TIGER WOODS "weaved his way through a mine field of
potentially explosive topics" yesterday in his first news
conference since winning The Masters, according to Jimmy
Burch of the FT. WORTH STAR-TELEGRAM. Woods was "offering
updates on his love life, insights on his heightened
celebrity status and an explanation for why he wouldn't make
time for a public appearance with President Clinton.
Mostly, however, Woods expressed a desire to huddle with"
FUZZY ZOELLER over racially insensitive comments Zoeller
made at Augusta last month (FT. WORTH STAR-TELEGRAM, 5/14).
Part of the press conference was shown live on CNN and
ESPNEWS and in Dallas, Brad Townsend writes, "Tiger spoke.
The world tuned in" (DALLAS MORNING NEWS, 5/14).
ON ZOELLER: Woods said he hoped to meet Zoeller next
week at the PGA Tour's MasterCard Colonial stop. Woods:
"I'd just like to ask him what he meant exactly. I'd have a
one-on-one, heart-to-heart talk with him. Nothing tough ...
I just want some true emotion to see what's going on. After
that, it's over." On some sentiment that he waited too long
before responding to Zoeller: "I'm not concerned about it at
all because I didn't say those comments. I'm not the one
who got in trouble. And, unfortunately, I was brought into
the situation unwillingly. I think I responded at the
appropriate time." Woods, on the difference between his
controversial comments in GQ and Zoeller's comments: "He
said it to, I guess -- I saw the tape -- to people right
there all around. Media. I was just unknowingly talking to
a limo driver who was miked. There's a difference there. A
big difference. ... If you're going to say something, you're
going to have to live with the consequences. I understand
what I said, jokingly, having fun. If they want to confront
that, that's fine. I'll tell them what went on. They can
accept it or not" (DALLAS MORNING NEWS, 5/14). CNN/SI's Ed
Werder: "Woods said his response was correct and his
management team often had to convince him to be as
conciliatory as he was" ("CNN/SI," CNN, 5/13).
PRESIDENTIAL ZEAL: Woods "made it clear he was hardly
repentant for turning down" President Clinton's invitation
to appear with him at MLB's ceremony honoring Jackie
Robinson, according to Joe Drape of the N.Y. TIMES. Woods:
"Why didn't Mr. Clinton invite me before the Masters? That
didn't happen. As soon as I won, he invited me. If he
wanted me there, I think it would have been best if he would
have asked me before the Masters with all the athletes that
were involved" (N.Y. TIMES, 5/14). White House Dep. Press
Secretary Barry Toiv noted Woods was the only non-baseball
athlete invited: "It was a spontaneous thing, but we
understand that he wasn't able to come" (WASH. POST, 5/14).
CHIP SHOTS: Woods will be a guest on "Barbara Walters
Presents 6 to Watch" on ABC next Wednesday (WASHINGTON POST,
5/14)....USA TODAY's Rudy Martzke notes speculation that
Zoeller might retire (USA TODAY, 5/14).
