WHITE SULPHUR SPRINGS, W.Va. - Tiger Woods spent 10 minutes at the conclusion of the Greenbrier Classic speaking to reporters, which is something he didn't do following the second and third rounds at the sixth edition at the Old White TPC.
The criticism of his decision prior to Sunday's 3-under 67 was palpable, but Woods didn't notice while he recorded his best final-round par score since the 2013 Tour Championship.
"I don't go online," Woods said. "I stay away from that. Social media has certainly changed the world in which we know it. Things can happen and do happen on there, and for me, I have to stay away from it."
He has survived much worse scrutiny than skipping out on the media, which included a much-publicized split with wife Elin Nordegren in 2010.
Rumors surfaced last week that he cheated on then-girlfriend Lindsey Vonn with Amanda Dufner, the estranged wife of PGA Tour player Jason Dufner, perhaps while they were still married.
Woods' agent, Michael Steinberg, denied the accusation to Golfweek: "I couldn't deny this more vehemently. There is less than zero strand of truth to it. 100 percent false. 100 percent fabricated and zero credence. Absolutely, unequivocally untrue. They are not even acquaintances. It's absolutely ridiculous."
Woods' net worth is estimated at $640 million, which includes endorsements from Nike Golf and Upper Deck, the sports cards and collectibles company.
Since turning pro in 2006, he has won 79 PGA Tour events and 14 majors. However, he hasn't won a tournament since winning five in 2013.
He hoped to change that at the Greenbrier Classic, but his 7-under was only good enough to tie for 32nd.
In his return to the podium on the Greenbrier Golf Club patio, Woods declared that progress is being made in his game after a "positive week." He said he counted "six lip-outs" on putts, had a pair of 3s on par 4s and a 4 on a par 5.
"I made some nice strides heading into the British Open (in two weeks)," Woods said. "(Sunday), the putts I read perfectly and I hit right still lipped out."
Woods will play in next week's John Deere Classic before heading overseas for the Open Championship (British Open) at St. Andrews.
Despite being 202 in the FedEx Cup rankings and 220 in the world, Woods knows he'll continue to be under the spotlight.
He hasn't spoken of the rumors about an alleged affair with Amanda Dufner.
"I understand that everyone has an opinion, just like everyone has a ... so ...," he said, laughing. "I remember talking to (Wayne) Gretzky one time and he grew up in an era when he first played hockey and winning the (Stanley) Cups, there was no 24-hour news cycle.
"That was a big deal going into a 24-hour news cycle, and now there's instant news at the click of a button and that has changed the landscape again."
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RUSSELL HENLEY has fared well on the PGA Tour with two wins since becoming a full-time member in 2013.
Like so many of the players in Sunday's final round of the Greenbrier Classic, he had a chance to get in the playoff with five birdies and one bogey on the back and even lead at 12 under.
It was a missed birdie putt on No. 17, however, that ultimately left him one stroke out.
Despite his misfortune, Henley has made $1,436,182 this season in 18 starts and played well at the Old White TPC.
"I've been hitting my driver really well all week, and the first round I had out here was pretty sloppy," said Henley, who finished tied for 30th during his only appearance at the Classic in 2013. "I shot even and I hit the ball the best I've ever hit it off the tee the first round. So, I just kept reminding myself if I kept hitting my driver that well and cleaned a couple things up around the greens I could have a good round."
He had a bogey-free second round and 13 birdies, three bogeys and one double bogey on Saturday and Sunday.
"I just wanted to finish off a round I thought was really solid and had a couple mistakes here and there," Henley said, "but I felt like I was due."
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THE HOLE-IN-ONE Jackpot contest reached $500 in the first round, but Justin Thomas' first-round ace that resulted in 347 people receiving a total of $173,500 was the last payout of the week.
The hole, which played at 137 yards in the first round and was bumped up to 181 in the fourth, saw 405 tee shots without a hole in one after Thursday.
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ROBERT STREB reached the playoff while using a 56-degree wedge as a putter on the final nine holes.
He managed five birdies and one bogey using the wedge, which he accidentally broke on No. 9.
"I meant to toss it lightly next to my bag so that it would be standing up on it, and it didn't quite make it that far, and the little bottom barrel bounced, it went flying and, I thought, I'm in trouble," he said. "I was thinking if I could just hang in at even par for the rest of the round, I was doing pretty good with the wedge for a putter ... it turned out better than I thought."
Contact Assistant Sports Editor Rich Stevens at richstevens@dailymailwv.com or 304-348-4837. Follow him on Twitter @richdailymail.