Tour Insider

Welcome to the Shag Bag, where the GolfChannel.com team and Golf Channel talent will regularly file thoughts and opinions from around the world of golf.

3Report: Woods hires Fleischer to help plot return

GolfChannel.com Team Posted 03/11/2010, 10:59 AM EST

Tiger Woods has hired former White House Press Secretary Ari Fleischer to help with damage control and a strategy for returning to golf, according to the New York Post. Sources told the Post that the former presidential advisor to George W. Bush has been meeting frequently with Woods where the two have been plotting a return strategy for the Arnold Palmer Invitational March 25 at Bay Hill.

Last week, Jack Nicklaus said that he believed Woods would play at least one warm-up event before heading to Augusta for the Masters in April. Woods’ longtime friend and neighbor Mark O’Meara told Golf Channel earlier this week that he wouldn’t be surprised to see Woods make his return at the Tavistock Cup, March 22-23, at Isleworth and that those exhibition matches would be a good way to ease back into the public spotlight.

“They were in his living room this week going over a strategy for how to handle Bay Hill in two weeks,” a source told the Post regarding Fleischer and Woods.

Fleischer, 49, was press secretary from January 2001 to July 2003 and left for a career as a consultant. He formed Ari Fleischer Sports Communications in 2008 and most recently advised embattled St. Louis Cardinals hitting instructor Mark McGwire on his public admission to using steroids.

Mar

You must be logged in to leave a comment. Click here to login or join.

All user comments

Ascending
Descending by Date/Time

csarge Said on 04/08/2010, at 10:40 PM EST

“enough is enough, cant the media just leave tiger alone and let him live his life? Enjoy what he has done for golf and the golf channel. Golf was never this popular until tiger came along. Dont you think he has suffered enough?? I am not saying what he did was right but neither is he. Lets see all the media and press reporters and people who now are trashing tiger what they have done thru their life??????”
- Comment
- Flag as inappropriate
Said on 03/16/2010, at 12:30 PM EST

“I liked John Feinstein's comments on Golf Central yesterday, regarding Fleischer... it was refreshing to see someone point out his affinity for defending "losing causes," and also to make that connection with his work for the Republican Party. I'm in the minority of golf junkies that is liberal in political mindset, and it has always been the one thing about golf that I can't stand, that it's so dominated by right-wingers. Thanks John, for breaking that mold a bit, and thanks Kelly (via your obvious distaste for his comment) for providing one more example of why I'm not one of your fans... heck, at least he didn't crack a lynching joke...?”
- Comment
- Flag as inappropriate
1KRats Said on 03/16/2010, at 10:53 AM EST

“1KRats Said on 03/11/2010, at 12:05 PM EST ““Eh, GolfChannel.com Team.....Can the man not think and act on his own? Here's some free advice; Bite the bullet...Do not show up with Steve Williams, when you show up talk with the fans, take a few minutes and sign autographs especially the kids, thank those who say "'we're behind you" and to those who run their mouth be gracious and acknowledge. If need be go directly up to them and have a brief courteous conversation and even maybe admit to them you made a lifestyle mistake. This shows the humanness of a person and sets a good example . It's one thing to do it in the confines of a cloistered room filled with friends. This would bolster your walking the talk and more importantly tactfully put the mouthers on the spot. Peer pressure from on lookers would make these people think twice about running their mouth. Of course you can't do this with everyone. Actions speak louder than words....Tiger you have talked the talk and now it's time for you to walk the talk. If not then you're going to be fair game. How to handle media questions about your past behavior? Turn it around and ask: did you watch my TV statement...if he gets a no then reply please do so. Next question please. If he gets a yes answer then reply good I appreciate your taking time to do so. Next question, please. ” The media does not like it when they get the tables turned and usually reply with a lame comment like "I'm asking the questions" as if they are special. Not. ”“ ”
- Comment
- Flag as inappropriate