Global Golf Post - March 29, 2010

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LEONARD SHAPIRO
ORLANDO | Some believe we’ll see a
kinder, gentler Tiger Woods, more fan-
friendly, less profane, perhaps a tad more
humble and less controlling than the pre-
bimbo eruption model of years past when
he returns to Augusta National next week
to play The Masters, his first tournament
since mid-November.

thing. I think we will all be sideshows until
Thursday morning, and I think we’re fine
with that. Everybody’s fine with that.”
Still, Woods is likely to remain the main
focus the rest of the week, whether he
plays like a guy who hasn’t been in the
crucible of competition for months, or
somehow manages to perform like the No.
1 player in the world. Many players firmly
believe the latter is far more likely than the
former.
“Trust me, the guy is working, the guy
is practicing, the guy will be ready to play,”
Camilo Villegas said this week. “He’s a
smart guy. He’ll do everything he can to
come back and win a golf tournament.”
“Do I think Tiger Woods can be a
competitive factor at The Masters? I can’t
believe you’re even asking that question,”
Stewart Cink said at Bay Hill. “We’re talk-
ing about Tiger Woods, the best player
that’s ever played golf. I’ve never seen
anybody that plays golf like Tiger Woods
does. So the answer to that question is,
yes, I believe he can be a factor.”
And finally, a final few words from Colin
Montgomerie.
“I know him well enough. He wouldn’t
be playing in The Masters if he didn’t think
he could win,” Montgomerie said. “He’ll
get over those nerves and he will be as de-
termined as anyone who has ever been on
a golf course to prove that he’s still the No.
1 player in the world, and, in my opinion,
the best player ever to play the game.”
And the most controlling, as well. l

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