With the Masters just a few weeks away, the saga of Tiger Woods finally will be coming to a close.

When Woods had the infamous accident in November while leaving his home, questions quickly began to surface.

Shortly afterward, rumors of infidelity arose and more than a dozen women came forward with proof of their affairs with Woods.

But, as soon as Woods gets through with the Masters, things will most likely return to normal.

Why?

It's the way of the world.

His problems will take center stage until someone else knocks it to the back page — thanks, Ben Roethlisberger!

Woods finally is doing what Mark McGwire did before the start of spring training: Getting out there in public, take the brunt of the public and media scrutiny, so that when it's time to get ready to compete, the buzz and sensationalism is gone.

McGwire, the former baseball star who admitted in an interview to Bob Costas that he used steroids, was stupid and was sorry.

He followed up with those same comments the next week, so that when spring training arrived, McGwire, the St. Louis Cardinals' hitting coach, the story was a dead issue.

Look for McGwire's Hall of Fame votes to start piling up over the next few years.

Woods, however, caught a lot of heat for his first news conference last month. He dictated the conditions — no questions, just a prepared statement, and invited only those he wanted there.

He came off looking a bit disheveled — that oversized suit didn't help — and he gave his mother a hug.

His wife, Elin, wasn't there, most likely to avoid the circus, but she was probably still miffed, too.

Woods, however, has done three things that will be looked on favorably as the Masters draws closer.

n He sought help for his sexual addiction. Who would have thought a few years ago Woods would have close to 15 mistresses? After his infidelities were revealed, Woods sought treatment at a 45-day program. He needed help and he got it.

n On Sunday, Woods gave five-minute interviews to ESPN and The Golf Channel. He hesitated somewhat, but he answered the questions. You could see the emotion and the embarrassment he felt. He seemed humble, something rarely seen from Woods.

n The biggest of all, it appears Elin is taking Tiger back and will keep the family unit together. For all the commotion, if his wife believes in him and takes him back, how can the public still hold him to a higher standard? Woods has transcended the game of golf, but he's still a golfer.

If you're disappointed in what he's done, that's fine. But don't do it because you decided to see him as something more than human.

I don't recall him asking for that. Tiger Woods doesn't owe the public a thing.

He told ESPN reporter Tom Rinaldi he hoped to hear some applause out there. My guess is he will.

When he wins, the fans will return. He doesn't need the public's acceptance to be successful, just his family.

My guess is he'll get both fairly soon.