Why I Want to Help Tiger

In everything I have read or seen about the Tiger Woods scandal, no pundit has addressed what I think is the most important question: Is there anything the average person can do to help Tiger? Of course to even begin to answer the question assumes the public would want to help Tiger, whose downfall seem to be self-inflicted. For purely personal reasons, I do. I would like to see him save his marriage and rejoin the PGA tour next year.

A statement on Tiger’s web site says he is taking an indefinite leave of absence from golf to work on “being a better husband, father, and person.” Not temporary. Indefinite. None of the experts know what kind of time period indefinite means. Already an intensely private person, Tiger hasn’t been seen in public since he was in an early-morning car accident while leaving his home in Florida on November 27. The accident was quickly followed by a series of allegations of sordid extramarital affairs. There’s no word on how Tiger plans to approach his seemingly unplayable lie or whether he is getting any help. The public, treated to intense media speculation about Tiger’s situation but no details, basically needs to be patient, focus on other things, and, if so inclined, hope for the best.

So why do I care? I’m not a golfer and I don’t look at Tiger Woods as an inspiration or a role model. I don’t know him or his family, although I will feel sorry for his kids if Tiger and his wife get a divorce. I do respect his ability, dedication, and work ethic, and have followed with interest his quest to break Jack Nicklaus’s record of 18 major championships. I suppose I’m in the large group of casual fans who help boost golf’s TV ratings when Tiger is in the hunt for a tournament victory on a given Sunday afternoon. But other than that, I find Tiger, polished as he is during interviews, somewhat boring.

The real reason I want to see Tiger make a comeback is that my dad likes to watch him play—and win. My dad watches a lot of golf on TV and he always seems more interested, more attentive, when Tiger is in the tournament. He calls him “Wood.” At his age, 91, there aren’t a lot of things we can still do together. I don’t see him enough, but I make a point of always visiting on Father’s Day, the weekend of the U.S. Open. Assuming Tiger has made the cut, we’ve spent a lot of time together rooting for Tiger and watching the U.S. Open courses humble the world’s greatest golfers. We especially enjoyed the 2008 Open at Torrey Pines, when Woods beat Rocco Mediate in a playoff.

So my secret is out. I want Tiger to return to golf so I have a built-in way to bond with my dad. That’s the reason I’m pulling for him to somehow save his marriage. I hope there are millions like me and that somehow positive thoughts help.