Tiger showing class

There have been a lot of bad things written about Tiger Woods in recent years but this weekend he showed a different side. It was the much more appealing side of a man who desires to follow the rules of his game. He respects the traditions of one of sporting's great events.
Tigers bank shot off the flag pole and into a pond is the stuff the Masters, and legends, are made of. In talking about it in a post round press conference Tiger mentioned he may have bent the rules a little bit in replaying the shot. Rules officials checked the video tape and found out he was right.
Tiger then accepted his two stroke penalty with grace. He said "I know the rules and I broke them." Those of the words of a good sportsman.
Part of his response was probably relief that he was allowed to continue playing. Rules authorites had the power to disquality him and decided not to. They were smart. They didn't bend the rules for Tiger, but the also realize they have a much more marketable product with Tiger in the field. If anything the incident will help Sunday television coverage, as viewers clamor to their recliners to see if Tiger can make up his difference.
The whole incident goes down into the magic that is The Masters. Tiger is part of that magic and will be long into the history, when he is the one making the ceremonial first shot to start the event 20 or 30 years from now. His personal life is not part of that equation.