison, a fourth-place finish at Augusta seems trivial.
Woods has promised to be more attentive to those who were supportive over the years and to those who continue to be supportive. At Augusta, Woods engaged the crowd more than most could remember. He took off his hat numerous times during the tournament to recognize the crowd, thanking them for their cheers. He signed autographs after a practice round on Saturday. He kept pointing out how much he appreciated the positive reaction of the fans.
On the other hand, why wouldn't they cheer? Woods is the greatest golfer of his generation. Right or wrong, the audience at Augusta generally sounded open and receptive. Was this about forgiveness, a cozy controlled, practically handpicked crowd. Or maybe fans cheered because the story of Tiger Woods is the story of anyone who has tripped and fallen and been faced with the choice of staying down or getting up.
What Woods will have to short-circuit is the silly questions about his conduct. Woods got off to an awful start on Sunday and said he was in no mood to smile. "I think people are making way too much of a big deal of this thing," he said in a television interview. "I hit a big snipe off the first hole and I don't know how people can think I should be happy about that." He essentially played over the green with a short wedge, and hit a low hook on No. 5.
"These are not things I normally do, so I'm not going to be smiling, I'm not going to be happy," he said. "I'm not going around there with a lot of pep in my step, because I haven't hit a good shot yet." This road back will not be easy.
This much is certain. If Woods thinks the rest of the season will be this tranquil, this welcoming, he has another thing coming. Woods's tumble was the story of 2009. His comeback will be as big a story, although if he fails to win a major this year, his story will fade. Woods is back, that's for sure. The larger question in golf and in life is where he goes from here.
Going into Masters week, the world held its breath and was ready to hang on every word, every movement of Tiger Woods as he made his way back after a 144-day scandal-induced layoff.
By Sunday afternoon, the story had become the popular Phil Mickelson, who won his third green jacket.
Woods finished in a tie for fourth, five strokes back. By Sunday evening, his off-the-course troubles seemed to be an afterthought. That may be the best news yet for Woods.
Woods' fall from grace was one of the unlikeliest stories of the decade. The question of the week became how would the world's No. 1 golfer, famous for shutting out the world, respond to a scandal that put his personal life on a global stage.
How would this extended stay in the rough affect his ability to be the most dominant golfer the world has ever known. If his performance at Augusta is any indication, Woods continues to be a force, but seems far more vulnerable - and human, than ever. This is a good thing.
By the time he tapped in his final putt for birdie on the 18th hole on Sunday, Woods had answered a number of questions, had satisfied the public's curiosity.
The short answer is that Tiger Woods is back. But his performance raised more long-term questions than it answered. He hit remarkable shorts, some magical shots, and hit some wild shots as well. The highlights came on Thursday and Saturday, when Woods played as if the past five months of a humiliating sex scandal had never happened.
Through five holes Sunday, Woods showed the rust that many expected he would have shown on Thursday. His shining moment, though, came when he made an eagle at No. 7 to go to seven under. There was a birdie on No. 8 that pulled him to eight under for the tournament as he crept back to even par on the day and into fifth place. He fired a three-under 69, good for 11 under par for the tournament.
But if we are to believe Woods, this first tournament back - and his public life hereafter - was more about a spiritual evolution than his physical performance. He has had myriad psychological issues to deal with and Augusta was part of the therapy.
In many respects, Woods is fortunate. Many of us never have to stop and face the demons on our trail. We are able to outsmart, outmaneuver, outrun or simply ignore them. Woods was caught, blindsided by fate and knocked cold. He was forced, in a public and humiliating way, to confront his dark side. And who knows what the real count of those he hurt is - besides his wife, his children, his extended family? By comparison, a fourth-place finish at Augusta seems trivial.
Woods has promised to be more attentive to those who were supportive over the years and to those who continue to be supportive. At Augusta, Woods engaged the crowd more than most could remember. He took off his hat numerous times during the tournament to recognize the crowd, thanking them for their cheers. He signed autographs after a practice round on Saturday. He kept pointing out how much he appreciated the positive reaction of the fans.
On the other hand, why wouldn't they cheer? Woods is the greatest golfer of his generation. Right or wrong, the audience at Augusta generally sounded open and receptive. Was this about forgiveness, a cozy controlled, practically handpicked crowd. Or maybe fans cheered because the story of Tiger Woods is the story of anyone who has tripped and fallen and been faced with the choice of staying down or getting up.
What Woods will have to short-circuit is the silly questions about his conduct. Woods got off to an awful start on Sunday and said he was in no mood to smile. "I think people are making way too much of a big deal of this thing," he said in a television interview. "I hit a big snipe off the first hole and I don't know how people can think I should be happy about that." He essentially played over the green with a short wedge, and hit a low hook on No. 5.
"These are not things I normally do, so I'm not going to be smiling, I'm not going to be happy," he said. "I'm not going around there with a lot of pep in my step, because I haven't hit a good shot yet." This road back will not be easy.
This much is certain. If Woods thinks the rest of the season will be this tranquil, this welcoming, he has another thing coming. Woods's tumble was the story of 2009. His comeback will be as big a story, although if he fails to win a major this year, his story will fade. Woods is back, that's for sure. The larger question in golf and in life is where he goes from here.
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