Tiger: I’m quitting golf — temporarily

Remember when he copped to “transgressions”? A bit more specific this time:

I am deeply aware of the disappointment and hurt that my infidelity has caused to so many people, most of all my wife and children. I want to say again to everyone that I am profoundly sorry and that I ask forgiveness. It may not be possible to repair the damage I’ve done, but I want to do my best to try…

After much soul searching, I have decided to take an indefinite break from professional golf. I need to focus my attention on being a better husband, father, and person.

I question the timing. Just last night, the UK’s Sun tabloid had this:

The Sun today revealed that Woods is ready to quit golf in a desperate bid to save his shattered marriage.

He told Elin he “will do anything”. And she has agreed to stay with the star for the sake of their two young children.

But she has given him the stark ultimatum: “It’s golf… or me.”

Elin has drawn up a strict list of rules for the world Number One to follow if he wants to win her back.

And the beauty, who would pocket up to $100million if she walks away, is insisting he puts their marriage and two kids before his golf career.

I haven’t been linking any tabloid stuff in Headlines but assume that you guys are following it in your own news-reading travails. If not, let me tell you: The sheer volume — and variety — of it that piles up in my RSS reader is astounding. It’s not just the typical “new details from Tiger’s mistress” celebrity scandal crap, either; it’s more women, every day, and ever more lurid accusations. Even allowing for the fact that some of it must be lies aimed at cashing in, one pro golfer went so far as to say, “This is no surprise to anyone who knows Tiger.” No wonder he can’t follow the Letterman blueprint of ‘fessing up, letting the dust settle, and then going back to work. The confession would take three days.

Exit question: How freaky would the details have to get before the world’s richest pitchman becomes poison to advertisers? If Marv Albert can come back from Bitegate, surely history’s greatest golfer will get plenty of leeway.

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