But honestly, WTF was he thinking? Have you seen his wife Elin Nordegren? Did I mention she is a fucking TWIN?????
When his golf career is over, Tiger will be remembered along with other great "sport changing" athletes: Babe Ruth and Jackie Robinson, Billie Jean King and Pelé, Michael Jordan and Bill Russell, Michael Phelps and Mark Spitz; Athletes who transcended records and statistics to redefining their respective sports.
In truth, if there is another golfer who fits that description, it is not Jack Nicklaus, whose record of 18 professional major titles is the Holy Grail that Woods has pursued since turning pro in 1996 (he has won 14), but Arnold Palmer. Even though Palmer won "only" seven major titles, he was the player who made golf wildly popular in this country, who attracted television and corporate America to the sport. And now it has been Woods taking it to another level.
He has done so by playing the game as well as anyone has ever played it. He isn't simply brilliant, he is thrilling. He has a great flair for drama and, like Palmer, always wears his heart on his sleeve on the golf course. But the similarities to Palmer end the moment Woods walks off the 18th green. Palmer embraced his fame. Woods embraces Privacy. and Now that we have some small glimpse into what goes on in private, can you blame him? Uhmmm... yes, I can.
In 1997, at the first Masters in which Woods played as a professional, he complained to Palmer. "I can't be a normal 21-year-old," he said. "I have to sign autographs all the time, talk to the media after I play, do photo shoots for my sponsors. It just never ends." Palmer responded, "You're right, Tiger, you aren't a normal 21-year-old. Normal 21-year-olds don't have $50 million in the bank. If you want to be normal, give the money back." Fast forward to now and make it a billion.
If he wanted the privacy, he should have followed Palmer's advice and given the money back. Anyone who loves the game can get out on a weekend for some golf and I would have gladly golfed with him any weekend. But he chose fame and fortune over privacy... he just couldn't live the way you need to when in the public eye.
He will always be a great athlete... but he'll never get past the stain on his personal character. He will never again be a great role model.
His legacy will always include the 7, 8, 9, (and counting) hole Ho' course he was building...
Front 9
Hole #1: the woman who started it all ... Rachel Uchitel
Hole #9: Unidentified Alleged Mistress No. 9 is reported to be a “sexy” British TV presenter who was single at the time, but is now married.
Back 9
Hole #10: Unidentified Alleged Mistress No. 10. is reported in a UK paper to be a “sex-addicted cougar.”
Hole #11: Alleged Mistress & porn actress Joslyn James
Hole #14: TBA
Hole #15: TBA
Hole #16: TBA
Hole #17: TBA
Hole #18: TBA
...more to come....