Will Woods find a way back?

Any significant time away from tournament golf,though,could affect the pursuit that,to this point,had defined Woods’s career: Jack Nicklaus’s record 18 Major championships. Any further damage to his reputation,already extensive,could affect his ability to generate more endorsements.

Thus,there are the three levels of fallout: Woods the person,Woods the player and Woods the corporation. The list of people affected by the length of his absence and the sordid details of the revelations includes television executives,advertisers,tournament organisers,fellow PGA players,not to mention those interested in or involved in the history of golf.

“What’s really problematic about it is that,coming out of a recession,golf is trying to rebound like so many other sports,” said David Carter,the executive director of the University of Southern California’s Sports Business Institute. “They’re trying to retain or attract new business partners… and your longest marketing coattails are now no longer to be found,and you’re not sure when they might return. That limbo is really difficult. Everybody is left to wonder what the impact is going to be on themselves.”

The impact on Woods the golfer might not be significant if he returns before the Masters in April,a scenario that would allow him to play in all four major championships. Last year,when he was coming off an eight-month layoff because of knee and leg surgery,Woods played three times leading up to the Masters,requiring him only to miss January and February.

Still,2009 became the first season in which Woods failed to win a Major since 2004,when he was completing an overhaul of his swing that contributed to a run of 10 consecutive Majors without a win — the longest stretch of his pro career. He won six Majors from 2005-08,and his victory in the 2008 US Open brought his career total to 14. Just 32 at the time,catching and surpassing Nicklaus — despite the injuries that would cost him the second half of 2008 — seemed inevitable. Now,there is some doubt.

Caddie denies knowledge

Woods’s caddie Steve Williams,meanwhile,denied he had any knowledge of the golfer’s “indiscretions”. “I live in New Zealand. I am not with him 24/7. Whilst I am a very good friend of his… I don’t know what he does off the course. His indiscretions have probably been (when he wasn’t playing). When he is not competing,I am back in New Zealand. I have no knowledge of what he is doing,” Williams told the Sunday News.

Interview to be aired

Meanwhile New Zealand sports broadcaster Sky TV will screen on Tuesday an eight-minute interview with Tiger Woods recently in Australia,in which he talks about the importance in his life of his wife and family. In a 30-second trailer for the interview,which was filmed shortly before Woods became embroiled in rumours of multiple extramarital affairs,interviewer Murray Deaker asks Woods,“Family first and golf second. Always be like that?” Woods replies,“Always.”