I've always been on the fence as far as being a fan of his. Sometimes I felt like I wanted him to win and sometimes I didn't.
But for now, at least, I've come down firmly on the side of wanting somebody - anybody - else to win.
I will be the first to admit he will likely be considered the greatest golfer of all time at some point in his career. Many people already have bestowed that honor upon him.
He makes shots no other golfer can make. He makes clutch, pressure-packed putts to win on the 72nd hole like no other golfer.
Part of my angst is fueled by the way he gets covered by the media. It's all kid gloves and reporters bend over backwards to toss him softball questions.
It's like nobody wants to upset him in any way.
I also don't like the way everything in golf is reported in relation to Tiger.
If he's winning, he's the lead of the story.
If he's in second, he's the lead of the story.
If he's in 18th, he's the lead of the story.
If he misses a cut he's the lead of the story - on Saturday and Sunday.
"We're playing the final round of the tournament today without Tiger Woods, who missed the cut on Friday," would be the big news.
I understand that lots more people watch golf because of Tiger. I understand he drives up the ratings. I understand ratings are what determines how much networks can charge for advertising. I understand why they make Tiger the top story and spend more time talking about him than any other golfer - no mater what happens on the course.
I understand it. I just don't like it.
If I was a PGA tour golfer, I'd probably be pretty tired of hearing about Tiger. Then again, Tiger has helped PGA purses grow, so maybe I'd be grateful for all the coverage he gets.
And I will concede it might be moderately unfair to blame him for how he's covered by the media. But I can blame him for how he treats the legions of people who come out to watch him play golf.
My son, Evan, and I traveled to Medinah Golf Club near Chicago to watch the Saturday round of the 2006 PGA Championship.
We were hanging out at the practice range.
To a man, when all the PGA pros made their way between the ropes to the range, they all acknowledged the fans - except one.
Even top guys like Phil Mickelson, would give you a smile, a "thank you," a tip of the cap, even an occasional fist bump.
Not Tiger.
When he and his caddy made their way around Medinah they both stared straight ahead, never acknowledging the assembled masses.
The only time I saw Tiger look at the crowd was when he glared in the direction of the sound of a camera shutter.
After following him around for a few holes, I swear I wished I had one of those portable air horns to blow in his backswing.
Now, of course, I don't know Tiger. He might be the nicest guy you'd ever want to meet. But as far as his on-course demeanor, he just came across as arrogant.
But now that he's gone through his troubles, he said he's going to be better. He's going to get back to Buddhism.
Really?
Because that commercial he did for Nike where he used sound bites from his deceased father surely didn't exude a lot of good Karma.
It was one the most tacky, self-serving PR moves I've ever seen.
Buddhism teaches - among myriad other things - that every time a person acts there is a deep-rooted intent. It's the intent that matters, not the outward appearance of the action.
So you can seem to be all nice and contrite, but what's the intent?
Hmmmm. Let's analyze.
We see a photo of a somber Tiger with his father's voice in the background asking things like, "Did you learn anything?"
The appearance is that Tiger is remorseful and has learned from his errant ways. But the intent?
Buy Nikes. Repair my image. Get my other sponsors back.
The Buddha said wholesome actions result in happiness and unwholesome actions result in unhappiness. The Buddha said virtuous actions could never produce unfavorable results and unvirtuous actions could never produce favorable results.
Sorry, Tiger. The Buddha would not be pleased with your ad.
Bad Karma.
The Buddha said, "However many holy words you read, however many you speak, what good will they do you if you do not act upon them?"
From what I've seen at the Masters so far, he's the same old Tiger on the course. The tossing of a club. The temper flare. The aloofness. The dismissiveness.
He reins it in during the press conferences, but remember, those are "appearances."But it's early in his recovery and reconnection to his Buddhist roots and I will afford him the benefit of the doubt.
The Buddha said: "The mind is everything. What you think, you become."
I will wait and see.
If he does turn it around and change his attitude, I might be able to become a fan.
