Tiger Woods

Tiger Woods played as a single man for the first time in six years at the Barclays pro-am at Ridgewood Country Club, N.J. He announced the divorce of his marriage to Elin on his official website on Tuesday. He stopped for five minutes to sign autographs behind the 18th tee then stood on the interview podium behind the clubhouse.

Eighty reporters were waiting for him along with 14 television camera crews and more photographers than it was possible to count. The scrum was flanked by six security guards, presumably primed to step in should anyone attempt to sneak in at the back and throw out a curveball. They needn’t have worried. First question: how did you play today? It took six softballs before he got the Tammy Wynette question: D.I.V.O.R.C.E. People magazine had published a preview of an interview with Elin in which she said the end of her marriage to Tiger felt like a death and that she hopes to forgive him one day. “Do you still love her?” Woods was asked. He chose to make a statement instead. “I wish her the best in everything. It’s a sad time in out lives. And we’re looking forward to how we can help out kids the best way we possibly can. That’s the most important thing.”

Now that there is at least closure to his marriage, there is a belief that Woods may now be able to get his game back together. But Woods was cautious. “As far as my game and practicing, that’s been secondary. We’re trying to get our kids situated to our new living conditions and that’s where out focus is going to be right now.” Woods said there was no relief to be gained from the divorce. “I don’t think that’s the word,” he said. “It’s just more sadness. You don’t ever go into a marriage looking to get divorced. That’s why it is sad.” Woods indeed looked tired and sad.

Woods revealed that the process of divorce was more difficult to deal with than he let on, especially as he was being asked questions about it after every round. “You try to block it out as best you can,” he said. “But at times, it was hard to concentrate. Most of the summer was like that.” Regrets? “My actions certainly led us to this decision,” Woods admitted. “And I’ve certainly made a lot of errors in my life and that’s something I’m going to have to live with.” Fending off a question about his marriage at the US Open in June, Woods snapped: “That’s none of your business.” Now that this business has finally been resolved, Woods can look forward to never having to talk about it again and to get back to being just a golfer. “This is my job. This is what I do,” Woods said twice at Ridgewood Country Club.

The startling decline in Woods’ form meant he only just qualified for the FedExCup Playoffs. For the first time in his career, he tees off in the first group of the day at 7.30am, at the back of the Barclays field, in the company of Cameron Beckman and Troy Matteson. Woods needs to finish around the top 50 to advance to the next week’s playoff tournament in Boston, Mass. But there is also the small matter of showing US Ryder Cup captain Corey Pavin that he is worthy of receiving a wild card pick for the team that flies to Wales next month. That is if Woods is seeking to further redeem himself with the American public by playing for his country at Celtic Manor.