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Barack Obama backs Tiger Woods on his competitive return to golf

Posted on March 18, 2010 by godadnet

• American president believes he is a ‘terrific golfer’
• Woods also supported by his fellow professionals

Barack Obama believes Tiger Woods will still be a “terrific golfer” when he returns to competition. Woods has not played in a tournament since November last year after disappearing from public view following tabloid revelations about his marital infidelities.

“I think that Tiger has acknowledged that he betrayed his family; that is a personal issue that he has got to work out,” said the American president in an interview with Fox News. “I hope they’ve worked it out and I am sure he is still going to be a terrific golfer.”

At the PGA Tour event in Tampa, Kenny Perry, who lost in a play-off at last year’s Masters, agreed that Woods would still be a great player and urged the public to forgive him.

“We have all made mistakes. It’s like any sickness, like alcohol, drugs, you name it; there’s so many things out there that people get hung up into and it grabs you and [you] just can’t get away from it for whatever reason,” said Perry. “I hope we are that country that will forgive, and give him a second shot. Everybody deserves a second chance.”

Woods was also backed by Refief Goosen, who believes golf fans will get behind the world No1 rather than heckle him on his return. “I don’t think he’s going to be the bad guy. He’s going to be 99.9% the good guy,” said Goosen, who was today set to begin the defence of the Transitions Championship at Palm Harbor in Florida. “There’s going to be that 1% that’s going to make comments and that probably is going to make him feel a little bit like the rest of us.

“I think the most interesting thing is to see what’s going to happen when he actually gets out and [to] see what the crowd is going to react like towards the situation.”

As for the reactions of fellow players to the Woods, Goosen added: “I think the guys will look at him the same way as ever. What happened was something that happened off the golf course, not on the golf course. If it was a cheating situation on the golf course or something like that, the players would look at you different.

“But it’s a personal thing and it had no effect really on the golf besides TV ratings. If he’s mentally right and ready to play, then it shouldn’t be too much of a problem. It’s great for sponsors and TV ratings, so I’m glad to see that it looks like his personal life is back on track and he’s ready to come out.”

  • Tiger Woods
  • Barack Obama
  • Golf

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