As time passes, Tiger Woods' biggest problem won't be the cocktail waitresses. It will be on the course.
TPC Boston's Deutsche Bank Championship will take place this coming September 3-6, and Tiger Woods' foundation will again be its primary charitable partner.
As a Fed-Ex Cup event though, only the top 100 players on the Fed-Ex points list are invited. Woods, because of his sparse playing schedule, is ranked 111th. If he doesn't crack the top 100, he won't get to play — charity sponsorship or not.
The tournament has raised upwards of $17 million for charity since its inception seven years ago, and much of that money has gone to Woods' learning center. Local charities are the other recipients.
Despite Woods' scandals, the partnership between his foundation and the Norton, Mass. event will not be broken.
"They've been a great partner," tournament director Seth Waugh said. "I'm a big believer that when
you have great partners and they need help, that you help them, you
don't abandon them. Obviously, they have issues. We're excited and proud
to be partners with them."
The economic impact on the local community, though, may be just as significant as the charitable contributions. The $7.5 million purse tournament injected over $61 million dollars into the region in 2009 via commerce, sponsorships, and indirect profits.
Woods missing the event could possibly put a minor damper on those effects.
Obviously, Woods' personal struggles have cost him money through a divorce and lost sponsorships, but the dimming of golf's brightest star will likely also detract from the money created by the sport as a whole.
Still, the Deutsche Bank Championship looks to again be a great economic success for the community, and Woods' foundation will continue to be involved.
Hopefully, Woods will be too.
