HOLLYWOOD, Calif. — Steve Stricker says its been difficult to watch the media circus surrounding his close friend Tiger Woods, who has been accused of having two separate affairs.
"It's been hard just to see what's been going on [with] him the last few days," Stricker, who played alongside Woods at October's Presidents Cup, told Reuters. "It was a shock to see that, first of all, he was in a car accident, and then all the developments after that obviously is a shock, too."
Stricker was speaking from the Chevron World Challenge, an annual tournament at Sherwood Country Club that Woods was scheduled to host this week. The 33-year-old golfer withdrew from the event on Monday, citing injuries from last Friday's car crash just outside his Florida home.
"We all want him here," said Stricker. "We all look up to the guy."
Stricker also said that he's "in no category like a Tiger Woods," so it's hard for him to relate to what the world's No. 1 golfer is currently going through.
"I can't imagine what kind of microscope Tiger and other famous celebrities go under on a day-to-day basis," he said. "I don't think it's really any of our business to get inside his private life."
While he respects how Woods is holding onto his privacy, Stricker encouraged his friend to step forward and show his human side.
"I'd like to see him come on TV and just pour it out a little bit, show what's happened a little bit," he said. "I don't know if that'll ever happen. But people forget and if he just does the right things from here on out, people will forgive him and move on."
Added Stricker: "I don't think there's any question that he will bounce back, but it's going to be hard on him for a while."
- Comment
