If Tiger bolts from Stanford, blame NCAA

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SOMETIMES it just doesn't pay to be a star. If Tiger Woods leaves Stanford early, it will be the NCAA, not school, that drives him away.

Two weeks ago, the Cardinal sophomore and two-time U.S. Amateur champ drove to Napa to have dinner with Arnold Palmer during the Transamerica Senior Golf Championship at Silverado Country Club. Woods, 19, has been friends with The King for five years.

"The kid was trying to learn knowledge from the legend," Tiger's mother, Kultida, said from the family home in Cypress, Orange County. "Pick his brain."

Understandable. Who better to discuss the game with than Palmer, the most charismatic golfer of all time. Tiger arranged the meeting, and one of the prime topics of conversation was how to deal with fans.

There was only one problem: Arnie picked up the check. Like he was going to stick a poor college kid with the tab! Palmer's generosity, though well-meaning, was deemed a rules violation by the NCAA, which prohibits athletes from receiving benefits because of their status or reputation.

To be safe, Stanford officials initially reported the dinner to the Pac-10 Conference. David Price, the associate commissioner, didn't see a problem, but still informed the NCAA.

"It's a gray area," Price said. "Let's check it out."

The NCAA saw it differently. In its view, the free meal violated NCAA policy and Woods was immediately declared ineligible. However, once the NCAA did its homework, it agreed to restore Woods' eligibility on one condition: that he send Palmer a $25 check for dinner.

"I was pretty angry," Woods said. "I didn't do anything wrong."

As it turned out, Woods was ineligible for only two hours, but flew to El Paso, Texas last Wednesday morning for the Savine College All-American Golf Tournament, without knowing his status. He found out when he arrived.

"You don't send a kid to a tournament when his mind is not clear," Kultida said. "It's not fair."

Woods, a first-team All-American and reigning Pac-10 Player of the Year, had two similar misunderstandings last year. In April, he was declared ineligible for one day for writing Masters diaries for two weekly golf magazines, even though he wasn't compensated. A short time later he was scrutinized again for receiving free tickets to watch dancer and friend Mikhail Baryshnikov perform in Cupertino.

"It's harassment," Kultida said. "He's trying to stay in school and set a good example for younger kids. Sometimes there's a limit."

Stanford officials say they are doing all they can to inform and protect Woods, but can only do so much. For better or worse, the NCAA still makes the rules.

Some Cardinal athletes have been wearing new T-shirts around campus that say, "If it's fair and reasonable, it must be an NCAA violation."

Kultida isn't amused.

"As a parent, it's kind of annoying," she said. "I want him to stay (in school) for four years, but the way they're (the NCAA) treating him is not right."

Woods, a business major, could leave right now and be set for life with pro contracts and endorsements. His father, Earl, estimated his worth at $25 million. According to an agent from a well-known management group, it's more like $10-$12 million, which is still substantial.

"The one thing that makes me mad - Stanford doesn't stand up for him," said Kultida. "He doesn't have anything to hide."

Cardinal athletic director Ted Leland understands her concerns and planned to call her last Friday.

"We're disappointed we haven't done a better job communicating with the family," he said.

Woods is taking 21 units this quarter and genuinely enjoys school. But for the first time he has hinted he might not stay four years. If he's looking for an out, the NCAA might provide it.

"He is such a highly visible player," Price said.

"People want to give him benefits. I think he's done a marvelous job of keeping on top of things."

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