PGA Commissioner Issues Statement on Tiger Woods' Departure from Golf
On the heels of Tiger Woods decision to take an "indefinite" break from professional golf, PGA Tour commissioner Tim Finchem issued a statement supporting Woods. It marks the first public statement that the tour has made since Woods made mention of his "personal failings" and "transgressions" in a December 2 statement.
Finchem said:
"His priorities are where they need to be, and we will continue to respect and honor his family's request for privacy. We look forward to Tiger's return to the PGA Tour when he determines the time is right for him."
Woods' agent, Mark Steinberg, also made comment on Tiger's decision, saying:
"The entirety of someone's life is more important than just a professional career. What matters most is a young family that is trying to cope with difficult life issues in a secluded and caring way. Whenever Tiger may return to the game should be on the family's terms alone."
One of Woods' biggest endorsers, Nike, also weighed in on the situation:
"Tiger has been part of Nike for more than a decade," Nike said in a statement Friday. "He is the best golfer in the world and one of the greatest athletes of his era. We look forward to his return to golf. He and his family have Nike's full support."
While the PGA Tour says that they respect Woods' decision, they sure can't be happy about it. Television ratings are consistently down when Woods is not a part of a tournament stop, and when he was out of action from July 2008 until the end of February 2009, television ratings dropped 50 percent. The tour is attempting to renew a half-doze title sponsors and is set to begin negotiations on the next TV contract later in 2010. Without Tiger, they will be struggling for sponsorships.
Comments
There is always a problem with someone that is adored by every female on the planet to be close to Tiger because of his influence and money. People like Tiger think that he can do whatever he wants and get away with it probably because of his ability to travel the world without his wife and family. The problem is that Tiger probably never thought that he would get caught. There will be a divorce in the near future because once a cheater, always a cheater and , of course, the inability of his family to forgive him for this.
No man is bigger than the game of golf. I wish the PGA Tour and all sports would stand up to trash. Tiger Woods is trash and the PGA Tour will lose me as a golf fan of 49 years. There are two kinds of golf fans. You have golf fans and Tigers fans. The PGA is only looking at the $$$$$$$$$$$. Since you agree with Tiger you are trash just the same. The PGA Tour has kissed Tiger's ass long enough!! Wake up america and have some morals!!!