Breaking 90

Imagine you’re the richest, most well-known professional athlete on the planet. Still in the prime of your career, you’are already an icon among the greats of your sport. You have hundreds of millions of dollars, and a beautiful family. You’re also having affairs with three skanky women and your secret comes out to the entire world at the same time you ram your luxury SUV into the neighbor’s tree.

Your privacy, dignity, reputation, and family have all been shattered. How do you even begin the process of repairing all of that? If your name is Tiger Woods, you might start by considering something pretty radical – taking the year off..

Taking the year off from pro golf would do a lot of good for Tiger, particularly if he wants to keep his family together. It would give him the time he needs to mend his family, away from the prying eyes of the public.  Additionally, the symbolism of the world’s best and most dedicated golfer giving up his craft for the better of his family would go a long way to restoring his image. Lastly, taking the year off would take a lot of steam out of the media and cultural scrutiny he and his family will deal with should he play professional golf in 2009.

Sponsors might complain, but if they’re willing to stick with him through this mess, chances are they won’t mind his taking a year off. They might actually prefer it because of the long-term good it will do to his brand and ability to sell their products. Besides, it’s not like he needs the money.

Missing the majors in 2010 might hurt, but Tiger can take off 2010 and still be ahead of Jack Nicklaus’s pace to 18 major victories.

Tiger might win some tournaments, but in a lot of ways playing pro golf in 2010 is a lose-lose situation for him; if he plays great he looks like a guy who cares more about golf than his family and his brand takes a big hit. Play poorly and it only fuels the media speculation, attention and distraction.

Tiger might not win by taking off 2010, but it’s probably his best chance at a tie.