"The whole sexcapade thing will have no effect on Tiger's golf."

Soon after reading the latest SI Confidential on 2010, Tiger and Phil, it was a relief to receive emails from a few readers who shared my reaction: what planet have they been on the last month?

Okay, not delusional like certain Golf Digest readers wanting their Tiger column back, but guys, we're talking about a man who hasn't been seen in a month after crashing his SUV into a tree. That kind of disappearance would seem to suggest that he was either seriously injured to the point it could have an impact on his ability to perform physically, or, he's so severely humiliated that believing in a quick return as the same dominating force takes a tremendous leap of faith.

Example #1:

Hack: I don't see a changing of the guard. The best player in the world still wears red on Sundays.

That would be the red shirt lampooned on talk shows, in late night comedy sketches and on NFL sidelines?

And when exactly will those Sundays be when he's plying his trade? In 2010? I'll take a sighting first, then we'll talk schedule.

Bamberger: The whole sexcapade thing will have no effect on Tiger's golf.He can block out distractions like nobody's business. Weird things motivate him, like Stephen Ames or Vijay's caddie calling him out.

I don't know, I'm thinking this is just a little bigger than Stephen Ames or Vijay calling him out? But that's just cynical me.

Anonymous Pro:  I think he's a lock to win the British Open at St. Andrews.

Hey, I'll just be glad to see him teeing it up at St. Andrews.

Shipnuck: I guess it's possible Tiger could go to Whistling Straits with three majors in his hip pocket.

Oh it's possible, but highly unlikely.

I would love nothing more than to see Tiger come back better than ever with not a hint that his quest to be the all-time best is interrupted. But after the last month, it seems unfathomable to think that his quest will ever be the same.