Tiger Woods hires Ari Fleischer for imminent return to golf

Hank Haney might be helping Tiger Woods polish his golf swing. But it's another kind of (s)wingman that Woods is counting on to stand by his side when he attempts to dance with the intimidating media again. 

The New York Post reports that two sources say media consultant Ari Fleischer has joined Team Tiger. With credentials like serving as the former presidential adviser to George W. Bush and helping repair the shattered image of steroid-enhanced slugger Mark McGwire, Fleischer certainly has the resume for the job.

The two have reportedly been strategizing Woods' return to golf at the Arnold Palmer Invitational starting Friday, Mar. 25 at Bay Hill in Orlando, Florida.

"They were in his living room this week going over a strategy for how to handle Bay Hill in two weeks," says one source.

The other source adds, "I would be shocked if he didn't play the Arnold Palmer."

Since Palmer himself has reportedly told some confidants that Woods is a sure thing, the folks running the tournament are prepping for what would surely be a media frenzy.

It's what's really behind Woods summoning Fleischer, who formed Ari Fleischer Sports Communications in 2008, that's particularly interesting. Woods knows he eventually will have to field questions from the media -- he can only hide behind the comfort of 13-minute pre-scripted speeches but for so long. So Fleischer is apparently helping him prep for such questions.

Here's hoping Fleischer is telling Woods to cool it with the "deeply sorry" bit.

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