Mark Madden: Scottie Scheffler should be the story of the Masters, not Tiger Woods

Scottie Scheffler won the Masters. He finished 23 strokes ahead of Tiger Woods, who finished 47th but was somehow the story.

Skip Bayless of Fox said that as far as he’s concerned, Woods won the Masters. Bayless referred to Scheffler as “the bland leading the bland.” That’s wrong and unfair.

The New York Times headline: “At the Masters, Tiger Woods Finishes, a Victory in Itself.”

CBS often cut away from players doing well to show Woods, who was awful. (Shooting 13 over is awful. The score is the score.)

Do people want to see Woods, even if he’s rotten? Sure.

But if media indulges fans at the expense of properly keeping up with who’s winning and who’s challenging, you’re not covering sports anymore. You’re “Entertainment Tonight.”

Woods’ comeback 13 months after a gnarly car accident that nearly cost his him right leg was brave and courageous. We know that, because those words get used constantly.

Woods’ wreck was his fault. He was going 87 mph in a 45 mph zone. His blood wasn’t tested and his mobile phone records weren’t checked because, it’s said, there was no evidence of impaired or distracted driving. (Perhaps because Woods’ blood and phone records weren’t checked.)

All of Woods’ problems are of his own making: His adultery, transgressions with prostitutes and his substance issues. Yet he remains wildly popular.

Other athletes have shamed themselves far less and paid for it much more.

Heck, Colin Kaepernick didn’t embarrass himself at all, and half of America still hates him. He hasn’t worked in football since 2016.

Scheffler is the world’s No. 1-ranked golfer. He’s won four of his last six starts. He’s 25. He should be golf’s new superstar.

Should be. But Scheffler’s got no chance.

Woods is 46. He finished 47th at the Masters. Yet Scheffler can’t escape his shadow. Nobody’s talking about him. He didn’t get his proper due after winning at Augusta. Twits like Bayless throw shade.

Does golf need Woods? Or does golf need Woods to go away?

The TV ratings say the former. But public attachment to Woods would be strange if it wasn’t so widespread. You want major heat on Twitter? Dare to not fawn over Woods.

Woods will play in July’s British Open, but maybe not May’s PGA Championship.

If Woods doesn’t play at the PGA, the tournament won’t matter. No buzz will exist. When Woods plays the British Open, he will be the only story.

It’s a toxic vibe, but no one will admit that. Who wins isn’t important. The score isn’t the be-all, end-all. We like this guy. That’s what important.

Jack Nicklaus has won 18 major tournaments, Woods 15.

Woods won’t catch Nicklaus, although Woods will absurdly be picked to win every tournament he enters by a disproportionate amount of “experts.”

Woods nonetheless will be feted as the greatest golfer of all time by acclamation. (That’s already happening.)

The goalposts get moved constantly.

“Nicklaus played inferior competition.” I’m not sure that’s true. Nicklaus definitely used inferior equipment, though.

“Nobody did more for the game of golf than Woods.” I’m not sure that’s true, either. (See Palmer, Arnold.) Even if it is, that’s got nothing to do with who’s the best golfer.

“Woods has the most PGA Tour wins.” That’s true. Woods is tied with Sam Snead at 82. Nicklaus had 73. But Nicklaus finished runner-up in 19 majors, Tiger in just seven.

But we’re in the era where opinion matters at least as much as results, and quite often more. So, Woods is the greatest golfer of all-time.

It’s tough to argue against Woods. (It’s difficult to argue against Nicklaus, too.)

But one thing is 100% true: Scheffler won the Masters in impressive fashion. Woods finished 47th. But we got fake news reflecting a popularity contest.

When the Pirates lose a lot, their fans should just say they won.

Same applies if the Penguins go out in the first round of the playoffs. “What a courageous effort! Sid, Geno and Tanger! Champions forever!”