Tiger Is Not Out Of The Woods

Tiger Woods was so close to redemption on Sunday he could almost hear the silence of his critics. He possessed a share of the lead on several different occasions and put together a final round reminiscent of the pre-crash dominator. With a win at The Masters Tiger would have exorcised a lot of demons and proved he's still a force to be reckoned with. Instead he came up just a bit short and will have to settle for a moral victory. Will the new Tiger Woods ever play like the old Tiger Woods?

If I had to put my last $100 on it I would have to say no. The media scrutiny that took place last year had more of a cumulative affect than most people think. Once Tiger had the curtain pulled back with all his indiscretions exposed he could no longer focus solely on golf. He had to concentrate on his image while living a straight and narrow life predicated on balance and humility. With that lifestyle comes a compromise that has permanently altered his game. When he was only focused on being the best golfer in the world it showed. Now that he wants to be a better person it also shows. He's winning in his personal life, but his golf game has suffered as a result.

The public wants to see Tiger Woods regain his past form, but on their terms. They want him to say his prayers, eat his vitamins, and live a humble existence. That is not the formula that made him the athlete of the decade and the greatest golfer the world has ever seen. Without his vices and secret lifestyle Tiger is a shell of his former self. Wasn't the golf world a better place before everyone found out Tiger Woods was a scoundrel? Sometimes ignorance is bliss.