Federer Edges Out Woods as Greatest Player

Scandal-plagued golfer appears to be prepping for comeback

(NEWSER) - Tiger Woods is out of family counseling in Arizona and playing golf in Florida ahead of a possible comeback. The scandal-plagued superstar is practicing at Isleworth, outside Orlando, and an insider tells the AP he has no specific schedule for returning to competition. Next week's World Golf Championship at Doral is unlikely—he hasn't played competitively since November. More»

Johnson tugs the cape and ends the aura of invincibility

(NEWSER) - When Tiger Woods flamed out at this year's Master's, he lost more than a tournament—he lost an aura, writes Rich Hoffman. "Twelve times before this, he had led on Sunday and won. Twelve times. Twelve wins. It was a stunning record of invincibility .... Now it is over." More»

(NEWSER) - The storybook re-coronation of Tiger Woods had a surprise ending in Augusta, where the entire field was hobbled by blunders, and an obscure Iowan walked away with the coveted green jacket. Zach Johnson hit a three-under 69 on his last 18 holes to finish in the lead with a one-over 289, tied for the worst winning score in Masters history. More»

(NEWSER) - The Masters remains wide open after Day 2, with an unassuming two-under 142 leading the field. Tiger Woods is five shots from the lead, a strikingly poor performance from a player most pundits assumed would dominate Augusta in typical unflappable godlike fashion. Relative golf demigod Phil Mickelson also disappointed at a four-over-par 148. More»

He's 'desperate to matter again,' but his career seems over

(NEWSER) - "Somebody has to say it," and Bill Plaschke figures it may as well be him: "I feel sorry for Tiger Woods." Yes, he acknowledges in the Los Angeles Times , "the odds of many folks agreeing with me are the same as Amen Corner turning atheist, but the feeling is as clear as Tuesday's windblown sky." At his Masters news conference, with "circles under his eyes" and "heaviness in his voice," Woods exuded one thing: "desperation." More»