(Thumbnail image: Masters.com)
Reactions to Tiger Woods' press conference are pouring in from around the globe. We're examining media perspectives on Woods' big unanswered question: When will he return to professional golf?
In his statement, Woods said he would not rule out a return this year, but he did not specify further.
ESPN and CNN say that was the right move for the golfer.
"This was not the day, or the time, or setting, to talk about a professional schedule and when we might see Tiger Woods re-emerge. We all know seven weeks until Augusta National and Masters, first major of the season, and an entire schedule that rolls out very well based on past performance for Tiger Woods. But this day was about Tiger Woods reintroducing himself to America, trying to take the first step forward."
"I think that when somebody decides to return to a sport, especially one like golf, which depends so much on one's emotional and psychological state. It's impossible to predict. For Tiger to say that he was going to return for instance for the U.S. Open, would've been crazy because then it would've just built up another episode of expectation in the golf world. And it would've been more detrimental to him to mention a specific date."
ITN points to the state of Woods' image and how that will affect his endorsements.
"The business of Tiger Woods is in some trouble. He will never get the kind of advertising dollars that he got from being a paragon of virtue, talent, perseverance, and intelligence. That image of him is gone. It doesn't mean that he's going to go broke and we should be throwing a telethon in his honor. He's going to have to shift his marketing mix. The things that he endorses to more endemic golf products."
The Golf Channel describes the hostile atmosphere that Woods might face when he returns.
"For the first time in his life, when Tiger Woods comes back, and indeed faces the music, he is going to be asked negative questions. He is going to be faced with some harassing comments on the golf course. And he will be followed for a long, long time by some negativity. It'll hang around like a bad perfume. And the only way he's going to be able to get rid of this is by doing two things. By playing and by talking. Now he's done one extraordinary well throughout his career. The other one, not so well.
So when do you think Woods will return to professional golf? And how do you think he'll be recieved?
Writer: Tyler Goetz