Stricker: "I don't know if Augusta would like that to happen, you know?"

Bob Harig reports on nice guy Steve Stricker trying as deftly as possible to let Tiger know it'd be an unwelcome act of selfishness to not get his first event out of the way prior to the Masters.

"Hopefully he comes back before that," Stricker said at the Doral Resort. "You'd think as a player, being gone for so long, he'd want to come back before that.

"Whenever he comes back it's going to draw a lot of attention to that tournament and the focus is going to be on him coming back. I don't know if Augusta would like that to happen, you know? To turn it into Tiger's comeback instead of the Masters Tournament itself."

Comments

[Golden Bell]

Stricker is absolutely right. However, that will be a problem whereever Woods comes back, and will probably continue to be a problem for quite some time, until the novelty of having an admitted serial adulterer in the field wears off.

[Dexter Morgan]

As if Woods is interested in anything other than Tiger Woods.

[Arm Chair Q-B]

Tiger won Las Vegas, did he ever go back to defend his title, did he ever go back to play (the LVI) again?

If he's gonna boost an event like Stricker predicts it mite be nice to see Tiger pump up an event that needs it, which raises another question, will he play his own event the AT&T National in Washington D.C.?

[Old Hornet]

Astute obsevation by Stricker......and Dexter Morgan spot-on !

[Jonathan]

Arm - the AT&T is in Philly for the next 2 years and although the've retained the TWF to run the event they have dropped Tiger from all event advertising. Doesn't seem to me to be an event Tiger will highly prioritize. JC

[RM]

"However, that will be a problem whereever Woods comes back."

Golden Bell, Perhaps you miss the point. The point being that your above statement is true, so Stricker is saying don't let The Masters be that comeback event. And I agree.

[Miss Priss!]

The Masters is the best place for Tiger to reappear. It’ll be important for the precious children who caddie for their fathers during the par 3 contest who’ll be surrounded by all the salacious slosh. In other words …

A PRECIOUS LITTLE SEVEN YEAR OLD GIRL WITH A PONYTAIL: “Daddy, after you tap in for a birdie … will you tell me what adultery and sex addiction and spousal abuse and neglect of your family and lying and porn star means?”

PROFESSIONAL GOLFER IN WHITE SHIRT AND KHAKI PANTS: “Not ‘til ya twelve, honey.”

[dbcooper]

I don't mind if Woods makes his first appearance at Augusta. In my mind, without a tournament under his belt, his chances to win the Masters would be lessened.

Which is good, given that I no longer pull for him. I once wanted him to break all the records, but he turned out to be a punk.

[tlavin]

Stricker makes a good point, especially in relation to the presumed need for Tiger to get the rust off by playing in an event before Augusta. Personally, I think he wouldn't want to play the Masters without a warm-up tournament, because he surely would want to be able to really compete for the jacket.

[carnaptious and camsteerie]

Well done Mr Stricker!

[Gates]

Stricker's charisma will keep the ratings high.

[D]

The media have no one to blame but themselves for all the attention they give Woods. He doesn't "owe" anyone anything. He's just a golfer and can show up whenever he wants for whatever tournament he wants. The media coverage of it is the media's fault, not his.

[Wisconsin Reader]

Stricker is obviously correct - it would be nice if Arnold Palmer would have to suffer through the bedlam that will be Tiger's return instead of the Masters. . . What has Arnold Palmer ever done for golf? - And, he did after all come from the working class. How can we expect our Wall Street, corporate and financial elites (Augusta National membership) to suffer another indignity - like Tiger's return - haven't they already done enough for us by agreeing to take all our money?

The Augusta National shrine is better able to handle a media tsunami than any other tournament site - they have way more experience. . . They survived Bobby Jones death - Clifford Roberts suicide - Civil Rights laws (thanks to James Brown) - Having to accept Jewish and Black members - Lee Elder - Martha Burk - Hideous course renovations - Suggestions that Condi Rice become a member. . . Begging Jack Nicklaus to become an honorary starter paired with Arnie. . .

[Joe Jemsek]

I would be nice for Woods to comeback at Bay Hill, if only for the fact the "freak" show would sell 10,000 more tickets and provide a huge boost to the charities that the tournament supports.