Tiger, The Gloves Are Off: Media Edition**

One element we've wondered about since November 27th has been media reaction to Tiger when he inevitably returns to civilization. So far, we've had a few writers criticize his lifestyle choices, a few that offered good solid reporting, and a few who sat the story out.

But after Tiger decided to upstage the Accenture Match Play today and Friday, it appears the mood is tilting toward tough love or brutal criticism.

Before we get to the writers, check out Golfweek's Photoshopped image (right). Ouch!

Do not miss Alex Miceli's Golf Channel on-air criticism, viewable about 1:30 into this segment with Scott Walker. Words like selfishness, gutlessness, sham and more describe Miceli's views of Tiger and Finchem's decision to hold a statement reading at the TPC Sawgrass clubhouse in the middle of the match play.

Jeff Rude writing for Golfweek.com:

The commissioner said he’ll attend the Friday event that promises to be a circus on the periphery at the least. The production will occur at Finchem’s home venue behind a guarded gate outside Tour headquarters. Not only will reporters not be allowed to ask questions for you – a public that has loaded his pockets with millions – but non-pool reporters will be shepherded to a hotel meeting room outside the gate.

We know this is controlling. It could also be construed as being gutless and selfish.

Garry Smits in the Florida Times-Union:

It might be understandable that Tiger doesn't care about Accenture, since the company was the first of his stable of corporate sugar daddies to ditch him in the wake of revelations of his extra-marital activities. But the Tour is allowing him to use the clubhouse and providing some support. Wonder how long the memories of Accenture officials will be when it comes time for renegotiation for title sponsorship of the Match Play.

And if the people in the room are going to be this tightly controlled, and no media questions taken, why couldn't this have been done at in a board room at Woods' home course in Isleworth, with one TV camera and satellite feeds? They could have handled it like Florida State handled Bobby Bowden's resignation announcement: one camera, a media relations official, a statement, a few memories, and voila -- email blasts for everyone.

Jason Sobel at ESPN.com:

If we know one thing about Tiger, it's that he knows how to hold a grudge. This wouldn't be the first example of Woods wielding his power to overcome an opponent off the course, as his first public statement since that Nov. 27 single-car accident in front of his home certainly will overshadow the events here in the desert.

Update on 2010-02-18 05:55 by Geoff

**More brutal criticism. Hank Gola in the New York Daily News:

Thankfully, they are not calling it a press conference because it is anything but that. Actually, what it is is a farce, a contrived event.

With the PGA Tour providing cover, Tiger Woods will appear in public Friday morning for the first time since Thanksgiving night, when he ran into that fire hydrant and spewed forth a shower of scandal that has brought him down faster than any sports hero not named O.J.

AP's Tim Dahlberg writes:

What Woods still doesn't seem to understand is that it won't end things. Not only will the golf media not be nearly as subservient anymore, but the story has long since been hijacked by the tabloids and entertainment shows.

So spare us the tears and the carefully crafted message of family and love. Don't try for sympathy by saying how tough this has been on your family, and how you hope your wife and children will one day forgive you.

Stand up and answer the tough questions, no matter how painful it might be.

Bring something more to the party Friday than just than a good photo op.

Otherwise, this is nothing more than just another Tiger Woods joke.

And Derek Lawrenson in the Daily Mail:

By announcing that he would be breaking his silence tomorrow, he not only demolished the column inches devoted to the first round of the Accenture Match Play Championship yesterday, he also greatly diminished interest in the third.

What possible reason could there be to make his announcement this week other than for a desire for vengeance? Why not Monday, for example? Not that anyone was fooled. ‘I suppose he wanted to get something back against the sponsor that dumped him,’ said Rory McIlroy.

So much for Woods returning from the Age of Transgression a humble man. Judging by the sanitised environment proposed for his Friday statement, and the day it was announced, it sounds like the same old Tiger, driven by an obsessive need for control and woe betide anyone who crosses him.

Michael Bamberger writing for golf.com:

Tiger Woods is a world-class control freak, and in his re-entry into public life — which has showered him with wealth and opportunities and trappings that we can only imagine — he is picking up right where he left off. He controls all. He's the same way with his golf ball. He tells it exactly what he wants it to do.

A guess is that Tiger is very angry. Angry at the National Enquirer for breaking the story of his infidelity. Angry at NBC — one of the Tour's most reliable media partners! — for trotting out one of his babes on the Today show with golf buff Matt Lauer. Angry at the mainstream golf press for writing oh-that-Tiger-is-a-fraud stories.

Tiger Woods To Make Public Statement At PGA TOUR Headquarters, 11 a.m. ET Friday**

PGATour.com posts this news on their site:

Now, according to Darren Rovell on Twitter, there will be no Q&A. And he reports this from agent Mark Steinberg: "Tiger will make a public statement to begin to make amends."

But what a great way to upstage his old friends at Accenture by doing this the week they host a tour event!

For those of you with jobs, PGATour.com's Brian Wacker reports that it will be streamed live on PGATour.com. I suspect it might get picked up a few other places too.

Update on 2010-02-17 20:40 by Geoff

**This ESPN.com story, includes these new wrinkles:

Woods will speak to a small group of reporters at 11 a.m. Friday from the clubhouse of the TPC Sawgrass in Ponte Vedra Beach, Fla., home of the PGA Tour.

"This is all about the next step," Mark Steinberg, his agent, told The Associated Press. "He's looking forward to it."

Steinberg said Woods would speak to a "small group of friends, colleagues and close associates" about his past and what he plans next, along with apologizing for his behavior.

He said three wire services would be invited, and he was asking the Golf Writers Association of America to pick a small group of reporters to serve as a pool. Steinberg said there would be one pool camera, but it would be available live via satellite.

Woods will not be taking questions.

Steinberg was also asked why this couldnt wait until after the Accenture match play.

Michael Buteau filed portions of the above story it appears, and also filed this Bloomberg version. Note that the first two to report the Woods press conference story were Bloomberg and CNBC's Darren Rovell.

“Tiger Woods will be speaking to a small group of friends, colleagues and close associates at 11:00 a.m. EST Friday at the TPC Sawgrass Clubhouse in Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida,” the statement said. “Tiger plans to discuss his past and his future and he plans to apologize for his behavior.”

Should Tom Watson Receive A U.S. Open Exemption?

I say absolutely. Second place in the previous year's Open Championship should do it, no?

Doug Ferguson brought it up in his AP notes column today and Golfweek's Adam Schupak notes this for the reason the USGA may not have announced it at this point:

Decisions regarding special exemptions generally are made around the time of the Masters, according to USGA spokesperson Rand Jerris. Some insiders tell me it’s a done deal and the USGA just waited for the end of Jim Vernon’s reign as president to avoid any implication of favoritism, because Vernon and Watson are old fraternity brothers.

USGA Tweaks Pebble's 14th

Mike Davis kindly reported back about the troublesome 14th at Pebble Beach and the extreme chipping area that led to AT&T final round dramatics.

After studying the 14th green situation for about 45 minutes today, we decided to bring the rough up on the left side about half-way.  I think that will, on balance, provide the fairest outcome.  It will allow balls just left of the green to roll down about 5 paces and then be caught by rough.  The player would have an uphill shot that could be played with a bump and run or a high-lofted pitch.  It will give the player under the tree down on the flat area a play (which he never had before with thick rough) – hit a low pitch out of the rough onto the closely mown area and run it up the hill.  I think this scenario will challenge the players from all four sides of the green … try to get their ball up onto what might be the smallest (effective) green for any major competition (that I know of). 

Once again, great to see Davis and the committee unafraid of making adjustments this close to the tournament in the name of common sense. Not that the 14th still won't keep Davis and championship committee chair Tom O'Toole up at night, but this modification should cut down on some extreme goofiness. Though the front hole location will still be a beast.