[Richard Kimball]

I had a friend that was probably good enough to go pro (played on the University of Texas golf team) and he was utterly obsessed with golf. He couldn't go five minutes without talking about it. I asked him once why he didn't go pro and he said that he didn't like the game enough. He told me to be a professional player you have to be so obsessed with the game that you pay no attention to your wife, family, or anything else.

This guy took a $5 an hour job at a country club because it got him access to the golf course (one of the pro tour masters events is held there and the annual membership fee is something like $20,000.) A few minutes into every conversation I had with him, he'd start talking about a shot he'd made, and follow up with a description of the entire round, stroke by stroke. If this guy thought it took too much to be a pro, I can't imagine anyone being obsessed enough to do it.

Woods started playing golf when he was about two. He may be tired of it. He may be getting sick of the effort necessary to stay on top.

I think what you said about his wife is true, also. In real terms, unless he's been very stupid with his money, he should be able to do anything he wants for the rest of his life. Maybe he should consider taking some time off and spending a little time with the family.