Back On The Prowl

The world’s best golfer has announced that he will return to playing golf at this year’s Master’s Tournament in Augusta, Georgia. After a four-month hiatus, Eldrick “Tiger” Woods will attempt to put aside his off the field issues and play in the tournament where he won his first major. But why now? Why the Masters at Augusta?

The Masters is the safest place for Tiger to make his return. The Augusta National Golf Club is well respected among professional golfers and people who cover golf and for the most part, only people have always covered golf will be there. Had Tiger skipped the Masters and gone straight to the US Open, it would have been in a less controlled environment, where all types of fans could have served as a distraction.

Tiger Woods has taken breaks from golfing before, more specifically when he took time off in 2006 following the death of his father. Woods knows how to handle the adversity despite this being a different situation. It will be interesting to see if he is still in golfing shape and how his outpatient therapy for sex addiction may affect his play in Augusta.

Augusta is Woods’ favorite place to play, it will be a comfortable environment and golf fans everywhere, as well as his fellow golfers are excited to have him back. I think we all can expect something special at the Masters in April. The odds of winning the Masters are against him. The only person ever to win the Masters as their first tournament of the year is Ben Hogan in 1951. For Tiger to pull this off would continue to cement his legendary status.