There is a large security presence during his pro-am round at the Wells Fargo Championship. But he is friendlier with the fans.
By Jeff Shain
April 28, 2010 | 10:07 p.m.
Reporting from Charlotte, N.C.
One not-so-subtle sign that it takes more than one week to think anything regarding Tiger Woods might be getting back to normal, even on the golf course: Three uniformed police officers on the Quail Hollow practice green.
For a pro-am round. At 7:20 a.m.
Not just plainclothes officers walking inside the ropes with a badge attached to their belt. We're talking full police attire — pistols in holsters, handcuffs hanging off the belt in back, flashlights, walkie-talkies.
Three on the practice green. At least six along the first fairway — three on each side, stationed maybe 40 yards apart as the moving band of followers made their way from tee to green. At one point along the third fairway, four could be seen within maybe eight yards of each other.
NFL officials have more territorial responsibility. Though, admittedly, fewer people.
No wonder Woods didn't sound all that concerned about anyone trying to razz him.
"The people here have always been very gracious, very excited about this event," Woods said Wednesday after reacquainting himself with Quail Hollow Country Club's rolling layout. "There's no reason why that shouldn't continue."
Nor, apparently, does the power of suggestion hurt.
The Wells Fargo Championship is the first "public" tournament of Woods' comeback from the sex scandal that turned his life into tabloid fodder. Though all went smoothly during his run to a fourth-place finish at the Masters, it seems the PGA Tour and tournament officials aren't taking any risks with a public given far easier access to tickets.
"We're not going to be scared to take somebody off the property," tournament director Kym Hougham had said one day earlier, later adding that he expected any untoward comments would be met with warnings and not ejections.
Quail Hollow patrons offered little cause for concern Wednesday, though the response from those who followed Woods' 7:30 a.m. group seemed rather subdued even by pro-am standards. Scattered cheers mixed in with the applause that greeted his introduction, good shots were acknowledged politely.
The closest thing to a dig came after amateur partner Jim Rathburn sank about a 15-foot birdie putt and Woods missed his from a shorter distance.
"Don't worry, you have a good partner!" someone shouted from outside the ropes.
"You're right!" Woods called back. Everyone within earshot laughed.
It was that kind of morning, as Woods continued to make a better effort to at least make eye contact with fans — especially younger ones.
Heading to the second tee, he actually stopped long enough to stand with a blond-haired tyke as his father tried frantically to frame the shot. Coming off the 16th green, he signed an autograph for a teen in a motorized wheelchair.
Compared to the security presence — the police count was 14 outside the clubhouse after Woods' round — the golfer didn't seem as concerned about the possibility of a few loudmouths breaking decorum.
"Whether they do or not, it's happened before," he said. "It happened before any of this [scandal] ever happened. I've dealt with that before."
Asked if he's at the point where he can go back to a relatively normal life, Woods said he still faces "paparazzi everywhere" around his Isleworth community. On the course, though, it may be getting a little closer with the Players Championship next up.
"I have to say this feels a heck of a lot more normal than the Masters did," Woods said. "Two weeks in a row competing — I'll have a better barometer of what normal really feels like because I haven't done that in a while."
A lesser show of police presence might help too.