"Woods' annoying practice of withholding his commitment to any event until the final deadline is simply irresponsible -- especially now that he brings with him so much excess baggage."

Scott Michaux on the possibility of a Tiger return overshadowing the Masters:

Whatever the case, the players would like a resolution of a festering issue that's been hovering in the air all season.

"Until you hear it from Tiger Woods and his agents, it's still speculation," said Stricker, who counts himself as one of the golfer's friends on tour. "We'd like to know one way or another for sure. Everybody would. It gets to the point where you're like, 'C'mon, just make up your mind and tell us where you're playing because we're all dying to know anyway.' "

Woods certainly owes his peers that courtesy. And he owes the tournament itself the same kind of heads up.

Woods' annoying practice of withholding his commitment to any event until the final deadline is simply irresponsible -- especially now that he brings with him so much excess baggage.

Comments

[Erik J. Barzeski]

If it's that annoying, the PGA Tour could move the commitment date up. Heck, suggesting that Tiger be required to "commit" earlier than anyone else is suggesting that Tiger have "special rules" that only apply to him, which is how this whole thing started.

The guy can't do anything right these days. He's damned if he does, damned if he doesn't. Woods owes his peers? Sorry, but do they pay 10% of their increased salaries directly to Tiger? Last I checked they cash the checks and buy their cars and houses and life their lives.

Please. I hope writers can find something legitimate to whine about soon. I'm getting tired of this "everyone, quick, get your pound of flesh while it's available" attitude. So stupid.

[JJ]

So the guy acts like a jerk. So do most "super celebrities". And he fooled around on his wife when on the road. So do most of his NBA friends (documented), and so do many, perhaps most, traveling professional athletes. I admit I was surprised but in retrospect, it was I that was naive, not Tiger that was different.

JJ

[tlavin]

"Woods certainly owes his peers that courtesy." Uh, no he doesn't. If he shows up, they can try to beat him. If not, they can thank themselves that he wasn't in the field because his absence greatly increases everybody's chance of winning.

[Brad Ford]

He needs to make sure h"e times his "announcement" so as to screw over one of his former (but current tour) sponsors as much as possible. Do ATT or Buick have any big events coming up?

[D]

This whiny criticism is pathetic. REALLY pathetic.

[Bee]

"Woods certainly owes his peers that courtesy."

Why?

"especially now that he brings with him so much excess baggage."

It's not Tiger's fault the media chooses to follow him around like he's f*cking Britney Spears. No crime was committed and the public's fascination with his sex life became creepy a long time ago. There will be a circus because the media chooses to create one.

[Wisconsin Reader]

Finchem was interviewed yesterday at Doral. . . When asked about Tiger's return and the Tour's need to know when - he replied that the Tour is quite experienced in these matters and will be ready when Tiger returns. . . Enough said?

[James H.]

Why does he owe them the courtesy? Well, most are showing up for a Tour event not a three-ring freaking circus.

Let's see what else is here -
NBA? Really? So the NBA is a reflection of the real world?


Just stop it with the increased salaries, too. They're not salaries. Ernie Els is not on the Tour's payroll. He earned his prize money with performance.

tiger's impact on prize money is an unsustainable bubble.

[Dr. Phillips]

James H., it's an undeniable fact that the the total purse on tour is MUCH larger due to Tiger's presence. The recognition of the Tiger Effect on the $$$'s played for can be traced all the way back to the summer of '97 --- the tour player I rode with into '97 PGA at Winged Foot was just giddy telling me about the bonanza that was on the way!! Everything is cyclical, and nothing lasts forever, but It's been a helluva 13 year run...

[GolfFan]

It appears that the adage "You reap what you sow" is on target