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Tiger Woods' aura gone, probably for good

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By Tim Dahlberg

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I think Tiger Woods will be super focused and will likely do very well at the Masters. I just can't wait to hear the laughter after he tee's off for the first time and someone yells, "get in the hole"!

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The world loves heroes and puts so much pressure on them to be perfect. Then when these very normal human beings do something wrong, the world abandons them.

So what is the message here? It is that the world loves the image of the person and not the person. Celebrities are nothing more than characters on a stage for us. The pure one cannot do anything wrong. The bad one cannot do anything too good. Or we lose interest.

This is just another example of the vapid, shallow nature of modern society and media. It is vacuous and empty seeing only facade and failing to deal with reality.

Tiger is human. He screwed up like a lot of his critics have in their lives. But he is still a magical player of an all too boring sport. And for that he deserves respect. Let his family work out his home issues on their own. It is really none of our business. And if we dismiss him entirely for failing to be a porcelin god, then we are at fault for having screwed up expectations of other falible human beings.

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he is a golfer...I do not care what he did...just go and golf...win and all this BS will be forgotten....

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tkoind2 -- nice post, but what does it have to do with the article? The article makes no judgements of Tiger. It simply asks whether Tiger can still maintain any aura of invincibility, which was one of his most powerful weapons, given all that has occurred? Tiger is openly talking about having spent 45 days in out-patient treatment, and still receiving treatment. This is the first time there has ever been any chink in Tiger's psychological armor. The question is, can he successfully divorce that from his mind set when he walks between the ropes? In any case, it will make great TV and they are predicting record ratings for the Masters. I, for one, having had personal issues not completely dissimilar from Tiger's in my past, wish him all the best. I just hope the more modest, less arrogant, Tiger we saw in the two interviews over the weekend, shows up on the golf course -- as Tow Watson has stated.

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herefornow. My comment does have a great deal to do with the article. Why would his "aura" be gone unless the public view of him had changed? His ability may be compromised by the distractions, but his public aura is a question of perception. And perception is most often a question of how the media chooses to portray someone. All this about apologies and such is very much about our seeing a hero with clay feet.

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Tiger Woods' aura gone, probably for good Don’t bother trying to pack your aura for the trip, though.

It’s long gone.

And Tim what are you going to write when he starts winning again and again and again??? I wouldn't be surprised if he misses the cut at this event......you don't have to an einstein to understand that. But in the same breath i wouldn't be surprised if he wins by 20 shots....after all he has played with enormous galleries in enormous pressure packed moments time and time again and has produced time and time again. You really think someone yelling out flame number 5 during the back swing will put him off??? I think the jerk who calls it out will be picked up and thrown out...tiger will stop and regroup before letting rip down the fairway and if by chance he does go into the trees.....he will recover like no other as his recovery stats prove. Looking forward to reading your artcile about aura when (not if) tiger breaks Jacks major record in a few years time not to mention the holy grail of all...the all time tournament record. The only thing that will hinder his efforts are media who after walking off the green with a birdie, par or bogey, will fire a stupid question about his personal life in lieu of his golfing game.

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I love Tiger and always will...don't give a rat's behind about his private life. period. Go Tiger!!

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The Woods we once knew...Huh? I think only his close relatives and friends know him.

A real pro is able to put all personal problems and emotions aside and concentrate fully on the game at hand. I don't think Tiger has lost any 'aura'. Nothing is going to change the fact that he is a great golfer.

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Tiger Woods' aura gone, probably for good

Bah! The AP giveth, the AP taketh away.

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Tiger's nameless faceless fans do not know Tiger never did. You should have never suggested otherwise Tim. Its the same with all those other famous people out there, you don't know them and they are not your friends if you have any at all. The only place where Tiger's aura is gone is in the minds of lonely yet self-important people, who Tiger mistakenly gave creedence to with his public apology, as if they matter. They do not. They are nobodies.

I don't think Tiger will do that well either, but do you know why oddsmakers made him the favorite and competitors agree? To lend Tiger some support, that's why. The majority of men are of two kinds: Those who have cheated and those who want to. You say Tiger pretended to be something he wasn't? Well Tiger Woods is like most men in that respect. Men who jeer Tiger are mostly a bunch of hypocritical Senator Craigs! Those who support him are genuine and know that the image they project are just for the sake of the weak who cover their weakness with words like "morality" and "fidelity".

I wish Tiger the best, and I hope he ditches this apologetic tone and learns how to extend his middle fingers instead. To heck with the small-minded and petty, and mostly American fans, stuck on his sex life. They are just jealous but most don't even realize it.

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Having just digested the above article,I think Tim Dahlberg has a problem not TW.We all make mistakes in life,done is done,past is gone.Today ,and the future is all that matters.TW faced his, and his family and friends are still there.The media ,well,they had a field day,crucifying TW,but now TW is coming back,I hope he remembers those media who tore him apart. Me,I am just a great fan of TW,and I'll be watching as he carrys on being the greatest golfer.

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tkoind2 -- Are you keeping up with things, or just making the same points you make weeks ago? In case you missed it, Tiger gave two interviews on Sunday, and HE took away his own aura -- by saying that he: lived a lie; did some "disgusting" things"; was going to have to have continued treatment; and, was nervous about playing golf again. That's him talking, not the media's perception of him.

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The writer doth protest too much...

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No, it’s because the Woods saga is a story that has morphed into a lot more than just the tale of a man who pretended to be something he wasn’t. Once one of the most esteemed athletes in the world, he’s now a soap opera-like figure whose last scripted apology clearly showed he has a lot more left to accomplish in his 12-step rehabilitation program.

Since when have celebrities have the same moral in private and public life?

The media are the one at fault for putting Tiger on a pedestal in the first place. Also, it was due to the media that made a circus out of Tiger Woods and capitalize on Tiger for ratings and increase revenue. The media is one to talk. The media should be ashamed of themselves for the way they are...making money at the expense of someone downfall. There is no glory and it is a lose lose situation. The media owed Mrs. Tiger Woods an apology for their behavior. The media is no different then Tiger. If all the reporters have never cheated on their spouses/partners whether by looking/action then they have the right to dissed Tiger.

I don't like golf period. I will give Tiger credit for bringing golf to my attention about the game. I believe that Tiger have made a difference where golf is concern.

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I don't like golf period. I will give Tiger credit for bringing golf to my attention about the game. I believe that Tiger have made a difference where golf is concern.

Exactly!...and from the bottom of my heart: Hail, Mr.Tiger Woods.

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He never made the mistake once - he cheated hundreds of times. The fool has a wife and kids, and makes most of his sponsorship from being seen as a family man. He is a lowlife, as has been revealed by his many mistrusses.

The media are right to continue to smear Tiger. You have got to take the bad with the good.

I really hope h gets a hostile reception at Augusta and his game suffers. He deserves it and more.

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@KyokoSmile,

Besides Tiger Woods, I would say Dan Doh! (Japanese golf anime) was great in showing me the basics of golf. I appreciate golf but not to the extent where I want to chase after a ball. The sport is too expensive for my taste.

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SOgaijin said,

He never made the mistake once - he cheated hundreds of times. The fool has a wife and kids, and makes most of his sponsorship from being seen as a family man. He is a lowlife, as has been revealed by his many mistrusses. The media are right to continue to smear Tiger. You have got to take the bad with the good. I really hope h gets a hostile reception at Augusta and his game suffers. He deserves it and more.

So what and who cares. It is none our business. The only person it should matter to is his wife. Those mistresses knew he was married so what kind of persons are they? Who lack morals?

His image maybe that of a family man but it is an image not the real thing. Advertisements are base on false reality. Ads are to sell you an image that says the company is a family man and you are in good hands. Are people so gullible these day to believe everything they see and read?

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Well he wont mind if his image gets smashed up then will he? He deserves it.

Who ever blames the single party in an affair?! LOL! The person who is single has not taken any vows to his wife/husband.

Tiger fully deserves this wave of bad publicity. Purely his own fault and he will never fully recover from it IMO.

I really hope his wife divorces him and takes half his fortune and finds someone more deserving. His kids deserve a better role model than their current father.

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I don't expect Tiger to win the Masters this time. His main objective is just to make the cut and after that play a respectable game with his usual flashes of brilliance interspersed between several holes. My expectation is to see how well the other players will be playing with Tiger's return at a level that will hopefully suprise us or will it be the same old, same old? The PGA is due for a re-make producing new stars to jump-start the sport into a new era and imagery. Nevertheless, Tiger's return will be a welcomed sight for the serious fans and amateur golfers for sure.

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Americans ae so totally sex obsessed. Especially about other peoples's sex. What's the point of that?

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Americans are so totally sex obsessed. Especially about other peoples's sex. What's the point of that?

Um, "envy" perhaps?

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Americans are so totally sex obsessed. Especially about other peoples's sex. What's the point of that?

Ask Tiger's Swedish missus.

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tiger is freaking golden .. secretly all the guys are snickering . secretly the women still want him . why he married is a mystery to me . why bother . he still can have anything he wants . he should ! that is why his wife is still with him . he is filthy rich . "golden tiger " a little tarnished . not much though !!

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If we all knew who he was in the first place as the writer claims, then none of this would be news.

We don`t know him, never did. Yep, he screwed up his personal life pretty spectacularly and pretty publically. But he never claimed (as far as I am aware) to be a perfect human being. Only a fabulous golfer. The media made him into everything else.

I think his golf and his personal issues should be kept separate. Let him get out there and play, and see how he does. The turmoil in his personal life is a separate issue.

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Reading this article makes me wonder if Tim Dahlberg's wife/girlfriend was one of Tiger's conquests.

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I find infidelity to be nauseating period. The problem is between Tiger and his wife. The media should take his wife and family into account because whenever they report about Tiger infidelity that only hurt his family more and not him so much so have common sense.

The media keeps on reporting garbage because the majority of people like to read garbage because it is not about them. It is easier to make fun of someone short comings until it happens to them.

Back to golf. I think in a way Tiger makes golf interesting because of Tiger success as a golfer. I don't have much of a feel about other golfers that brings excitement to the game like him. In the history of golf there are only a few golfers well known outside the golf world.

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I feel that there are two Tigers: Tiger Woods the golfer and Tiger Woods the person. Tiger Woods the golfer still has an air of invincibility on the golf course and will continue to be a good golfer. Tiger Woods the person has no such thing and has lost a lot of respect because he was weak. It's easier to sleep with the sure things in life than to remain faithful to the one you love (or maybe he doesn't really love his wife of 5 years?). Sure, there are so many famous and rich men who have strayed, but there are also many who have not. So, being rich and famous doesn't excuse people from cheating.

I think his golf and his personal issues should be kept separate

I totally agree. In golf magazines and on the fairway, we should only talk about Tiger Woods the golfer. Outside of golf, we should talk about Tiger Woods the person. The two should be separate. In any case, I'm sure he now can't condemn his children if they ever grow up to be adulterers and sex maniacs.

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I hope Tiger Woods wins the Masters and many more tournaments. He is still without doubt the preeminent golfer in the world. Empty people love to kick others when they are down. Tiger repented of his sins and his wife forgave him so it is no one's business! GO TIGER!

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SOgaijin says Tiger deserved all the airing of his dirty laundry and personal life. I wonder if this applies to anyone who ever cheated? People that down on extramarital affairs ought to have their own country to exercise their self-righeous, high and mightly attitudes about the simple act of sex...oh, wait, they do! Its called the U.S.A! It might explain why I left that place!

Odogma, there is no telling why exactly his Swedish wife is upset. It might have been the infidelity, it might have been the lying, or it might have been the unwanted media attention into their private lives. Needless to say though, not all people are the same, but Americans are, in general, known to be quite over the top, unrealistic, and extra puritanical about sex and marriage, not the Swedes.

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His aura has gone,not with the fans but with his fellow professionals,who will, whenever they get the chance, exploit these circumstances to their advantage..should prove more interesting to the casual spectator.I fully expect him to put up his worst masters performance to date.

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If he wins The Masters,his aura will be back.Plain and simple.

His mojo, on the other hand...

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It'll be embarrassing for him to comeback, noone gonna take him seriously anymore. The thing that stuck in my mind was that he lied to many many people. It'd be a miracle for his clean image to be repaired.

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just the tale of a man who pretended to be something he wasn’t.

No, a man whose whole persona was manufactured by the press and then a whole lot of people bought into it. Naive at best...Americans put sports stars on pedestals and then get angry when they fall off.

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As an American, I find it refreshing (and unusual) to see a fellow American own up to his mistakes and make an effort to change his behavior. I respect a man who will do this. I have no respect for liars who those who point the finger at others all the while they are doing the same thing.

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Tiger is the PGA plain and simple. Without Tiger golf would never have gotten as popular as it is. I don't care who he slept with or what a dog he is off the green. Doesn't matter, he's a phenomenol golfer and that's why people watch.

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If JT were a newspaper and they ran this story, but cancelled Calvin and Hobbes, I would cancel my subscription.

I am sure you are all nice people, but really... not only are sports of exceedingly marginal interest what with all the commercialism and performance enhancers, but this is not even about SPORTS! It is not about a child's game, it is about someone who plays a child's game SOMETIMES and then does something entirely unrelated other times. And everyone is interested in THAT OTHER STUFF! Sheesh. How low can you go? Please tell me you all have something more important to do or think about.

It is hard to imagine something more trivial to talk about. The color of Hatoyama's socks maybe? Miyazawa Rie's new car?

Well sorry to interrupt, but ... wow.

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What a weird article.

I agree w/someone whosaid it sounded like maybe Dahlberg's girlfriend was one of Tiger's mistresses.

Does it really matter to anyone if Tiger is monogamous? Aren't a lot/ most men who are really good at sports (or other things) attractive to women and have many lovers? Does that really surprise anybody? Is it a bad thing?

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okay so he had what a dozen mistresses while winning golf tournaments, and now he'll bear his full concentration to golf, at least as far as the next tournament. I hope he blows away the course record. Golfers will rue is new found determination if they didn't already

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It's laughable how many people feel that Tiger isn't going to be taken seriously anymore. Just like it's laughable how many people are betting he tanks at the Masters because he "hasn't hit a ball seriously since November".

Tiger's been hitting golfballs throughout his hiatus. He hasn't lost his swing. I always took Tiger seriously as a golfer, not a posterboy for "Faithful Living". Promiscuity was never considered when he roamed the golf courses, so all the respect he had then as a golfer is still deserved.

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Well, Woods has proven himself to be one thing. Human. With natural foibles (not many people are perfect!) Looks like the writer of this article was, either a huge fan of Woods, or someone who had been burned due to some kind of infidelity.

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It will come back once he starts winning.

I would go and win those tournaments. If sponsors want to support the second best, by all means, then can go ahead :-)

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If only Elin had known his stance on turkey perhaps things wouldn't have gotten so out of hand on Thanksgiving.

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It'll be interesting to see how many of the "fans" will be there supporting him and how many will be heckling. Anyway, his return is way too fast.

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Was watching CNN and of course, most men are behind Tiger 100% and are rooting for his return. On the other hand, most women and many women groups totally despise his actions and feel that he shows a lack of respect for women everywhere. I guess those women are not concentrating on golf, but only his actions.

Then again, Americans are so obsessed with morality that they would even threaten to impeach their own president if he ever got caught cheating. Conservative America is what is pushing this "aura" that they feel a "hero" like Tiger Woods needs. Blame it on Conservative America!

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I don't know...I think Tiger was a pretty willing participant in this "marketing his image" game. Anyway, time for his return...let's get to golfing!

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I love Tiger and always will...don't give a rat's behind about his private life. period. Go Tiger!!

Kyokosmile: That's the attitude! Good for you. Wives and people should be forgiving of cheating husbands. Husbands and people are human after all. A mistake is a mistake.

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It'll be interesting to see how many of the "fans" will be there supporting him and how many will be heckling.

They'll be hecking sarcastic remarks such as, "Go get'em tiger!", "Hole in one baby!", "Tiger's gonna nail it"

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Interesting that so many women despise Tiger for what he did. Many more women were involved in this little "infidelity play" than were men. So do they despise him for what he did, or that he didn't choose THEM as one of his many partners? Inquiring minds want to know!

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Its not just women who despise him for what he did, the idea that all men are secretly admiring him is cobblers..there are faithful men who understand the value of commitment and know that infidelity cannot be kept secret from those who matter..look in the mirror have you forgotten you were unfaithful,when your partner tells you she loves you and you mumble back halfheartedly that you love her too,its the memory of that unfaithful act that dulls the sincerity and will dull it forever. The bubble of trust..once burst never re-inflates.As monsieur Woods will in time discover.

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Aura? He had an aura? Hmm, I guess I slept through the last ten years of golf

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there are faithful men who understand the value of commitment and know that infidelity cannot be kept secret from those who matter

So true, Bento. I wonder why is it that people like Tiger Woods, who are unfaithful to their wives, whom they've sworn an oath under God to remain truthful to, get more attention than the many men who are faithful. Is it because people in general are drawn to scandal? I mean famous men like a Tom Cruise, or Will Smith, or Hugh Jackman are decent enough to remain faithful to their wives, or at least divorce their previous one before getting deeply involved in another relationship. To put Tiger Woods on a pedestal and say that he is equal to that of any law-abiding, kind, and decent man who is true and faithful to their wives is wrong IMO. I would've thought more highly of him had he come out and told his wife the truth a lot earlier (after all, he had been cheating for over two years).

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flavorflav: I mean famous men like a Tom Cruise, or Will Smith, or Hugh Jackman are decent enough to remain faithful to their wives, or at least divorce their previous one before getting deeply involved in another relationship.

There are so many things wrong with this statement. Two years ago you would have included Tiger Woods in it! You do not know who is faithful. You only know who is not getting caught. And if Tom is faithful, it might explain why he is so nutty frankly. And none of these "faithful" guys were beating Tiger on the golf course. That ought to tell you something.

And another thing, not all wives want to be dumped so that their husbands can move on. Consider that. Some women just don't want to know, and others didn't want to know but now want their husbands back. In such cases, divorce is most certainly not the decent thing to do and it is foolish to assume that all women, or all men for that matter, are of one mind on this subject. Please recognize the idea that women actually have their own individual thoughts on these issues!

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flavorflav: I wonder why is it that people like Tiger Woods, who are unfaithful to their wives, whom they've sworn an oath under God to remain truthful to, get more attention than the many men who are faithful.

Tiger got a lot of attention and part of it was because of his "family guy" image. See how that turned out? That is your answer.

As far as this oath under God thing, what part of it said anything about not having sex with others? What part of it said to spill those beans? You might recall that this same God, in the Old Testament at least, encouraged having multiple wives!

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As far as this oath under God thing, what part of it said anything about not having sex with others?

Exactly, HeyLars. Marriage is overrated and is why more and more people are choosing against it, like you have. Sex with multiple partners should be encouraged more. There is no benefit to getting married anyway.

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Tiger Woods' aura is not only back, it never went anywhere.

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haoushokuhaki said,

Exactly, HeyLars. Marriage is overrated and is why more and more people are choosing against it, like you have. Sex with multiple partners should be encouraged more. There is no benefit to getting married anyway.

There is nothing special when a person have multiple partners except for an ego trip and the chances of getting STDs. Marriage (not Japanese marriages) is sacred unlike engaging with multiple partners.

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skipbeat said: There is nothing special when a person have multiple partners except for an ego trip

Would you define "self-esteem" as an ego trip? And what makes you so sure? Personal experience? Frankly, I think you are guessing. I think there are many kinds of people in the world; some can get by with one, others will be driven nuts. Or is there some passage in the Bible about how we are all made from the same mold in this respect?

and the chances of getting STDs.

What STDs did Tiger get do you think? Will they affect his game? Or are you going to try and convince us that Tiger is just one of the lucky ones who miraculously beat slim odds? Okay, look, the odds do go up, but gloves are cheap. I fear the road more, and for good reason.

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HeyLars, good response. I'm one of those who are driven nuts!

As for Tiger, I personally think he felt he was forced to admit to something he truly enjoyed and had fun with. He did it in a poor manner, he should have told his wife his feelings and maybe - just maybe she would have understood. Some women actually do and have fun with it themselves.

I do not believe he will do as good as he had in golfing, he may get some of it back, but in the end his spirit has been crushed. Let's see just how well he can revive it now.

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