"It's Been a Long Year"

Who among us hasn't made a mistake in our lives we wish we could take back? Who among us hasn't done something that still haunts us to this day? I think it's fair to say that we are all guilty. We are all flawed. The only difference between us and others might be our status; where we rank in society. Now, before I go on, I want to make it clear that I do not support, admire, or respect his life's choices. I don't particularly care for the way he treated his wife and family, and I don't think he's going to forgive himself anytime soon, but as for the rest of us, could we please get off Tiger Woods' back?

Tiger screwed up, yes he did. He is going to have to live with that for the rest of his life. What I am tired of is hearing about how he has retreated into becoming one of the worst players on the tour right now. Yes, he had a terrible week at Bridgestone last weekend. But come on, certainly there has to be something else to talk about! His private life is in shambles and here we are trashing the one thing he has left... his game. If I were on tour, I would be pretty mad that no one is talking about how well I'm doing. It's all about Tiger and his problems.

If you saw his interview after last weekends tourney, you heard him answer a question with the statement, "It's been a long year." How true is that for him? It has indeed been a long year. From the media spitting all over him, his friends abandoning him, (which some of which was his fault) to his high profile divorce. (Which is also his fault).

I think we, the media, the fans, the so-called experts of the game and life in general, need to relax and realize it's not going to be the same Tiger out there each week until he learns to forgive himself and have fun again. He has his demons he must wrestle with, he has his own insecurities to get over; so it might not be out of line for the rest of us to cut him just a little slack.

He messed up, yes he did, but who are we to judge him? Who are we to criticize him? Let the man have his private life and repair his heart, his professional life will be corrected after the first is taken care of.

I respect the man's game. Always have. He will bounce back. But, like he said, it's been a long year for him and his game isn't his top priority. And it shouldn't be! How could anyone be expected to be the most dominant player in the world when you have this hanging over your head. Yes, he caused all of this, he created all of this, his wife is not to blame. All of it, and I mean all of it, falls on Tiger and Tiger alone. But let the man fix it himself, I'm quite certain that he doesn't need all the "professional" and "personal" advice from people who don't know him.

Let's leave him alone and let him fix himself. I'm really quite certain that there are more important things to talk about. Our economy does still suck, oil was leaking in the gulf, we have a lazy president, california votes no longer mean anything, and people are out of work. Plus, if you're a golfer, Tiger isn't the only one out there... let's focus on the positive people and so much on the negative. It's been a long year, and this is only making it longer.

Until Next Time
P