Getting Out of the Trap

QUEBEC — Of course, for professional and financial reasons, Tiger Woods meticulously prepared his media outing. Nonetheless, it was a true lesson in humility that he gave to the management of the U.S. PGA Tour in Florida — a move that will allow him to return quickly to the green.

It was not the imperturbable and confident worldwide number 1 of golf that found himself yesterday before the cameras and before a handful of selected guests. It was the star of professional golf, fallen from his pedestal, coming to admit before thousands of spectators and internet users that he was only a man and that nothing, neither talent nor money, could allow him to believe and act as though he were above everything and everyone. This is a message to hold on to.

The great Tiger has taken on a more human aspect since the discovery of his marital indiscretions. Seeing him, at the end of his statement, being affectionately comforted by his mother, the image of a “repentant good little boy” came automatically to mind.

A Mother Forgives Everything. But others?

Tiger Woods has nothing exceptional or criminal for which to blame himself. He did not kill, steal, rape or defraud. In the hypocritical and pseudo-prudish American society, he did, however, cheat on his wife and increase the number of sexual affairs. He did not conform to the labels of perfection or of a good husband, with which he had been associated.

In order to regain the trust of family, friends, fans and backers, the golfer had to make a gesture of contrition that had nothing to do with his professional performances. He did it, however, with such generosity that it would be unfair to conclude that it was nothing more than an imposed device before once again shining on the golf course.

It takes a lot of humility and courage to admit one’s limits. Much more, doubtless, when one is at the top and has believed oneself infallible. Confessing to having behaved irresponsibly and egotistically, admitting that oneself alone is to blame for his misfortune, to say that one has had to resort to therapy, and to apologize before thousands of people who only several months earlier had venerated you, cannot be described as a simple public relations maneuver. With no minimum for sincerity, it must be impossible to confide thus before the whole world.

Yesterday, thousands of people listened to Tiger Woods’ statement. In Quebec, his outing surely elicited more interest than the canonization of the good Brother Andre. Throughout the entire weekend, people from the four corners of the globe will delight themselves with assessments of the golfer’s performance and suppositions on his return to the game. If Tiger Woods still attracts so much attention, backers will not abandon him. An excellent golfer who is capable of admitting his faults — that sells well.