The pull of Tiger

I've often said that fans see what they want to see. They're human.

The same can be the case for media. They're also human, though in some cases that might be the subject of debate.

A case in point is the reaction from Tiger Woods' press conference yesterday in Augusta.

I watched a replay of it last night and thought it was interesting and enlightening compared to a lot of other Woods' pressers. When Woods is in a foul mood and doesn't want to talk about anything, generally you know it. Yesterday, that didn't seem to be the case. He smiled often and seemed engaging on topics of his 18th appearance at the Masters (unbelievable, huh? Tell me that doesn't make you feel old); his practice round with Arnold Palmer and Jack Nicklaus in 1995; the strategy of attacking the pins at Augusta; the multitude of tall, strong long hitters in the game now compared to 10 or 12 years ago; and other stuff.

The most resounding message I took from it was: Look the heck out. This guy looks confident, comfortable and back on his game.

But not everyone walked away with that take. This writer, AP columnist Tim Dahlberg, seemed profoundly unimpressed. What was engaging to me was blatant filibustering to Dahlberg.

Two years ago, Woods sat in the same interview room, talking about his life and his comeback after months away from golf because of the scandal. He claimed he had learned his lesson, and vowed to be a more humble player.

There was no such attempt at introspection on Tuesday. He deflected the only question about his comeback by saying he was happy to be playing again in his 18th Masters at a place he finds so special. His other answers were so banal that even his favorite journalists couldn't bring themselves to write them down.

Eh, seems a little harsh to me -- almost as if Dahlberg had his mind made up before the press conference began. How many people out there still have an appetite for interrogations into Woods' personal life? There have been so many variations of Tiger fatigue over the years. He was incredibly dominant at one time, and many of us rooted for anyone but him because we just wanted to see something different. We were glued to computers and televisions as his conga line of women was revealed, one by one.

I know I don't speak for everyone, but I sense a sentiment that most of America is just ready to watch the guy play golf. We're a forgiving society, and we just like to see a fresh script. I don't give a crap about Tiger being more humble or who he's dating or what he's drinking or anything beyond the golf course.

The dude is back on the radar because it looks very much like his game is back. It's compelling stuff, and my belief is a lot of people are pulling for the guy because they care a lot more about greatness than tabloid headlines. And his greatness to this point seems tragically incomplete.

A few links from Augusta:

-- This New Jersey columnist says it's hard not to pull for Tiger again.

It all seems like too much now. I found myself watching the Arnold Palmer Invitational two weeks ago and, for the first time in a long time, rooting for Woods. The guy hit rock bottom, and yes, it was all his doing.

Still: Is it not human to want to see him make a comeback? Doesn’t the piling on make you want to root more for him?

Woods will play in his 18th Masters this week. Rory McIlroy, who has supplanted him as the man to beat here, was just 6 when Woods played in his first. Over the course of those 18, Woods has gone from the future of the sport, to a cultural icon, to a subject of worldwide scorn and ridicule.

Now, maybe there’s another act. It’s too much to call him a sympathetic figure, but you can bet there will be plenty of people rooting to see if he can finally be Tiger Woods again when it matters.

-- Chicago columnist Rick Morrissey says Tiger vs. Rory is what we want at this year's Masters. True, but a little Phil in there would be quite nice, too.

-- Frank Deford complains about excessive Tiger Woods coverage. Eh, maybe before. But it's justified now given the apparent rediscovery of his old form.

-- And a golf-writing great, Ron Green Jr., eloquently describes what makes Augusta special.

He shares a classic story:

There was the man, who came all the way from Japan and showed up at the tournament gates with his golf clubs – mounted on a pull cart – believing his practice round ticket meant he could play 18 holes. A polite security person explained to the gentleman that he could only watch others play golf that day.

LW