The news that Tiger Woods plans on making his return to professional golf at the Masters Invitational in April has been released. Tiger’s return is more than a golf media event: it has a life of its own. Let’s face it, how often does the National Enquirer ask for media credentials to a major golf tournament? Tiger’s statement goes like this: “The Masters is where I won my first major and I view this tournament with great respect. After a long and necessary time away from the game, I feel like I’m ready to start my season at Augusta.”
Let’s put ourselves in Tigers shoes for a minute. Why would he 
choose The Masters for his return? This stinks of Ari Fleischer, of another attempt to over-control the environment. This even has politics written all over it. If Tiger returned at Bay Hill, any journalistic outfit could request, and likely get, credentials. But at Augusta? Augusta National officials can do what they want and provide access to whomever they want. Or not. Think of the Martha Burk protestors who weren’t only stranded outside, but then told where they could bivouac. Anyone who has stood outside the gates of Augusta National knows it’s not exactly a paradise out there.
I would be wiling to bet that the politically connected Ari Fleischer has more than one associate and client on Augusta’s membership list. It’s no secret that Augusta National members are a pretty conservative crowd. These are Ari’s people. I can hear him whispering in Tiger’s and IMG’s willing ear that Augusta can be controlled. Augusta can be managed. The very thought makes me want to take a shower.
If Tiger wants to add to his bag of majors, this is a huge mistake, one he has made before. In 2006, Tiger’s father passed away in early May; seven weeks later Tiger tried to make his return at the U.S. Open at Winged Foot and missed the cut, shooting a pair of 76’s. He was not competitive, and that after a layoff of less than two months. His current break extends to 6 months away from competitive golf, much of it away from any golf at all. From the pictures we have seen, his fitness is in question as well.
The Masters does afford one luxury, as the requirements for ultra-accurate driving are not as stringent at Augusta National as they are at any U.S. Open set up. But familiarity with the greens does not change the fact that the ability to handle extreme green speeds and the necessary short game touch, as well as the attendant pressure cooker of any major will simply overwhelm Tiger. He is, after all, now proven to be human.
Tiger could have released the pressure cooker simply by playing at Bay Hill. He needn’t have to played particularly well, he just had to get the maiden voyage out of the way. When the media horde descended, all he had to do was say that his personal life was out of bounds, but that he would answer any golf question. Then he can devolve into his standard Tiger-speak, and glare at any questioner who dared to cross the invisible line. Heck, Arnie probably would have held court with him. There would be nothing like having The King at your side.
By making The Masters the site of his return, Tiger is saying to the world that what happens outside the ropes when he returns is more important than what happens inside. This is a miscalculation of who and what he is. He’s a golfer. He is chasing the majors. To present at a major ill-prepared is to disavow his legacy.
I bet Tiger misses the cut again. Even if he makes the cut, the idea of him being in contention is highly unlikely. And without him in contention, there will go the weekend television ratings bonanza that everyone, including myself, has been counting on.
Read all of our great stories on by TheAPosition.com writers as we cover The Masters.
