Woods turning Augusta into circus: Media

Tiger Woodss planned return to golf at the Masters drew plenty of criticism from the international press on Wednesday,and the most scathing comments came from Britain.

Tiger Woodss planned return to golf at the Masters drew plenty of criticism from the international press on Wednesday,and the most scathing comments came from Britain. Daily Mirror columnist Oliver Holt questioned the top-ranked golfers reasons for coming back to play at Augusta National. How typical of the man to hijack the worlds most famous golf tournament, Holt wrote. How could he turn Augusta into a circus like this? Does his vanity know no limits?

Woods drove his SUV over a fire hydrant and into a tree outside his Florida home in November,an accident that set off sordid tales of extramarital affairs. Woods announced on December 11 that he would take an indefinite break from golf to try to save his marriage,then made a public apology on February 19. When he finally sticks his head above the parapet before a hungry media at Augusta National,dont be surprised if he refuses to talk about anything relating to matters that predate February 19 on the ingenuous grounds that he has already dealt with that, Douglas Lowe wrote in the Scottish paper The Herald.

The Daily Telegraphs Mark Reason called the 34-year-old Woods a liar for making his return so soon after last months apology,where he took no questions. All that halting guff about maybe returning to golf one day was just a great big fib, Reason wrote.

Story continues below this ad

How will the kids believe in him now? Woods wouldnt know the truth if it came wrapped in a polyurethane cover and had Nike stamped on it. Hed just want to know how much he could spin it.

In the Toronto Star,columnist Dave Perkins made fun of Woodss extramarital affairs. So thats what Tiger Woods meant when he said he would be fighting the temptations: Hes coming back to golf at a club that doesnt allow women, Perkins wrote.

In Sweden,the country of wife Elin Nordegrens birth,Aftonbladet columnist Lasse Anrell wrote that Woods was in the clear to play golf again after four months of mourning,four months of apologies,four months of crying,four months of healing… But Anrell added that Woods needs to make a strong showing at the Masters. He knows that he needs to win for this to be a really good resurrection of Tiger Woods The Brand, Anrell wrote. A 27th place will not be a hit for the brand strategists.

Not everyone attacked him,however. Italian paper La Gazzetta dello Sport featured a full page on the announcement,saying the Masters was the natural place for him to come back. Apparently the expected onslaught of the media,curiosity seekers and fans has convinced (Woods) to return at the most important and most protected venue and for him the most familiar,skipping any warmup tournaments, Gazzetta wrote. Even if this increases the risks,especially for someone who is used to winning all the time.