Relaxed Tiger in control again
Just 18 weeks later he sat before the 207 selected media bruisers for what was modestly termed the ‘2 o’clock interview’ by the men who run Augusta National and walked away without so much as a scratch. Talk about float like a butterfly.
This was the third stage of Woods’ programme to rehabilitate his image following marital infidelity and it was another triumph for the American in what has been a carefully stage-managed rehabilitation process.
Having given what he called a “speech” at TPC Sawgrass six weeks ago and then followed that by granting five-minute interviews to ESPN and the Golf Channel, he cleared the final hurdle with relative ease when he spent 35 minutes answering the questions from people he described as “my friends”.
Augusta is the perfect venue for Woods’s return and he won the battle most important to him: the fight for the hearts and minds of the fans.
“The encouragement that I got, it was — it blew me away to be honest,” Woods said. “I know people are extremely respectful, but today was something that touched my heart.”
Asked if he was nervous about his press conference, Woods addressed his inquisitor by his first name.
“Sitting here, not that nervous, no. As far as getting out there, I was definitely more nervous,” Woods said. “That first tee, I didn’t know what to expect, I really didn’t, Steve.
“To be out there in front of the people where I have done some things that are horrible, and you know, for the fans to really want to see me play again, that felt great, that really did.”
He took time out at the start to mend bridges with his fellow professionals and five times admitted he “lied” to himself and his family.
But it wasn’t long before the tough questions started coming and while he had an answer for almost every one, he dodged others in a way that revealed that little has changed the world of Tiger Woods, the self-confessed “control freak”.
Woods claimed he would tone down the cursing, spitting and club throwing and give more back to the fans, even if it meant changing his on-course persona.
“I’m actually going to try and obviously not get as hot when I play,” he said. “But then again, when I’m not as hot, I’m not going to be as exuberant, either. I can’t play one without the other, and so I made a conscious decision to try and tone down my negative outbursts and consequently I’m sure my positive outbursts be will calmed down.
“Just trying to be more respectful and acknowledge the fans like today. That was an incredible reception today for all 18 holes, and show my appreciation for them. I haven’t done that in the past few years, and that was wrong of me.
“So many kids have looked up to me and so many fans have supported me over the years. (I) just wanted to say thank you to them... it put in perspective for me how much I have appreciated — or under-appreciated the fans in the game of golf.”
The elephant in the room was his treatment by the Canadian “miracle man” Dr Anthony Galea, an advocate of the use of Human Growth Hormone who is under investigation by the FBI for bringing illegal drugs across the US border.
Galea gave Woods blood spinning treatment at his home four times during his lay-off following knee surgery in June 2008. But Woods denied he ever used HGH or any performance-enhancing drug and pointed out he used only Galea to help him recover from surgery on his left knee after tearing his Achilles tendon.
Several of Galea’s high profile patients have been questioned by the FBI, like New York Yankees star Alex Rodriguez. The Feds have contacted Woods’ agent Mark Steinberg, Woods revealed, before adding: “(I’ll give my) full cooperation, whenever they need me, but as of right now they have not asked for my time.”
The mention of drugs led to questions about his use of the sedative Ambien and the pain-killer Vicodin. But while he admitted using the drugs to combat insomnia following the death of his father and his painful knee op, he denied that his 45-day stint in rehab had anything to do with abuse of those substances.
What was he in treatment for?
“That’s personal. Thank you,” Woods replied curtly. As usual, Woods was in full control. Once again, he was under par and going away from the field.
