“Forget image of golf, he needs to take time off to get sober and sane.”
I agree; no way he can do that if he tries to play. But sometime you have to do what needs to be done for a greater good than yourself. If he announces he’s not playing for the good of the sport it would go a long way toward rehabilitating his image. If he tries to play, he becomes the new John Daly. And it will end just as ugly, if not uglier because Tiger will fall farther, faster.
For me, the greater good is his family. The damage is done, and instead of protecting his image, he needs to be repairing the brokenness in his family. Work on re-establishing a relationship with his wife. I’m sure the marriage is over (mine would be), but for the sake of the kids, he needs to do whatever necessary in order to provide for them (and I don’t mean materially). The legacy as is stands now for them is pathetic.
You’re correct that he shouldn’t drag golf down into his gutter....but right now, he needs to get healthy mentally, spiritually and physically and focus on fixing as well as he can what he has destroyed.
To me, he hasn’t damaged golf as much as he has wounded souls.
He should retire. Then come back.