Let's not weigh Woods down

There is perhaps more than what meets the eye in the events that preceded the Tiger Woods car crash. The incident is too much of a coincidence, especially when viewed against the fact that rumours about his alleged ‘private' life and the possible presence of a mistress are beginning to surface in the media.

Once dubbed as the man who would change the face of sports, Woods is only human. He is a professional sportsman first and our views and expectations of him therefore should be tempered as such.

The unnecessary demands of the media on his personal life and the expectations of the marketing agencies and the brands he endorses have carefully built up ‘the other face' of Tiger Woods, but this could be too much for any one to bear.

Too often sportsmen, who have seen their image magnified as role models, have been known to have buckled under the hype and expectation.

There are countless examples. Woods has paid his dues. His appeal as a golfer and ambassador for the sport cut across nations, race and colour. He has raised the allure of golf worldwide. Coupled with this has been the meticulous development of his image. Still, let our expectations of him be realistic.