A STATEMENT ON OUR VALUES

Augusta chairman Payne has stern words for Woods


AUGUSTA, Ga.—In his annual news conference on Wednesday, Augusta National chairman Billy Payne took the unprecedented step of chastising the game's No. 1 player, Tiger Woods, for the recent revelations about his personal life.

At the end of a prepared statement before he fielded questions from reporters, Payne made clear his displeasure about Woods' admission of serial infidelity that led to a 45-day stint in rehab and has tarnished his previously squeaky-clean image.

"It is not simply the degree of his conduct that is so egregious here; it is the fact that he disappointed all of us, and more importantly, our kids and our grand kids," Payne said. "Our hero did not live up to the expectations of the role model we saw for our children."

Woods, a four-time Masters champion, will play this week at Augusta National for the first time since the scandal broke on Thanksgiving night when he crashed his SUV outside his Orlando home. Within days, news reports of multiple affairs surfaced amid a steady stream of salacious details.

Woods apologized for what he called "transgressions" on his web site on Dec. 2, then went into seclusion and eventually rehab. His first public comments about the scandal came in February when he read a 15-minute prepared statement in the clubhouse at TPC Sawgrass.

At that point, Woods said he would be taking an indefinite break from the game. But he announced three weeks ago that he would return to competition at the Masters and Woods has come to Augusta National several times in the interim to prepare.

His opening tee shot at 1:42 p.m. on Thursday will mark Woods' first in competition in five months. He will play with K.J.Choi and Matt Kuchar in the first two rounds.

"We are not unaware of the significance of this week to a very special player, Tiger Woods—a man who in a brief 13 years clearly and emphatically proclaimed and proved his game to be worthy of the likes of Bobby Jones, Jack Nicklaus and Arnold Palmer," Payne said.

"As he ascended in our rankings of the world's great golfers, he became an example to our kids that success is directly attributable to hard work and effort. But as he now says himself, he forgot in the process to remember that with fame and fortune comes responsibility, not invisibility."

Payne's surprisingly candid comments on Wednesday were carefully worded and delivered in a forum normally reserved for discussion of changes to the Augusta National and the club's charitable endeavors.

Payne declined to expand on other questions about Woods, saying only that security issues have been addressed and that the world No. 1 did attend Tuesday's Champions Dinner. He also noted that he's not worried about the season's first major being overshadowed by a single player.

"We are very secure in who we are, and the Masters has almost now a 74-year history," Payne said. "We just kind of do things our way. We are not threatened by other big news stories or things like that."

Payne politely refused to say whether Woods made a statement or apologized to the other Masters champions at Tuesday's festivities. Asked how the world No. 1 was received, the chairman again demurred, noting the mood is "always great" at the dinner, "always, always."

"He was at the Champions Dinner and yes, I had a conversation with him," Payne said. "But I don't want to go into detail about what it was."
Payne said he is hopeful Woods and his fans can move forward. His behavior off the course, though, may now be more career-defining than the miraculous shots Woods always seems to hit or the tournaments he will end up winning.
"Certainly his future will never again be measured only by his performance against par; but measured by the sincerity of his efforts to change," Payne said. "I hope he now realizes that every kid he passes on the course wants his swing, but would settle for his smile.

"I hope he can come to understand that life's greatest rewards are reserved for those who bring joy to the lives of other people. We at Augusta hope and pray that our great champion will begin his new life here tomorrow in a positive, hopeful and constructive manner, but this time, with a significant difference from the past.

"This year, it will not be just for him, but for all of us, who believe in second chances."


By PGATOUR.COM Staff
04/08/2010