Payne speaks bluntly on Woods

AUGUSTA, Ga. - On the day Tiger Woods arrived at the Masters, he changed out of his spikes after playing nine holes, walked across the parking lot and went upstairs to the office of Augusta National chairman Billy Payne.

Payne would not discuss details of their Sunday afternoon meeting.

Based on Payne's blunt criticism of Woods during his annual news conference Wednesday, they probably weren't talking about how Woods was hitting the ball or his chances of winning a fifth green jacket.

"It is simply not the degree of his conduct that is so egregious here," Payne said. "It is the fact that he disappointed all of us, and more importantly, our kids and our grandkids. Our hero did not live up to the expectations of the role model we saw for our children."

They were the strongest words from a Masters chairman since Hootie Johnson's famous "point of a bayonet" reply to Martha Burk in the summer of 2002 when he defended the club's right to an all-male membership.

Payne was one of the Augusta National members who stood among the Georgia pines to the right of the first fairway Monday, the first time Woods played before a gallery since being caught cheating on his wife five months ago.

No other golf official has been so outspoken about Woods' behavior. No other major is like the Masters.

Even though Woods is a four-time champion and the No. 1 player in the world, he is at Augusta National by invitation, just like the other 95 players who will tee it up today.

Woods already had played his final practice round - nine holes with Mark O'Meara - and left the course when Payne held his news conference. The chairman saved his thoughts on Woods for the end of his opening statement.

"Is there a way forward? I hope yes. I think yes," Payne said. "But certainly, his future will never again be measured only by his performance against par, but measured by the sincerity of his efforts to change.

"I hope he now realizes that every kid he passes on the course wants his swing, but would settle for his smile."

It was the final news conference before the Masters begins with more scrutiny - more curiosity - than ever of Woods. No one knows what to expect from his game because Woods has not competed since winning the Australian Masters on Nov. 15.

"He should do pretty good - he's coming off a win," Robert Allenby cracked.

Woods has appeared to be as interested in his behavior as his performance during the practice rounds. He is smiling more, making eye contact, even signing more autographs.

Woods attended the Golf Writers Association of America dinner Wednesday night to receive his player-of-the-year award.

It was the 10th time he had received the award - but the first time he had ever stayed long enough to watch other players receive their awards. Woods typically leaves early. This time he stayed for an hour, leaving as dinner was being served.

Payne declined to discuss what type of security was in place, nor was he overly concerned that the return of Woods might overshadow a tournament that attracts the largest golf audience of the year.

"We are very secure in who we are, and the Masters has almost now a 74-year history," Payne said. "We just kind of do things our way. We are not threatened by other big news stories or things like that."

Even so, there has been little attention on anything else this week.

• Nike aired a new TV commercial Wednesday featuring Tiger Woods and the voice of his late father, an edgy move that calls out his personal problems on the eve of his return to competitive golf.

The ad aired on ESPN and the Golf Channel just one day before the Masters begins.

In the stark, black-and-white ad, a solemn Woods looks directly into the camera without speaking while a recording of his late father is heard, speaking about taking responsibility.

"Did you learn anything?" Earl Woods says.

It marks the first TV ad for Woods, who had been the face of many companies, since his infidelity problems surfaced in late November.