The British press has a reputation for being aggressive and sensationalistic, so Tiger Woods in their midst is pretty much raw meat. But the most interesting exchange during this morning’s British Open press conference was this:
“Tom Watson has said you need to clean up your act on the golf course. He’s gone on record. Many of us over the years have heard you use the F word, we’ve seen you spit on the course, and we’ve seen you throw tantrums like chucking your clubs around. Are you willing to cut out all those tantrums this week and respect the home of golf?”
Woods: “I’m trying to become a better player and a better person, yes.”
That’s just another way of refusing to answer the question, of course; as Tiger has done ever since his return to golf. Woods apologists see it as some sort of victory — they couldn’t rattle Tiger! — while in truth he comes off more like the frightened kid refusing to confront his demons. From ESPN:
Woods was asked about his reported impending divorce from his wife of six years, Elin, but only said, “I’m not going to go into that.”
And,
He again confirmed reports that he had met with authorities to discuss his relationship with Canadian doctor Anthony Galea — who treated Woods’ surgically repaired knee — but said “I can’t go into any of that because of the fact that it’s an open case so far.”
My guess is that these questions will continue to be asked, especially by the foreign press, as long as Tiger continues to avoid them. And especially if he continues to fail to win a major.
If Woods were smart, he’d go on the offense. Plant a reporter in the British Open press gallery and have him ask the following question: “What’s your opinion on the BP oil spill?” Then Tiger could launch into a denunciation on all things British, including something along the lines of: “I may have made some mistakes, but at least I didn’t score in my own goal.”
That’d teach ‘em.
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Tiger grilled on personal life, Galea [ESPN]
