Golfers take swings at Tiger

The personal travails of Tiger Woods have dominated the news scene the last two weeks.
Visit an office or work site and the topic of the day usually comes around to whether Tiger should stop playing golf or needs to be given a break because he's human and susceptible to temptation.
But nowhere is Tiger talk more prevalent than on the links and in the pro shops of Hernando County golfing establishments.
Hernando Today decided to spend a Friday morning at Silverthorn Golf and Country Club to find out what golfers are saying about the man who many regard as the greatest player in the history of the game.
And they had a lot to say.
From the brutally plain John Bell: "I think he's a foul-mouthed, womanizing club-thrower."
To the more tempered observation from golfer Jack Wempe: "It's a personal matter between him and his wife and children. I just think he has a lot of potential and he will pull through this."
Inside the Silverthorn pro shop, the television was naturally tuned to the Mike & Mike in the Morning Show on ESPN. Not surprisingly the sports hosts were discussing the latest scuttlebutt about Tiger and the alleged number of affairs he's had.
One man heading outside to the links wanted to know how many women the number was up to as of Friday morning. That received some laughs.
Kris Mahoney, head golf professional at Silverthorn, said he hears a lot of that kind of talk during the day and a lot of joking.
Asked whether he will stop buying Gatorade, a sports drink Tiger endorses, Mahoney said it doesn't affect him. He buys the competitor's product, Powerade.
And Nike?
Nope. Mahoney said he never liked the brand.
However, he doesn't believe fans will automatically stop buying Tiger-endorsed products just because of the troubles their hero is experiencing.
Brand loyalty, especially among the young, is too strong, he said.
Bob Rittmueller stopped in for a chat with Mahoney before heading out on the course which, on Friday morning, was a bit chilly.
"He's a prima donna," Rittmueller said. "He's had everything given to him. He was born with a silver spoon in his mouth. He has a beautiful wife. He's a millionaire. And he blew it. For what?"
Even when Tiger heads back on tour - which Rittmueller believes will happen despite rumors that he will quit - he will not have the adoration of the fans," he said.
Jerry Heard, owner of Silverthorn Golf & Country Club, visited the pro shop and shared a few words about Tiger.
"The PGA tour needs Tiger," Heard said. "He needs to get back in good shape. Without him, the TV ratings will go way down. People just don't have the interest when he's not playing."
Golfing fans may remember Heard from his days as a pro golfer, on the circuit from 1969-1983. During that time he won five titles, he said.
Heard said he met other golfing legends, including Arnold Palmer and Jack Nicklaus.
In those days, pro golfers would sometimes throw their equipment in the back of their cars and take their families with them on some of the tours. Sometimes the pros would ride together.
Today, it's all individualized. Instead of cars, golf stars have their own private planes, Heard said.
But even so, Heard said there were things that went on during tours that never made the press.
"I know what goes on out there," Heard said "It's just a way of life."
As for Tiger, Heard believes it will all blow over.
"The public is pretty forgiving," he said.
Randy Mix, who works in the pro shop, said the public forgets all the charities Tiger donated to and his involvement in education. That seems to get lost in the mix, he said.
"People just enjoy dirty laundry," Mix said. "It's human nature."
Perhaps golfer Ed O'Keeffe summed it up best Friday morning.
"He has to work out the problems between his family and the rest will take care of itself," O'Keeffe said, as he hopped in his golf cart and headed out to the course.
"It's such a shame. He was such a hero for everyone. Now his image will be tarnished."