Tiger Did It - Now What?
I remember the first time I was interviewed for a major newspaper publication. The reporter asked questions for about 15 minutes and was going to write a story about how exercises for golf can benefit a golfer’s game.
I was so excited. It would likely mean that I would be positioned further as an expert in my field and maybe even sell a few more golf fitness memberships.
But, then I saw the actual story published and I saw a few quotes around comments that were attributed to me. I remember thinking that there is no way that I said one of the comments that they put quotes around.
It was not something I remember saying. Not something I even think is true. I even thought the comment with quotes around it made me look silly instead of like the expert I believed I was.
I wondered…’how did this happen’?
Did it happen because the writer was lazy and filled in his own interpretation of what I meant? Or was it that I was misunderstood?
In the end, it didn’t matter. The article was published in a paper and online and there was nothing I could do about it. It was in that moment that I realized that you need to be careful when you read about someone or something. Sometimes it comes out wrong. Sometimes the quote isn’t quite what the person said and so on. Now, I can see how easy it is to be misinterpreted.
This is why I chose not to follow all the gossip on the Tiger story.
In fact, I was getting mad because it was not only private information, but it was coming across as highly suspect. It was as though all these ‘gals’ were trying to get their 15 minutes of fame. I did not want any part of it.
Then, this morning, something changed. Tiger came out and admitted his ‘transgressions’. In fact, here is an actual excerpt from his own statement (not a gossip magazine).
‘”I have not been true to my values and the behavior my family deserves,” Woods said on his Web site. “I am not without faults and I am far short of perfect. I am dealing with my behavior and personal failings behind closed doors with my family. Those feelings should be shared by us alone.” “I will strive to be a better person and the husband and father that my family deserves,” Woods said. “For all of those who have supported me over the years, I offer my profound apology.”
That is when it hit me. For some reason, I was just really disappointed. But, I couldn’t figure out why.
I don’t personally know Tiger. I certainly don’t know his wife. And, frankly, it is none of my business.
I finally put my finger on it.
I started golfing before I ever heard the name Tiger Woods. Anybody remember those days? I was addicted, in fact. I practiced or played atleast 4 days a week after work.
But, once I started watching Tiger play, my game and my attitude changed.
I watched him stage dramatic comebacks and watched shots that are completely unexplainable when they go in the hole from some outlandish position on the course. He is the only golfer I can honestly say that I remember specific holes and what he did…like his shot in the hole on 16 at the Masters. I mean, who could forget that…
Then, of course, came the interviews…he was a master at this. He would give great speeches about patience, perserverance, his desire to succeed, his willingness to stay committed to each and every shot, and never ever let up.
Watching and listening to him, he made me believe that I could be a better golfer and even a better person. I started setting more aggressive goals with my game and practiced even harder. I started studying different facets of the game-technical, mental, physical.
So, I guess I wanted to believe he was ’super human’. I wanted to know that there are people out there in the world that can ‘have it all’ or atleast work towards their opinion of perfection.
Now, I guess he is just another human being to me. He will always be a great golfer…but will we ever see him as a whole person again?
What do you think? Do you have any different opinion of Tiger now that he has told us the truth about his imperfections as a man?
Popularity: 21% [?]












