The Masters Offers Tiger Controlled Environment For Return

Augusta National Not Changing Admission, Credential Policies Due To Woods' Return

Tiger Woods' return to the PGA Tour at The Masters on April 8 "will not change the operations surrounding" the event, according to John Boyette of the AUGUSTA CHRONICLE. The Masters offers a "controlled environment for Woods," as Augusta National Golf Club "limits media credentials ... and it is the only authorized source of Masters badges." The club said that it grants media access only to those whose "principal responsibility is to cover the game of golf and the Masters Tournament." Meanwhile, security at the club is "provided by a private firm and is supplemented by the Richmond County Sheriff's Office." Richmond County Col. Gary Powell said that he "has heard no requests for any changes to their security plan because of Woods' appearance," and that officers "don't anticipate any major problems with either the media or crowds" (AUGUSTA CHRONICLE, 3/17). In Miami, David Neal notes The Masters is the "toughest ticket on the PGA Tour," as tournament badges are "sold to those on a patron list, the tournament has long been sold out, and even the patron list's waiting list is closed." The tournament also is the "most discriminating when it comes to dishing out media credentials, which makes it less likely the celebrity-centric part of the media will get credentialed" (MIAMI HERALD, 3/17). Augusta National Dir of Communications Steve Ethun said that any news organization that "hasn't already requested credentials will not gain admittance to the event, even after Mr. Woods' announcement." Ethun: "Our credential application deadline passed on Feb. 1. No additional credentials will be allocated" (PITTSBURGH POST-GAZETTE, 3/17).

READY FOR THE ATTENTION: In Augusta, Scott Michaux writes Augusta National is "as prepared as it always is to be the center of attention during the Masters tournament." Michaux: "We survived the Martha Burk insurgence of 2003. We can handle an extra golfer in 2010 -- even if that golfer is the center of a worldwide fascination that is unrivaled in sports history. ... That he's coming to compete for a fifth green jacket is never a bad thing -- even if it might detract at times from the charm that makes the Masters what it is." Michaux adds, "All the bombast and innuendo of the tabloid press ... isn't going to breach the perimeter of Augusta National during Masters Week" (AUGUSTA CHRONICLE, 3/17). In Toronto, Dave Perkins writes Augusta National "won't tolerate any nonsense and won't allow a circus," which "had to be a contributing, if not determining, factor for Woods to resume his golf life there" (TORONTO STAR, 3/17). In N.Y., Hank Gola writes Woods will have a "protective cocoon around him wherever he goes and whatever he does at the Masters." It will be "virtually impossible to see him entering or leaving Augusta National," and his press availability "will be tightly controlled and he'll be in a special locker room reserved for past champions" (N.Y. DAILY NEWS, 3/17). CNN's Roland Martin said Augusta National is "essentially treated like a church ... and Tiger will be in a comfort zone. It is a cocoon" ("Showbiz Tonight," HLN, 3/16).

BEST VENUE FOR RETURN: ESPN's Tom Rinaldi noted Woods "will have the chance to vie for and win major championships for a long time to come. But he will only have one opportunity to return from this episode in his life." Rinaldi added returning at The Masters "makes sense," as Augusta National "gives him the best chance to manage that process and exert the most control over that process" ("Outside The Lines," ESPN, 3/16). In S.F., Ron Kroichick writes by resuming his career at The Masters, Woods chose the "most controlled, sanitized, policed environment possible," which "matters more than ever to him, given the public scrutiny he has encountered since revelations of his serial infidelity" (S.F. CHRONICLE, 3/17). In Ft. Lauderdale, Dave Hyde writes The Masters is the "one spot in sports that affords Tiger the kind of cover he covets right now." Hyde: "It's a biosphere of golf. Everyone is watched. Everything is controlled" (South Florida SUN-SENTINEL, 3/17). Golfer Jim Furyk said of Augusta National, "It's the most controlled atmosphere you could possibly have. Not that security would not be tight wherever he goes, but Augusta has that stigma. It's just different. Everyone really is in awe of that place. From top to bottom, it's the most controlled atmosphere" (FANHOUSE.com, 3/16).

RUNNING A TIGHT SHIP: In Detroit, Drew Sharp notes Augusta National officials "control crowd access and, more important, crowd conduct." They also "control media access," and they "definitely control media accreditation." Sharp: "They'll take great delight in rejecting the abundance of requests in the coming days" (DETROIT FREE PRESS, 3/17). In Boston, Charles Pierce wrote Woods "couldn't have picked a more appropriate spot for his comeback," as Augusta National is the "one place in sports that has ironclad control over itself." Pierce: "If there's one place in the world that can put the Woods comeback in a self-contained bubble, outside of North Korea, it's probably Augusta National" (BOSTON.com, 3/16). In N.Y., William Rhoden writes Augusta National is the "perfect venue," as officials "will minimize, if not eliminate, negative gallery reaction to Woods's return." Even fans who "might want to let Woods have it probably won't, for fear of losing their admission badges ... or worse" (N.Y. TIMES, 3/17). In Boston, Ron Borges writes, "Of all the tournaments in the world, this is the safest place for Woods to return from his self-imposed, 144-day exile" (BOSTON HERALD, 3/17). An AUGUSTA CHRONICLE editorial states Woods' decision to "delay his much-anticipated return to golf until the first full week in April ... is undoubtedly a statement about the character of Augusta National and the Masters." The editorial: "He knew it would be safe" (AUGUSTA CHRONICLE, 3/17).

Stricker (l) Wonders If Woods' Return At The Masters May Overshadow Tourney

BAD IDEA: YAHOO SPORTS' Jay Busbee wrote Woods returning at The Masters "indicates either complete tone-deafness to the mania that will surround him ... or a complete disregard and disrespect of his fellow players and the game." Woods is "setting up Augusta for ... an armada of tabloid journalists scouring the city of Augusta, looking for any kind of inside dirt on what goes on inside the clubhouse." There also could be "helicopters buzzing the course looking to get a shot of Tiger," and scalpers "commanding record highs for badges" (SPORTS.YAHOO.com, 3/16). In L.A., Bill Plaschke writes Woods "making his return at perhaps the most revered venue in all of American sports is like a shamed senator making his political comeback on Easter Sunday at New York's St. Patrick's Cathedral." The Masters is "one of the last sports events that is bigger than any of the athletes who compete there," and Woods' comeback "will completely swallow it." Plaschke: "For Woods, this will be a sort of halfway house from heaven. But for the Masters, it could be four days ... of hell" (L.A. TIMES, 3/17).

OVERSHADOWING THE TOURNEY? FANHOUSE.com's David Whitley wrote if Woods "really revered the Masters, he would have gotten as much of the circus out of the way as possible before showing up." Whitely: "Everything will be overshadowed by Woods. And there's nothing the Masters can do about it, except put on a happy face and monitor every word that's spoken" (FANHOUSE.com, 3/16). The L.A. Times' Plaschke: "It takes away all the attention from the Masters. It becomes the 'Tiger Woods Show'" ("Around The Horn," ESPN, 3/16). Golfer Steve Stricker prior to Woods' announcement yesterday said, "Whenever he comes back it's going to draw a lot of attention to that tournament and the focus is going to be on him coming back. I don't know if Augusta would like that to happen, you know? To turn it into Tiger's comeback instead of the Masters tournament itself" (ESPN.com, 3/14). But Golf Channel's Steve Sands said, "One thing we can guarantee: The folks at Augusta National Golf Club will put The Masters above Tiger Woods. It's a tournament first. It's another individual playing in that event second" ("Golf Central," Golf Channel, 3/16). ESPN's Bob Harig: "I think it's going to be business as usual for Augusta National" ("SportsCenter," ESPN, 3/16).

HE IS BIGGER THAN THE MASTERS: GOLFCHANNEL.com's Rex Hoggard wrote the question that "will be asked over the next two fortnights" is whether Woods is "bigger than the Masters." Hoggard: "Check back on April 11 for that answer. What is not up for debate is if the world No. 1 is bigger than the [Arnold Palmer Invitational]. ... He is, with apologies to the golf purists who cling to the notion that no one is bigger than the game" (GOLFCHANNEL.com, 3/16). GOLFCHANNEL.com's Randall Mell wrote, "Woods may not be bigger than the Masters, but his story is. Woods may not be bigger than golf, but his story is. Woods now towers over every player and storyline in the history of the game. That's because people who don't understand or follow the game care more about how this story turns out than they'll care how this Masters turns out" (GOLFCHANNEL.com, 3/16).