How much will scandal hurt Woods?

Any U.S. politician will tell you that getting caught in an infidelity is a crushing blow to your popularity. But what about athletes? Sure, politicians are affected by affairs because their whole industry is built on public appeal, but does the same hold true for sports figures?

We're about to witness a very interesting sociological study of American sports watchers. When Tiger Woods, having admitted to numerous adulterous endeavors, takes on the Masters next spring, you know he's going to hear some booing and jeering. But what will it do to the all-important television ratings?

There are numerous examples of athletes who overcame larger backlashes than the one Tiger's receiving. Kobe Bryant, accused of sexual assault, has managed to make his way back into the public spotlight. Ray Lewis, accused of murdering someone, became the coverboy of the Madden videogame just a few years later. Michael Vick appeared to be the most radioactive athlete ever after he admitted to killing dogs in the most depraved, sadistic manner imaginable, yet he's gotten nothing but cheers from Philadelphia Eagles fans.

Those results are skewed, however, because those athletes play in team sports. Sure Kobe took a hit in popularity, but it's not as noticeable because he plays on the big-market L.A. Lakers. When it comes to golf, however, there are no teams. Ratings are decided by the people who are playing, and since Tiger Woods came on the scene, the ratings have been astronomical. The highest-rated PGA Tournament, Masters Tournament, U.S. Open and British Open have all occured in the last 15 years, all thanks to Tiger Woods.

When Woods returned this year from his leg injury, after missing the final half of the 2008 season, the ratings increase wasn't just high, it was almost 100% all the way around. Not since Michael Jordan has there ever been an athlete who could single-handedly increase TV ratings as much as he can. No athlete is more important to any sport than Tiger is to golf.

So what will happen? Will golf fans spurn him or will they continue to follow his every move? On the one hand, sports fans have had no trouble blocking out personal indiscretions in the past, most notably with what's going on in Major League Baseball. When David Ortiz and Barry Bonds and Jason Giambi went up to bat, they always received a standing ovation from their hometown fans, even in spite of their reported steroid use. However, those players were solidly booed everywhere else they played. A wide majority of the people in the gallery are going to be Tiger loyalists who'll continue to support him -- but what of everybody else? How will they react?

We'll find out in a few months how much of a setback there'll be following the affair. We'll know for certain where the line between following someone for their virtue begins and following someone for their excellence ends.