Sports heroes have fallen from grace before. What kid didn't worship Mickey Mantle, as he lifted the Yankees on so many occasions to World Championships with his tape measure home runs, slick fielding and batting average? Who knew that behind that all-American smile was an almost unquenchable thirst for whiskey which contributed to his early demise. “The Mick” famously reflected, “If I knew I was going to live this long, I'd have taken better care of myself.” Ultimately, years of alcohol abuse did what opposing pitchers could not do in stopping Mantle.

Then, there was Lance Armstrong, another incredibly great athlete who dominated the world of professional cycling by winning seven consecutive Tour de France races. He was an American who dominated a grueling sport that was distinctly not American on the greatest stage of world cycling. His fall from grace was not from alcohol but performance enhancing drugs, which after admitting using, led to a lifetime ban ending his competitive career.

There are many similar stories. But few have our attention these days like that of Eldrick “Tiger” Woods. Thought by many to be the greatest professional golfer of all time, and one of the highest paid athletes in the world, he captured the imagination not only of golfers, but people who never struck a golf ball in vain. He made shots that no one could make, trained and looked like a professional football player, and played the game with a laser focus that few could approach. He was and remains the face of golf around the world.