Tiger back for the Masters!!!!

[Sports Guy]

Fair enough, I forgot they were playing St. Andrews this year.

And the US Open is at Pebble Beach, where he set several records...It is setting up well for him to win the slam this year...But the masters is the issue.

[Avsfan]

golfers in today's game rivals if not exceeds the golden era of the late 70-80's when the likes of Nichlaus, Watson, Player, Trevino, Balesteros, Faldo etc. were playing.

No it doesn't...not even close. There is no one in today's game that really rivals any of those players you mentioned.

I will admit that the tour is full of very good players....but there are no really GREAT players, other than Tiger...each of his "rivals" (I use that word very lightly) has chinks in their collective armors. Tom Watson was a GREAT player...as was Player.

[Birds of B'more]

If Woods wins The Masters, let alone the Grand Slam, after the layoff and all of the distractions he will face, it might end up being be one of the most remarkable accomplishments in sports. Even Michael Jordan didn't lead the Bulls deep into the NBA Playoffs when he came back in the middle of the '94-'95 season. I could see Tiger getting his form back and on a roll in time for the US Open in June and maybe taking 3 of 4 titles....but to think he can come back cold and win The Masters is a tall order even for him. He will help his cause though by allowing the media (and public) to fully vet him over his "transgressions" before heading to Augusta. If there are any unanswered questions remaining (like the full details of the accident), then he will continue to be hounded and that could only add to the distractions.

[Nigel Tufnel]

Great response by Michael Wilbon in today's WP chat.

Somebody said Tiger should only play in the Masters if his wife let him. Here was Wilbon's response:

No, the answer is, "If he wants to be." Theirs wouldn't be the first marraige to break up over these issues. It's not a national catastrophe. He's a golfer, and he was before they met. And if their is a situation where he just has to sit in his home office holding his head for the next two years, then what would be the point of continuing on with that situation. If he wants to be at The Masters, he should be. And if she doesn't want to go she shouldn't. And if she doesn't want to be in that marraige, then she won't. And NONE of it is really my business, which is why ultimately I don't much care. I, selfishly I admit, want to see Tiger play golf. That's it. Hell, I KNOW THESE GUYS and I don't concern myself with their marraiges and who they sleep with. Why should the rest of you? Please, 99 percent of you don't know who your bosses or brothers or sisters are sleeping with. But Tiger's sleeping preferences should keep him away from Augusta National? Please. See, you got me on a rant again.

[Avsfan]

It's exactly right......

People caring about his personal life is just stupid. He came out, he apologized, and he said they are working on things privately. (He shouldn't of even had to do that, but I understand why he had to).

Who cares what he does now? Do his & Elin's decisions effect you and your daily life? Does the world stop if he decides that 6 months away from his profession is long enough, and you don't agree?

Golf is his JOB...it's what he does...let the man go to work.