It appears Tiger Woods either believes he has few friends, or doesn't want them. People that are purportedly Woods' friends, including Charles Barkley and Mark O'Meara, who has been Woods closest friend on the PGA Tour since Woods turned pro, say they haven't heard from him since he took an indefinite leave of absence from the game in December. I assume caddie Steve Williams is one of the few people who have heard from Woods, but we really don't know that either. O'Meara was interviewed last week and spoke about Woods. The transcript follows:
Q:Do you have any insights to the reports yesterday that Tiger Woods may be coming back in the Tavistock Cup? Have you spoken to him?
O’MEARA: To be honest, I haven’t spoken to Tiger. The last time I physically saw Tiger or had a physical conversation with him was at the British Open at Turnberry. We played a practice round together. I haven’t been very public with this whole issue on what’s happened. I can’t completely talk about something that I don’t know, really, a lot about what’s going on. I felt I had to let things play out.
I care very deeply about Tiger. I think everyone knows how very, very close our relationship has been. I care about Elin and their children and their family. I think Tiger, this is my personal opinion, he’s brought a lot to the table – we all know that – in the game of golf. This is a difficult issue he’s dealing with, obviously, and with Elin and the kids. I know he wants it to be private, but it’s difficult to be private when he’s a public figure. That’s part of what’s happened in our lives. Media is such a big influence. That helps make Tiger a lot of what he is. Until I actually speak to Tiger, it’s difficult to say or speak to where he’s at.
I wish him the best. I realize what happened is not a good scenario. That’s disappointing, what’s happened, and as his friend, I would tell him that personally. But that doesn’t take away from the fact that I wouldn’t try to help my friend any way I could. Until I get asked, it’s difficult to give advice. I’ve tried to contact him a few times, let him know I’ve been thinking about him and his family. My phone is always on.
Q:Are you surprised at all that he’s not come out and made a statement and do you think that would help his image for the long haul?
O’MEARA: I guess he has all these advisors. I’m not his advisor. I would have handled it differently, myself, personally, but that’s who I am. Whether he’s handled it right or wrong, only time can decide that. Tiger is being Tiger. You guys have spent a lot of time with him and seen how he is. I don’t know how else to answer that. A lot of times why I don’t say anything is it wouldn’t do me any good to make a comment. I certainly don’t want to offend my friend, but if he asked me my personal opinion about something, I’m going to give it to him. That would obviously be between he and I, but I would have handled it differently. But he’s a different guy than Mark O’Meara.
