He’s been one of the most famous athletes in the world for over a decade.  There’s no hiding if you’re Tiger Woods. 

Until November of 2009, though, Tiger could still hide –at least a little–from those carrying cameras.  Off the golf course, he wasn’t considered that exciting.

Married guy.

Kids.

Totally devoted to his sport.

Workout freak.

If you’re a tabloid media outlet…a TMZ.com or a member of the paparazzi…Tiger was not #1 on your list of must follow celebs.

He is now.

Tiger never faced much difficulty dealing with the sports media.  He rarely let anyone get too deep anyway. 

The ‘other’ media will be a different story.  They don’t play by normal journalistic rules.  They show up in places you don’t expect, nowhere near your workplace.  Looking to see what he’s up to.

Ready to record it.

Tiger will likely have a security detail now.  Before he could slip in and out of a club with a couple of friends and not worry that much.  Those days are over. 

Unless he’s ready to become a complete hermit, you’ll see his picture pop up everywhere once he goes back on tour.  He’ll be followed.  He’ll be photographed.  He’ll get tired of it.

Golf?  He can do that.  Shake the rust off and chase majors.  Practice.  Practice. Practice.

It’s the other stuff that has the potential to beat him.

Their chances of winning tournaments are better without him, but it’s clear the players on the PGA Tour would much rather have Tiger Woods in the field Thursday through Sunday.

At this weekend’s tour stop, Tiger’s statement on Friday was a big topic of conversation.  Many have reached into their bags and pulled out the ‘no comment’ club.  A few others offer milquetoast responses to reporters’ questions.  They’re tired of talking about it and really, what can they say?  Passing judgment in public likely wouldn’t be well accepted by some.

It would be nice to see more players offer up some thoughtful responses on the whole subject because it has so many tentacles that affect the tour, pro sports and society.  Did Tiger pull the wool over our eyes by letting his marketers form this ‘determined family man’ image?  Is he a victim of too much success too soon?  Few of his PGA Tour colleagues are willing to even share their opinions.

Here’s what they were saying this week:

No doubt, the players probably lay a lot of the blame for what could be a very soft season squarely on Tiger. There are other stars playing pro golf, but Woods is such a mega force that a lot of people dismiss the Tour without him as if a win doesn’t really count if Tiger isn’t in the field. The Tour needs him and it doesn’t sound like he’s anywhere ready to come back. Tiger and “the rest of the field” are joined at the hip, for better or worse. They say they’ll be patient and wait for him, but the circus that will ensue once he does come back isn’t something the “field” deserves.

This would be a Tiger moment.  Except Tiger’s not here.  While golf’s top player attempts to exorcise whatever carnal demons have overtaken his senses, Phil Mickelson is facing talk of cheating for doing some exorcising of his own.

Lefty has taken a loophole in the rulebook and created a firestorm.

The USGA’s ban on square grooved clubs started January 1 but an old lawsuit grandfathered the Ping Eye 2 club in.  It’s totally legal but some of Mickelson’s fellow pros like Rocco Mediate and Scott McCarron say they’re “appalled” and that packing the Ping is “against the spirit of the rule”.

WWTD (what would Tiger do) if he were in Lefty’s big shoes?

He’d stick the club back in the bag (or toss it in the ocean), fix the steely eyed glare and whip those also-rans by a dozen strokes come Sunday.   “You think I need square grooves to beat you?” he’d say to himself.  “I could beat you with a Persimmon driver and a bamboo shaft putter.”

So with Tiger on the sidelines, here’s Lefty’s chance to take over the mantel.  Debate all day whether using the Ping Eye is the right thing to do.  Mickelson just proved himself a little smarter than a lot of the other guys who didn’t realize they could use a club from the post-Reagan years.  Maybe he’s just a smart aleck for using it.  I don’t care.

But Mickelson has a chance to make a major three-word statement this weekend.

“Square Groove This”.

Latest Tiger Woods Update:  Tiger Woods says he is “taking an indefinite leave” from golf and for the first time mentioned the word “infidelity”.  In a post on his website, Woods said he would concentrate instead on being a “better husband, father and person”.  That would seem to mean wife Elin has not yet decided to leave him despite the statements of multiple women who say they had affairs or relationships with him during his marriage.

The embattled star’s apology meter did climb a bit since his last missive in which he railed against the tabloids and begged for everyone to leave him alone.

Woods has yet to speak about his car accident or anything else associated with the ongoing saga that has created a firestorm once thought to be much ado about nothing.

Woods’ statement:

“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.

I would like to ask everyone, including my fans, the good people at my foundation, business partners, the PGA Tour, and my fellow competitors, for their understanding. What’s most important now is that my family has the time, privacy, and safe haven we will need for personal healing.

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.

Again, I ask for privacy for my family and I am especially grateful for all those who have offered compassion and concern during this difficult period.

This is apparently one bad tee shot Tiger Woods could not recover from. Moments ago, the world’s most famous golfer admitted he “has let his family down and regrets those “transgressions.”

His statement comes on the heels of an explosive voicemail message allegedly left by Woods to a Los Angeles cocktail waitress who says she had a “steamy” long relationship with him. Jaimee Grubbs says she’s saved mountains of “racy” emails and texts from their affair.

Woods has been silent since an early morning car crash last weekend that left his car in rough shape.  On Wednesday, he did issue a statement on his website with the apology, but also begged for privacy.

It probably isn’t surprising to hear that Tiger Woods has no interest in meeting with the Florida State Patrol.  It probably isn’t surprising that he chose his own website to make a short, non-revealing statement about his mysterious 2:30 AM car crash on his website rather than speak to his fans through the media.

When it comes to being in the public eye, Tiger does what he has to do.  No more.

The fiery competitor stuff is fine, but we like our athletes when they’re willing to share a little of themselves–in good times and bad.  What Tiger fails to realize is that the less he speaks, the more the public demands answers.  The less you talk, the more people want you to. This whole thing isn’t going to go away forever, no matter how much Tiger thinks it will by labeling it a “private matter”.  Is there a Tiger Woods mistress?  There have been denials from a woman in question, but nothing from Tiger other than a protestation against “false, unfounded and malicious rumors”.  If there’s nothing to hide, then, why is he hiding?

You could make the argument that no one is entitled to answers about why the tabloids have been full of rumors about Woods.  It’s personal.  Something between a married couple.   Or, you could take the slightly more enlightened view that unlike most married guys, Woods makes millions of dollars each month because people pay to watch him play golf live and on TV.  They pay to buy the products he endorses.  They pay for his autograph through his exclusive arrangement with Upper Deck Company.  They chase his memorabilia on eBay.  They buy his video games.  They pay to hear him speak and give clinics.  it’s part of the reason why he doesn’t want to reveal too much.  There’s too much at stake.  Yet you can’t take the rewards of being a pro athlete and refuse to deal with the other, less financially rewarding stuff that goes along with it.

Apparently, his agents and handlers– the very people he’s consulting with about how to react in the wake of the intense scrutiny after he ko’d a fire hydrant and gave a neighbor’s tree an uppercut– don’t seem to get it.  By refusing to divulge more details about the wreck, he’s hurting his public image.   If Tiger and his wife were fighting, he should admit it.  Hey, it happens.  Usually at weird hours.  We all do stupid things…and at least he’s sort of admitted that.  If it was just a case of poor driving, admit that too.   But say enough to answer at least some of the questions.  Because if you don’t, at some point people don’t know what to believe.

And then they’ll find someone else they can believe in.

The PGA TOUR, through its partnership with Turner Sports, is bringing  the official PGA TOUR App for iPhone and iPod touch to fans at no cost.  The PGA TOUR App, released late last month, offers  PGATOUR.COM’s live video streaming and live scoring to  to iPhone and iPod touch users for each of the four PGA TOUR Playoffs for the FedExCup tournaments

Following the Playoffs, the app will be available throughout the PGA TOUR Fall Series and beyond, providing fans instant access to every player and tournament. The PGATOUR App is the only golf application to offer fans access to PGATOUR.COM’s exclusive content, including custom live leaderboards, video highlights, play-by-play coverage, player stats and award-winning editorial franchises.

“PGATOUR.COM leads the field in its coverage of the PGA TOUR and continues to provide innovative, inside-the-ropes access that allows fans to follow golf action no matter where they are,” said Matthew Hong, Turner Sports vice president and general manager of sports digital. “The launch of the official PGA TOUR App expands the site’s portfolio of live coverage and the set of platforms on which our exclusive content around all aspects of the PGA TOUR is optimized.”

“This new application is a natural extension of the PGA TOUR’s desire to serve golf fans with the highest level of PGA TOUR coverage wherever they are,” said Lee Bushkell, vice president and general manager, PGATOUR.COM. “We’re excited to introduce it in time for fans to follow the excitement throughout the PGA TOUR Playoffs as the third FedExCup champion is crowned.”

The PGA TOUR App will stream live video from all four Playoff Tournaments — The Barclays and Deutsche Bank Championships, BMW Championship (Sept. 10-13) and THE TOUR Championship  (Sept. 24-27). Leveraging PGATOUR.COM’s award-winning LIVE@ franchise, iPhone and iPod touch users can watch live video from the course.

Other features of the PGA TOUR App include live scoring, customizable leaderboards and tee times, giving fans instant access to every shot from their favorite TOUR players. The app also provides in-depth course breakdowns, hole images and descriptions from all TOUR events. Other features include in-round video highlights and shots of the day, player profiles and stats, PGA TOUR news and leaderboards, tee times and tournament schedules for the Champions Tour and Nationwide Tour.

The PGA TOUR App is available for free from the App Store on iPhone and iPod touch or at www.itunes.com/appstore/.

It was new territory for Tiger Woods and maybe he didn’t know the protocol.

After losing a lead on Sunday for the first time in 36 events, Tiger decided not stop and chat with CBS.  He’d lost the PGA Championship despite leading by four shots after the second round and by two coming into the final eighteen holes.  It wasn’t Tiger’s best moment and he’ll have to wait through another long winter before chasing his 15th major next spring at the Masters.   But make no mistake.  Tiger didn’t lose it.  He flat out got beat.

Y.E. Yang, a 5-foot-9 dynamo from South Korea who began playing at age 19 and then served time in his country’s military, out-Tigered Tiger.  Major championships are won with consistency, but also with memorable shots that create separation.  Sunday, Yang got Tiger by the tail with a spine-tingling chip in on the 14th hole at Hazeltine.  Then he yanked on it with an exclamation point putt at 18, creating history on multiple fronts:  first Asian-born golfer to win a major.  First man to take Tiger down on Sunday since the modern day king of golf turned pro.

Woods was game, but his putting stroke was off.  He seemed unable to read a green this time.  Still, he was in it until 18.    On Sundays, no one had been able to stare him down until Yang did.  His win gives hope to others who duel with Tiger from here on out.

The mojo may not be gone, but it’s softened a bit.
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PGA memorabilia on eBay

Tom Watson is no stranger to success on links golf courses.  He’s a perennial contender and former champ at the British Senior Open.  But at age 59, his remarkable run against much younger players at Turnberry this week brings one of the game’s greats back into the spotlight.

Watson won five British Open titles during his prime years on the PGA Tour, plus two Masters and one US Open.  He’s never won the PGA, but on Saturday, he passed Jack Nicklaus for most times leading a major championship after 54 holes.

Collectors haven’t quite jumped on the Watson bandwagon, although there has been a bit of an uptick the last couple of days on eBay.  Watson’s ‘rookie card’, the 1981 Donruss issue, is #1 in the set and subject to some corner wear and scuffing.  Still, it can be bought for less than $20 in nice shape.  Watson autographs are usually less than $50.  He’s a bit underappreciated when you consider his amazing career, one that has labeled him a stellar player still at just 2 months shy of his 60th birthday. At last check, there were fewer than 200 Tom Watson items on eBay.

Watson’s last spotlight moment in a major came six years ago when he led the US Open after one round, not long before his long-time caddy and friend Bruce Edwards died of Lou Gehrig’s disease.  But for those who thought that was his last hurrah, the soft-spoken Missourian can point to his scorecard this week and say ‘not so fast’.

Ever check the bid leaderboard outside the clubhouse? No matter if it’s a major PGA Tour event or your club championship, you can see scores posted hole-by-hole, round-by-round when volunteers get out their magic markers and posterboard.

At this year’s U.S. Open, they became golf memorabilia. The individual player sheets and round-by-round leaderboards were sold in a fundraising auction for the Metropolitan Golf Association Foundation and the Long Island Caddie Scholarship Fund.

Two of the scorecard strips sold for over $1000. The line chronicling champion Lucas Glover’s tournament brought $2510. Tiger Woods’ scoresheets sold for $1125, while the numbers for Phil Mickelson brought $550. For those seeking something unique, it was sort of a bargain. Many of the cards for players familiar to golf fans were purchased for $150 or less and some didn’t sell at all. The auction sort of flew under the radar, with only CNBC’s blog giving it much attention.

Here are the U.S. Open scoreboard auction results.