Tiger Woods came back to the sport that made him famous yesterday, four months after his incident involving a car crash, a string of women and a severe loss of dignity.

The golfer’s highly anticipated return to the Masters this week made the public wonder if he will be able to overcome his recent indiscretion and play the game as well as he has in the past.

I think he will make quite a comeback at the golf tournament because Tiger thrives in the spotlight. And who isn’t going to want to see if he still has what it takes to be on top of his game in golf? While his actions have been disgusting and embarrassing, they shouldn’t affect his professional life and his spectacular talent.

Tiger has won four Masters titles in his career, the first at the tender age of 22. He will not only be able to overcome the media’s scrutiny, but he will thrive from all the attention focused on him.

I do not dispel the fact that Woods has made some poor decisions in his personal life. In fact, I think he was irresponsible, cocky and downright stupid to have had numerous affairs considering his particular status. It was bound to go public. I mean, what woman wouldn’t want to say she hooked up with Tiger Woods(before everyone found out he was a liar and a cheater, of course)? But these decisions do not make him a worse player, and they do not take away from the outstanding accomplishments he has had throughout his career.

Some think Woods will crack under the media’s pressure, but I think it’ll be just the opposite. He is arrogant enough to use this bad publicity in his favor and make sure everyone knows that Tiger is still the Tiger he used to be. The same one who has won 14 major titles and is known for his passionate and meticulous personality.

He said at a press conference yesterday in Augusta, Ga., that he wanted to show more respect for the game he has become synonymous with.

“I made a conscious decision to try and tone down my negative outbursts and, consequently, I’m sure my positive outbursts be will calmed down, as well,” Woods said. “Just trying to be more respectful of the game and acknowledge the fans like I did today.”

If Woods can prove himself against the criticism of both the media and the public in this year’s Masters, I think that will be his greatest accomplishment to date.

Ashley Iovine is a sophomore broadcast journalism major from Katy.