This entry is about Tiger Woods and the fact that according to Jim Nance (the head broadcaster at the Masters this past weekend) about 80% of the gallery (or fans in attendance) cheered for him from the start to the finish in a wellspring of support. 

But, before I get there, I have to confess that I love the Masters. I am an average golfer and don’t follow the tour closely, but if you like golf at all or have ever thought about thinking about liking golf, you know that the Masters is without a doubt the greatest weekend in Golf and perhaps one of the great American sporting traditions.  

This is partly due to the irrefutable fact that the golf tournament is played on -- and in -- Golf Heaven.  I have never played Augusta National (founded by Bobby Jones in 1931, designed by the great Alister MacKenzie, and perhaps the most exclusive course in the world with about 300 members), but it is considered by almost all golf aficionados to be THE golf course on earth alongside St. Andrews which is widely believed to have been designed and created by nature (or God – depending on which Scott you ask) and the birth place of golf in the 1570’s.  

The other part of it is that the tournament looks and feels like golf should look and feel.  I just want to reach out and touch the greens, walk the fairways, and drink in the ambiance.  I have long been intrigued by Bobby Jones (you should watch the movie – Bobby Jones Stroke of Genius for why) who founded both the club and the tournament and the fact that he never played pro-golf. He was the amateur of amateurs and played golf for the love, contest, honor, and sport of it. 

Now, that being said…..Tiger. As I watched the Masters I kept thinking about a question – Why are these people cheering for Tiger?   

"Forgiveness was to be found in increasing abundance for Tiger Woods; indeed, the cries of "Go Tiger" and "We're behind you" registered only a couple of decibels lower than those for Phil Mickelson..." Oliver Brown, April 12, Sydney Morning Herald [Read Article]

A couple of possible answers –  

1.      People Love Golf and He is Really Good – If Not The Best Ever   

This is possible.  The Masters is a tough and expensive ticket and if you are there you probably know and love golf.  So maybe, they were not cheering for Tiger the person, but Tiger the golfer.  But why then did it appear to be more than that, like they were lifting him up – pushing him along? 

2.      People Love To See Triumph over Adversity

This is also possible.  We love the underdog, the one that pulls himself up and slogs on.  But, it was Tiger that did this to himself and is it really fair to call him the underdog?  There were better underdogs there than Tiger (who finished in the top 10). 

3.      People Just Don’t Care that He Cheated and Slept Around

I kind of like this choice.  Down deep inside, it might just be, that when all is said and done, the People there just didn’t care about his choices.  They like him and are willing to overlook…his…well…in a southern tone…indiscretions.  Sad – but probably true.  The same has been true for others (Magic Johnson, Michael Jordan, etc.) and when we build heroes…we just don’t want to knock em down because in doing so we knock ourselves with them.  I think a large part of the gallery just didn’t care that he did what he did. 

4.      People Just Don’t Care

I actually think this is the truth.  We just don’t care enough about Tiger, virtue, his family, honor, the legacy of Bobby Jones, morality, or anything else to actually speak the truth.  We just don’t care enough to withhold the applause – to call a spade a spade.  It is easier to cheer than confront.  Maybe 80% of the people really didn’t want to encourage him, but heck, when 40% or 50% applauded – would you want to boo?  Would I want to be the one that stood for something more than golf.  How many times do I look the other way in my own life when I see people choosing the wrong because I just don’t want the struggle?   Down deep, we just don’t care enough for Tiger or ourselves to do the right thing. 

Bobby Jones, a guy that as the story goes lost a major tournament by one stroke because he called a penalty on himself even when others didn’t even notice…might just be rolling over in his grave.