Local golfers react to Tiger talk

PALM BEACH GARDENS, FL. - Inside the Members Club at PGA National there was a combination of forgiveness, doubt and downright indifference as Tiger Woods faced the press for the first time in months.

About two-dozen people watched as Woods answered about a half-hour of questions that in some cases had already been asked and answered and at other times offered new insight into what had been lingering curiosity about his infidelity, and more recent reports of performance enhancing drug use. An accusation Tiger repeatedly denied.

Club member Jim Coane thought it was the toughest line of questioning Tiger has faced. "The other situations that he'd exposed himself to in terms of the press were all very controlled environments," said Coane.

Len Lynch thought there were some softballs thrown at Woods. Questions which people had already heard answers for. "I think the questions are repetitive and it doesn't matter what the questions or answers are. It is what it is," said Lynch.

About half-way through the Q&A people were already debating some of Tiger's talking points. One man called him a "phony". Others gave him a bit more credit.

John Cunnane, also a PGA club member said "I thought that he did a great job, that he avoided no questions. He answered every question honestly, and I think showed a little more humility."

Cunnane's buddy, Roger Burch disagreed. "I really don't believe half of it," he said, "So if he feels good about himself I guess that's what counts."

While the room filled mostly with men sat, watched and listened to the news conference, a room of mostly women sat right next door seemingly unmoved and uninterested, opting for a game of Mahjongg or cards to the game of cat and mouse being played between the press and golf's number one player. Why?

‘Because I've seen and heard enough. I'm tired of it already, "said Adrienne Gruber.

"I think that he's full of it, basically," agreed Gruber's friend Barbara Sedransk. "And i think he's lost my respect."

Regardless of how they feel about Tiger on a personal basis, all agreed they respect him as a golfer, and looked forward to seeing him back out on the course.

"I forgive him," said Cunnane. "Let him go out and play some golf and win some tournaments."