Golf: Clark sees 'method behind madness' of Tiger's return

Published on Wednesday 17 March 2010 09:27

FORMER Ryder Cup player Howard Clark has said he can see some "method behind the madness" of Tiger Woods returning at The Masters and not before.

Golf's No.1 has decided not to have a warm-up event, but to start facing the world again at the opening major of the season on April 8-11.

"I think it would be advisable to come back and play somewhere like Bay Hill because he has won it so many times and played so well there," said Clark. "But, on the other side of it there won't be any cat-calls at The Masters. I think there's a little bit of method behind the madness.

"And there's a champions locker room where he can gain a lot of privacy. He can get away from the crowds, away from the media.

"With him working so hard on his game recently we knew he was going to start soon, but I think everybody has been caught cold by this.

"We knew he'd be back for The Masters, but we thought he might have two or three, maybe four or five, rounds under his belt to play and get used to playing again. Steve Stricker has spoken out recently and said it would be a bit unfortunate if it turned into a media' 'Tiger comeback tournament' rather than The Masters championship itself.

"I don't think The Masters will allow that to happen, to be honest. I think they will have all the media right in their place where they want them.

"They will have designated times that Tiger will turn up for photocalls, media interviews, radio, TV. It is going to be a scramble, but that first interview is going to be something amazing.

"The media will have their say, but I think The Masters have to keep a little bit of a tight rein on it. "I think Tiger will feel comfortable in that environment. It's the smallest field of all the majors and it's probably the easiest one for him to win – there's quite a bit of room on the course.

"I think the situation is one he can control with all his IMG (International Management Group) men, with the people who work alongside him. They will be able to control things a lot easier at The Masters than at any other event."