Radio New Zealand - Te Reo Irirangi o Aotearoa

Woods now must raise his game to keep sponsors happy

Updated at 6:42 pm on 17 March 2010

The world's top golfer Tiger Woods has relieved sponsors by announcing his return to the Masters next month and now needs a victory on the links to revive his $100 million sports brand.

Woods announced today he'll return to golf at the U.S. Masters in early April after stepping away from the game to address his marital infidelities.

But the timing hasn't impressed USA Today's golf writer Christine Brennan, who says when Woods made his televised apology last month he said he'd return one day but didn't know when.

Brennan says just 25 days ago she , and many others, took Woods at his word.

She says now it looks like it was a big fraud and if he knew what he was going to do why mislead people who'd given him the benefit of the doubt.

Brennan says although Woods has been installed as favourite already winning is probably less important than being seen to be less aloof and more friendly to fans.

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