If there was ever a time to suck it up, this was it. In skipping the Barclays, Woods didn't just turn his back on a singular event. He turned his back on a chance to make a statement, to signal to the world that this new thing, which was tailored to benefit him and the other top players in the world, is good and exciting and worthwhile. The timing may not have been convenient for him, but sometimes when you're the No. 1 player in your sport and a global icon, you have to take one for the good of the game.
Of course Tiger could have eased his burden by skipping the AT&T, but that is run by his agency, IMG, has his name attached to it, and benefits his foundation. He also could have skipped the second playoff event, the Deutsche Bank, which would have been less noticeable because it wasn't the inaugural tournament. But that tournament also benefits Woods's foundation.
Given a choice between doing what's good for the Tour, his fellow players and the sport in general, Woods put his personal interests first. Whether that's the cause or effect of succeeding in an individual sport like golf is uncertain, but because Woods is so virtuous in so many other aspects of his public life, we hoped we could expect more from him.
We can't. Now we know.
