I generally try to ignore celebrity news stories out of the conviction that a man’s athletic or acting abilities, while perhaps entertaining, are only so important. But the recent Tiger Woods announcement surprised me, and coming in the same week as Gov. Mark Sanford (R-SC)’s wife filing for divorce, provides an interesting contrast.
I am not referring to the revelations of Mr. Woods’ infidelity. While disappointing, that was not entirely surprising. We live in a day when fidelity in marriage, particularly for high-profile men with a large fan base, a significant travel schedule, and a vast amount of discretionary income, cannot be assumed. What was surprising was his decision to take an indefinite leave from golf to “focus [his] attention on being a better husband, father, and person.” One story I read said that Woods promised his wife that he’d do “anything” to save their marriage, and an indefinite leave from the PGA was one of the things on her list. If that’s true, I commend Mr. Woods from putting his marriage ahead of his career, fame, and millions of dollars (once his sponsors reduce, if not entirely remove, their association with him).
I couldn’t help but wonder if Gov. Sanford, whose indiscretions were apparently far less severe than those of Mr. Woods, would have saved his marriage had he resigned as Governor, as many called for in the wake of his infidelity, and turned his full attention to his wife and four sons. Consider the contrast:
Woods is 33 and (at 14 majors) is well on his way to beating Jack Nicklaus’ record of 18. His children are too young to understand what transpired. His marriage is only five years old. Should he and Elin split, many would not consider it astonishing. His professional life would likely have remained strong (perhaps after a short, bumpy ride as the divorce settlement details dominated the tabloids). But no doubt winning additional majors and breaking Nicklaus’ record would have secured renewed adulation, revitalized corporate sponsor relationships, and a slew of prospective mates.
Sanford will turn 50 next year, the same year in which term limits will disallow him to once again run for governor. With the revelation of his affair, his viability for the GOP presidential nomination in 2012 was shot, regardless of whether he finished his current term in office. So while Woods is still rising in his profession, Sanford is clearly on the decline, even if he were to escape (as it appears he has) impeachment. And unlike Woods, Sandford has four sons, all of whom appear old enough to understand the horror of infidelity (some are already in their teens). Sanford has been married for 20 years, presumably to a woman with whom he has a strong and abiding connection — they’ve not only raised a family together, she’s run his campaigns for Congress and Governor. So at the tail end of a successful political career spanning 15 years, with no higher office left to viably seek, in an industry (politics) where character/morality matter to constituents a lot more than in athletics, with people from all over the country calling on him to resign (including high ranking members of his own party), it would have been widely and readily understood if Sanford were to have resigned to focus on his wife and sons.
The contrast is even more astonishing in light of Sanford’s profession of evangelical Christian faith, not to mention the fact that Sanford, unlike Woods, probably did not have a prenuptial agreement in place. Who should have a higher view of marriage, Sanford or Woods? Yet Sanford stubbornly stayed in office (narrowly avoiding forced removal by impeachment) and lost his marriage. And Woods elected to take an indefinite break from golf, with the possible outcome of a saved marriage.
At least I hope so. Woods made the courageous and right move. I pray that it will be accompanied by a realization that he (like the rest of us) desperately needs a merciful Savior and Substitute before the throne of the true and righteous Judge, with whom he has an unavoidable appointment. Because not only have his wife and the media caught up with him, of greater consequence is that his sin has found him out.