Today's Woods Rumor: Ari Fleischer?

The New York Post reported today that unnamed sources tell the paper Tiger Woods is going to play the Arnold Palmer Invitational in two weeks. (See update at bottom of post.) In the land of unnamed sources, that rumor is nothing new. The most oft-repeated rumor of Woods' return has pointed to the Tavistock Cup a few days prior to the Palmer. Woods can play the Tavistock, then the Palmer, and satisfy both rumors: Tavistock becomes the site of his return; the Palmer becomes the site of his return to the PGA Tour.

The Palmer tournament is where Woods came back last year following a long layoff after knee surgery.

The Post article does contain something new, however: According to the paper, Woods has hired Ari Fleischer to help with his media and PR strategy. Fleischer is the former press secretary for President George W. Bush. Since leaving the Bush White House, Fleischer has launched a PR firm, and runs Ari Fleischer Sports Communications as, the Post reports, "a joint venture with IMG Sports & Entertainment." Woods is represented by IMG.

According to various reports, Fleischer's shop has worked with baseball commissioner Bud Selig, former baseball slugger Mark McGwire, and the Bowl Championship Series. Hmm. That doesn't exactly give me confidence in Fleischer's abilities to rehabilitate his clients' images. Selig, McGwire and the BCS are just as unpopular today as ever.

But is Woods really unpopular now? No doubt he has fewer fans than before; he's fodder for late-night comedians, and many golf media members feel used now that they know his public persona - which the golf media relentlessly hyped - was a sham. But my sense, based on comments left here on About.com and in emails I've received from readers, along with voting in various polls, is that Tiger's reception from fans upon his return will be much friendlier than many in the media expect.

Tiger might be hugely unpopular with the golf media right now, but most golf fans seem to believe - again, this is just my sense based on feedback of About.com readers - that Woods' transgressions were of a personal, private nature, and have nothing to do with appreciation of his golf talents.

Maybe Fleischer can help Woods strategize about dealing with the media. I don't think Woods will need any help in dealing with golf fans. He won't be as popular as he was before, but he'll be welcomed back by most fans.

Update: The Associated Press now has a couple unnamed sources, too, sources that contradict the Post's sources. The AP says Woods will likely return at The Masters, but will not before that.