Roundup: Considering The Latest Tiger Setback

We've reached a precarious point in the Tiger saga.

The latest WD's and setback, which all but spoil any hope of a return to some form pre-Masters, is leaving writers and observers without much left to say. Others are speculating off of the relatively small amount of information shared, sometimes dangerously. However, it's hard not to ponder the various possibilities when we are watching something so bizarre, frustrating and perplexing.

Mostly, everyone is sounding like they're over the dramatics.

Jason Sobel at ESPN.com is the most forceful in suggesting Woods is losing credibility with each false start and vague explanation.

But here's where it gets tricky: When Woods withdraws from the tournament in Dubai one day after denying he was in any pain, that self-assessment loses some credibility. And when his agent declares that Woods' withdrawal was due to back spasms that are unrelated to those three previous microdiscectomy surgeries, it becomes impossible to decipher where the truth ends and the denials begin.

Rich Lerner joined us on Morning Drive today and his exasperation was both surprising and also consistent with how most feel at this point.

Charlie Rymer, Damon Hack, Gary Williams and yours truly considered the state of Tiger on Morning Drive, including the stage fright suggestion, which we all shot down.

As I wrote for Golfweek.com, each setback adds a new set of pressures on Woods due to his many obligations and responsibilities, including likely pressure from sponsor  arrangements that will not help back pain.

Bob Harig at ESPN.com wonders just how much practicing Woods can do.

The issue of Tiger's legacy and his less-than-peaceful transition to a career end is the subject of a good piece by GolfChannel.com's Ryan Lavner.

Mike Tirico also offered sage perspective on the career topic during a Morning Drive chat with Gary Williams