A car crash nearly one year ago sent the world into confusion and disbelief. ‘Is Tiger Woods unfaithful?’ asked the millions around the world just hours after the incident. The nation soon got the much-anticipated answer. The answer led to other questions, like ‘How could he do such a thing?’ and ‘Why would he cheat on such a beautiful wife?’ Answers to these questions remain unknown, but one thing remains certain.
Tiger Woods cheated on his wife with 14 other women since 2007. He is the richest athlete in the world, worth more than $600 million. His biggest benefactor: Nike. The multi-billion dollar company has paid Woods approximately $250 million since 1996, according to Forbes.
“They shouldn’t make that much more just for being athletes,” junior Erika Avanic said “A lot of people work much harder than they do, yet make much less money.”
Such earnings pose one question: just how much money did Elin receive in the divorce settlement? According to numerous reports, she gained $100 million and physical custody of their two children, Sam and Charlie. She will live with them but will hold joint legal custody with Woods; he can visit them for up to half the week and has a say in any decisions that will affect their children’s future.
With his family matters now settled (by legal terms), Woods looks to center his focus on the game he loves. However, Woods did take five months off following the incident and he had an eight-month layover following arthroscopic knee surgery, from which he returned in February 2009. When this year finally comes to a close, he will have played just 17 months of golf since his triumphant US Open Victory in June 2008. That is barely half the playing time he could have had barring injuries and family matters. It is no wonder that Woods has not won an event all year.
However, Woods is improving. He has begun hitting his drives straighter, his chips closer, and his putts crisper. Senior Max Gailey finds himself quite impressed with Tiger as he continues to stride in the right direction.
“His putting is getting better as he focuses more on golf and his family matters begin to fade from the national spotlight,” Gailey said.
Woods proves vital to golf’s popularity, as ratings increased by 150 percent from 2008 to 2009 at the PGA Championship. Junior Brandon Kacer is just one of many Panthers who admire his presence.
“The swagger he carries with him on the golf course makes him so enjoyable to watch,” Kacer said. “The shots he can make are out of this world.”
Will Woods ever return to stardom? Regardless, many will always remember Tiger Woods as the idol, the adulterer, and now… just simply, the golfer.
