It’s hard to escape the all-things-Tiger media onslaught. Part of me reveals in the salacious muck of his private life. But, much more so, it’s the tragedy of a life and marriage unwinding.

There’s a personal thread in Mr. Wood’s downfall.  I’ve got 10 years sobriety under my wings. In the early days of my year zero, there were no CNN trucks parked outside, no contracts being ripped up, no world audience raptly watching and feeling compelled to comment.

Good thing. Bottoming out is a humiliating beast of a time that, at least for awhile, requires the grace of privacy. Compound these times with global scrutiny and discussions of the brand-effect of your misery, and it’s no wonder that Woods is laid low.

For now.

The days pass and, if the desire is there, a new life is built. It will be a much different life. Old pains may diminish, but new ones will appear. That’s the way life is. But, the pain won’t be blunted by the bottle or the bottle-blond. With more time can emerge a better, more honest and stronger person.

And here’s the kicker. In Woods’ case, it could produce a guy who is an even better golfer. Jeez.

That old saw about golf being a mind game is true. Just think, in the past decade, Woods has dominated his craft while living a double life. All that sneaking around has got to do a number on your mind, and the serial dishonesty has got to rip your soul. And he was still athlete of the decade.

Good Lord, imagine what could be possible when his soul is content.

Watching Tiger Woods win has been stunning. But let’s face it, he’s not been the most personable guy on the course. If he was in my foursome, I’d be stopping for lunch after nine, and waiting for him to play on.

Watching him win when you know of his mistakes, foibles, troubles, and climb back into the light of a better day,  we will think, the dude’s not so different from me … well done, way to go. I’ll buy what he’s selling.

It will be the mother-load of brand awareness.  Redemption is good. Redemption sells.

For now, it’s an indefinite leave. Indefinite is an open-ended intention to return. Except when it morphs into goodbye.

Never to return … don’t even want to think about it. One of my great life pleasures is watching people who are the very best at what they do. Woods is the best golfer of his time, likely of all time. That’s a great thing to witness, and is an example of what is possible, especially for this low 90s golfer whose golfing outings are mostly confined to a local 9-hole golf near my home.

If Woods decides to pull a Bobby Jones and exit in his prime, we will all be poorer.

So, here’s hoping that even the best golfer in the world is up to doing some heavy lifting with his life, accepting his wrongs, apologizing to hurt family and friends, and doing what he was born to do, warts and all.

We golfers and fans are fallible humans too. Human failings and golf are not mutually exclusive. Ask John Daly. It will be okay. Come on back when the time is right. We’ll still be here waiting to cheer.