Billy Payne On Woods: "Our Champion Will Begin New Life Tomorrow"

Payne Says Woods Has A Way Forward

On the night before what can transpire to become the biggest comeback in the recent history of golf, the chairman of Augusta National Golf Club Billy Payne has commented on the significance of Tiger Woods's return, his contribution to sport and responsibility before the next generation of players.

Woods is scheduled to play tomorrow at the Masters Tournament in Augusta for the first time since a widely reported sex scandal shook his personal and professional life, forcing him into rehab.

Payne called Woods a "very special player," who is a testament to the fact that "success is directly attributable to hard work and effort." But Payne said that Woods forgot that with "fame and fortune comes responsibility, not invisibility." He said Woods disappointed not only the entire golfing community, but most importantly the children who were looking up to him as a role model.

Payne foresees Woods moving forward from the scandal, but says Woods will no longer be judged only on his performance. Instead, the "sincerity of his efforts to change" will always be under public scrutiny from now on as well.

Meanwhile, the list of Tiger Woods's mistresses has gotten a little longer today. This time, Woods's 21-year-old neighbor Raychel Coudriet is alleging she was in a brief relationship with the golf star.

• Raychel Coudriet: Photos of Tiger Woods Neighbor