The World According to Renshi

Tiger Woods is one of my favorite athletes of all time. During his prime, there was no one who dominated a golf tournament the way he did. He won 1 in 5 tournaments he entered! He played against the entire field and won more tournaments than anyone in the history of golf (including Snead who he is supposedly tied with). Tiger was so dominant he intimidated the best golfers in the world. He was really the first golfer to train to be an athlete. And, he drew 10s of thousands of new golfers to the sport.

And… Tiger Woods is a very flawed human being. He has become a billionaire, a golf buddy of presidents, a name known throughout the world and an addict. His forceful golf swing and his superhuman workouts have pushed his body beyond its ability to perform and heal. And he is in pain all the time.

No one knows what its like to be Tiger Woods. No one understands the pressure and pain that is persistent in his life. He is thrust into a role that, in my opinion, he is not emotionally ready to handle. As a result, Tiger medicates and then over-medicates himself. And – he needs help – and he needs to be held accountable for his actions.

My prayer for Tiger is that he takes the time and treatment necessary to get his addiction under control. That he is held accountable for his actions. That , if he wants to continue to golf, he joins the senior tour and uses a cart, and that he can live in peace with himself and with his family without the need for drugs.