Oh the Hypocrisy: Augusta Chair Rebukes Tiger Woods

Billy Payne, the head of the Augusta National Golf Club, delivered an address yesterday that included a strong rebuke of Tiger Woods. The written comments wreak of phony moral outrage. Here is a clip:

His future will never again be measured only by his performance against par, but measured by the sincerity of his effort to change. I hope he now realizes that every kid he passes on the course wants his swing, but would settle for his smile.

Payne also said that Woods' behavior was egregious and that he "did not live up to the expectations of the role medal we saw for our children." Bleh.

Payne also stated that:

We at Augusta hope and pray that our great champion will begin his new life here tomorrow in a positive, hopeful and constructive manner. But this time, with a significant difference from the past. This year, it will not be just for him, for all of us, who believe in second chances.

All of the moralizing was enough coming from Woods himself. Now the Masters host has joined the melodrama.

When a reporter asked Payne whether he believed that "responsibility" and "role model" status should compel the Augusta club to open its doors to women, he paused and said that was a private issue for the club. Er -- so is Woods' sex life!