May 13, 2013

Tiger Woods is Back as World’s Top Golfer


【Unlocking Word Meanings】
 今日の単語・フレーズ

Read the following words/expressions found in today’s article.

1. infidelity 
[in-fi-DEL-i-tee] (n.) – the act of being unfaithful or being in a relationship with someone else other than one’s partner
Example: He accused his wife of infidelity after seeing her with another man.

2. affirm [uh-FURM] (v.) – to agree or to strongly believe in something
Example: Michael Jordan’s high scores affirm that he is still the best basketball player of all time.

3. glory [GLAWR-ee, GLOHR-ee] (n.) – pride, honor, or success
Example: His medals and trophies remind him of the glory of his career.

4. strained [streynd] (adj.) – damaged or injured
Example: Frequent misunderstandings between the couple led to a strained relationship.

5. comeback [KUHM-bak] (n.) – the act of getting back to a former state or condition (e.g. fame)
Example: Former fans were pleased with the athlete’s comeback after his accident.


【Article】
 ニュース記事

Read the text below.

Tiger Woods is once again rated as the top golfer in the Official World Golf Rankings despite his poor image caused by an infidelity scandal and an unsatisfactory performance.

Lee Gordon, director of 180 Communications, affirmed that Woods is working to be the top golfer as he was several years ago. However, the media stated that the return of his former glory will greatly depend on the outcome of his future tournaments.

In 2009, Woods was involved in a cheating scandal that became national news. Later on, his wife Elin Nordegren, filed a divorce which cost him $100 million.

Wood’s strained marital relationship seemingly affected his performance in golf matches. In fact, in the 2010 Masters tournament, he did not win even a single event. As a result, Hank Haney resigned as his coach and several sponsors withdrew their support for Woods.

Since 2008, Woods has been stuck with 14 victories. His ranking also dropped to No. 58 in early 2011. However, he managed to win a match in December 2011, marking his comeback as a top golfer. Gordon also added that Woods may not need much time to be back on track.

Though some people dislike Woods’ for his personal failures, many people still believe in his skills. People who expressed support for him acknowledge his past mistakes, but appreciate how he works hard to be a top golfer once again.


【Viewpoint Discussion】
 ディスカッションテーマ

Enjoy a discussion with your tutor. 

Discussion A


·         With his past personal issues, do you think Tiger Woods can become as popular as he was many years ago? Why do you think so?
·         Why does a person’s personal life affect how people judge his or her professional career?

Discussion B

·         What mistakes have you done in the past that you regretted the most? Please explain your answer.
·         How did you make up for or cope with your past mistakes? Explain briefly.


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