Friday, April 10, 1998 | 7:29 a.m.
ACROSS THE United States today, radio listeners, TV viewers and newspaper readers will be treated to an American curiosity: The filleting of Tiger Woods.
Actually, it's a game that has been under way for some time, given that Woods has not won a PGA Tour event since last July's Western Open. Those not familiar with the difficulties of pro golf believe he's in a drought so pronounced he can't possibly be the player he was cracked up to be the last couple of years.
They'll see the 71 he shot in Thursday's first round of The Masters and feel it fortifies their view that the 22-year-old Woods is no Jack Nicklaus, Sam Snead or Ben Hogan.
Of course, they couldn't be more wrong.
Woods is merely the latest example of a somewhat disturbing habit that may be international in scope or perhaps is purely American. It's one that requires the public adoring of a rising star -- be it athlete, entertainer or politician -- followed by an all-out attempt in the media to skewer the poor fellow just as he's getting accustomed to the flowery accolades.
Golf fans love Woods and many realize he's a special player with immense talent and potential. He's also a drawing card who annually pulls in $150 million in endorsement deals.
When he was dominating The Masters last year en route to a record 12-stroke victory, the TV ratings skyrocketed correspondingly. Forty-four million viewers produced a final-round record 14.1 market share in spite of his runaway victory.
The typical fan wants to see him win and enjoys seeing him win.
The typical member of the media, however, appears ready to leap from the Woods bandwagon and carve him up with a printed or verbal slicing and dicing. It's as if it's ingrained: Be nice to the up and comer and then clobber him on the backlash, before he can settle in at the top. In this particular instance, the extremists will be disappointed Woods is anywhere near the high side of the leader board -- as he is heading into the second round, two strokes behind Fred Couples -- and will be praying he falls a few pegs by Sunday.
In truth, it should be a fascinating weekend of golf and Woods is but one of many who could win this revered championship. But if he doesn't win -- and, statistically, he can't be expected to -- those who came to Augusta to bury him will shovel away with glee.
Bill Clinton isn't the only object of adulation who reached the top only to find an increasingly hostile media. It's a prevalent phenomenon in sports.
But here's the best guess on Tiger Woods: He will be a great, great player for many years to come and he will have his moments of unabated stardom for as long as he chooses to pursue the sport. Conversely, he is also but one of several bright, young and incredibly gifted players who have made the men's tour competitive to an extreme.
No one player can dominate for any extended period of time. The game is too difficult and the talent too widespread.
Woods may go a year here and there without a victory but he'll win his share. He'll do as well as Nicklaus, Snead or Hogan would have if they were in their heyday today.
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