Azinger: Augusta 'the logical place to start'

If there is one thing Paul Azinger can't stand, it's whiners.

Told that some players at the Masters were worried that Tiger Woods' return to Augusta National for The Masters in a few weeks might cause a distraction, all the victorious 2008 U.S. Ryder Cup captain could do was shake his head.

"Oh, the big babies are just going to have to get over it," Azinger said Tuesday while visiting Medinah Country Club to promote the 2010 Ryder Cup. "If that's going to distract you, I don't think you're good enough to win the Masters."

Everyone knows Woods sure is - he's already accumulated four green jackets - and Azinger says his return to the sport at a course he loves like Augusta is the perfect tonic for Tiger.

"I think it's the only place he could really start," Azinger said. "I heard (golf analyst) Brandel Chamblee say he thought Tiger should start at Augusta because the crowd is really controlled. You've got a waiting list a mile long and the families that go there go every year. The media is controlled there as well. It's the logical place to start."

But if the players think it's going to be a madhouse, what might it be like for Woods?

"It's going to be difficult for him no matter where he starts. If he had three tournaments under his belt, Augusta would still be difficult," Azinger said. "I think it's going to be difficult for him everywhere he goes for a while.

"It's just going to be tough; there are going to be people out there saying stuff. But Tiger will have that same look of concentration and he'll let it go in one ear and out the other. I don't think he'll react to anything."

No doubt one of the benefactors of Woods' return to the game are the folks at the BMW Championship, where Woods figures to return to defend his title Sept. 9-12 at Cog Hill.

"It's the best 70 players, and the chances of him playing are good," said BMW tournament director Vince Pellegrino. "If he plays like he can, he'll be here."

Pellegrino admitted that prior to Woods' announcement Tuesday, there were some anxious moments.

"Yes, because everyone was unsure when he would come back to play," Pellegrino admitted. "But it's exciting to see him come back and play golf again, especially at a course like Augusta."