Harmon Doesn't Think Tiger's Out of Woods ... Yet

MARANA, Ariz. -- Every television set on property at the Ritz-Carlton Golf Club at Dove Mountain seemed to be tuned to the same shot. Tiger Woods, dressed in a dark sport coat and a blue dress shirt open at the collar, filled the screens as he spoke from TPC Sawgrass in Ponte Vedra Beach, Fla.

Woods was saying things like being "deeply sorry" and "selfish and foolish" and "unfaithful."

He did a lot of apologizing, used the words "I cheated," and made an attempt to explain how he turned into the world's No. 1 ranked cad.

Before finishing, Woods even provided a bit of hard news.

"I do plan to return to golf one day, I just don't know when that day will be."

Standing in front of one of those televisions, Butch Harmon watched the performance with special fascination.

"Bottom line, I don't think he has ever looked that humble before," Harmon said. "He's obviously, incredibly embarrassed, which he should be. He brought it all on himself. But I know it was a very hard thing for him to do."

There are few people in golf able to offer a better insight than Harmon, the swing coach who worked with Woods from 1993 until 2004 when the two parted.

During that time Woods moved from a three-time U.S. Amateur champion to the world's No. 1 player. It was while working with Harmon that Woods produced the Tiger-Slam, winning four consecutive majors

"Once again, they controlled the entire environment around it, which is normal," Harmon said after Woods had finished the no-questions-allowed appearance in front of invited family and friends. "But for me it was good to see him in person -- to see that physically he is OK. Mentally, obviously he's hurting. And it's going to be a long road back for him.

"I don't think any of us should expect to see him on a golf course anytime soon because emotionally I don't think he'll be there."

Despite the importance Woods has long placed on major championships and this year's lineup of the Masters at Augusta National, the U.S. Open at Pebble Beach and the British returning to St. Andrews -- all among Woods' favorite venues -- Harmon was willing to predict an extended absence from competition.

"I personally do not think he will play this year," he said. "I have nothing to base that on, other than I think it would be very difficult if he is sincere about this process of healing and getting to the roots of his problem.

"Rehab takes a long time. It takes a lot of perseverance. It takes a lot of soul searching. It just doesn't end in a month. Whether he plays against this year remains to be seen. But I do not think we should be surprised if he doesn't."

Harmon went on to insist the importance that Woods is perceived to place on breaking Jack Nicklaus' record 18 majors is misunderstood.

"I can honestly tell you, the 10 years I was with Tiger Woods, I never heard him once say that was important," Harmon said. "Never. The only thing he said was important was beating everybody he played against and trying to get better.

"I never heard him once say I've got to beat Jack Nicklaus' 18 major championships. I know a lot is made of that, but I never heard the guy say that once, ever."

While Woods' television appearance -- his first public sighting since wrecking his Cadillac Escalade on Nov. 27 and eventually being tied to a secret-life of porn stars, cocktail waitresses, party girls and a Perkins Restaurant server -- drew must-see attention from all corners, it seemed to be the last thing players arriving for Friday's Accenture Match Play competition cared to discuss.

Paul Casey arrived with earphones and never slowed down as he headed into the clubhouse.

"I'm not stopping," Lucas Glover said and he brushed past.

"Sorry guys," Sergio Garcia offered.

Tim Clark moved past assembled media outside the clubhouse with a jacket covering his head. He did, however, remove it to say he would have nothing to say.

Stewart Cink was one of the exceptions.

"It sounded heartfelt to me," Cink said. "And for a guy that's done a lot of tough things in golf over the years, it was probably one of the most difficult things he's ever had to do.

"And it was something probably that's going to help him along the way to healing."

The process, apparently, continues. Woods indicated he would be returning immediately to another stint in a rehabilitation center.

"I was impressed with the strength of his commentary given the nature of it and difficulty of talking about these things," PGA Tour commissioner Tim Finchem said. "And I was impressed about the focus of where he went with his comments in each of the areas that he addressed. I thought overall it was compelling."

Obviously, Finchem wants him back.

A short time later, some of those televisions were no longer being watched.