It is now nearly 50 days since Tiger Woods crashed his car into a fire hydrant and a tree — and still there is no word on his whereabouts or when he might resume his career.
A media gathering in London today called by the world number one’s management company shed no light on the situation. Instead it was to announce the launch next month of a new television golf programme.
“I don’t know where he is or about his plans,” said Guy Kinnings, senior vice-president in Europe for the International Management Group.
The sex scandal which erupted after Woods was injured in the early hours of November 27th just outside his Orlando home led to him announcing that he was taking an indefinite break from the game in a bid to save his marriage to former model Elin Nordegren.
They have two young children, but Woods has not been seen in public since the crash and it looks likely to be March at the earliest before he returns to action.
His comeback from knee surgery last year came at the Accenture World Match Play in Arizona in February, but they are one of the sponsors who have ended their association with the player and it would be amazing if he choose their event to reappear.
That would switch the attention to Florida and either the CA world championship in Miami or the Arnold Palmer Invitational at Bay Hill. Woods would be the defending champion there.
The first major of the year is, of course, The Masters at Augusta on April 8th.
There is a chance he would make that his first event back because the number of media is limited and there would be less of a frenzy around him, but if he is to go for his 15th major title there Woods would surely want a warm-up event after not playing since winning the Australian Masters on November 15th.
The new programme is a 90-minute show to be aired five days a week which would bring a mix of news, behind-the-scenes features, travel and instruction.
Since it is being entirely financed by IMG it might seem the perfect platform for Woods to give an eagerly-awaited first interview.
But Kinnings added: “I would not be waiting for it to be on the first show.”
Michel Masquelier, president of IMG Media, went further by commenting: "I don't think it (the Woods saga) is something we want to emphasise." - PA