In a press conference that has had everyone waiting with anticipation the big winners today were the Golf media and Tiger’s fellow golfers. From Ponte Vedra, Fla Tiger spoke to the world at large about his misgivings and shortcomings. Or did he? You see Mr. Woods has decided that in Tiger’s world he makes the rules. Although in his speech he said that he should not have a different set of rules. Are you confused because I surely am?

After Tiger made demands on the media, at one point they would not even be allowed into the press conference, but would have to watch it on closed circuit TV, the media chose to boycott the press conference. You see Tiger would not even allow questions and he chose his closest sycophant reporters that would be allowed there.

“I cannot stress how strongly our board (the Golf Writers Association of America) felt that this should be open to all media and also for the opportunity to question Woods,” said Vartan Kupelian, president of the 950-member group. “The position, simply put, is all or none. This is a major story of international scope. To limit the ability of journalists to attend, listen, see and question Woods goes against the grain of everything we believe.”

Bravo Mr. Kupelian!

It seems that Tiger might be taking a chapter out of our current administration’s book on how to win over the media. I am referring to when the White House chose to limit Fox New’s coverage. For years the Golf writers have run scared of Tiger, which is very much the opposite in the tennis world. You see in tennis we don’t have to worry what we say about the players since they rarely bother with one on one interviews once they reach a high enough ranking. Unless of course it is TV or they have something that will benefit them then they are all over it. Oh how I love this game.

Then of course throwing down the gauntlet at the media saying they were invasive and inaccurate will only charge them up a bit more (like they even need charging up). This will be a new world for Tiger. Today he looked like a stalked and weary cat. Possibly another mistake was scheduling his speech (you see you really can’t call this a press conference if the press boycotts and you just read a statement).

A once quiet group had plenty of players willing to challenge Tiger on his choice of venue and timing. And the players are not going to forget this too soon.

Speaking from the tournament in Arizona, Rory McIlroy had enough of the whole thing, “I suppose he might want to get something back against the sponsor (Accenture) that dropped him.”

A once fearful group of players that have chased one of the greatest golfers to ever grace the game have gained a little edge on the icon. Tiger will forever have to now wonder what people are thinking and are the whispers about him. A game that takes so much concentration and focus will test Tiger’s every ability to keep his mind on the game and not what the millions of envious and nosy fans are thinking and saying.

For the record, I believe Tiger is good for the game. He is an incredible athlete and competitor. Now more than ever people realize he is human and makes the same mistakes as a regular Joe. And should Tiger overcome this time in his life and get back out there and once again terrorize the PGA field there will be no doubt that he is the greatest golfer the world has ever seen.