THIS MIGHT BE JUST THE MOST IRONIC FRONT COVER (AND NOT INA GOOD WAY!) OF ALL TIME, BUT THIS WILL SURELY BE GOLF DIGEST'S BIGGEST SELLING ISSUE EVER

Here we see Tiger lining up a putt for the Prez with the coverlines screaming that Obama has much to learn from the golfing sage and legendary swordsman.

It must have looked like the greatest idea of all time,.... at the time. And it was. But what a difference a month makes. While Golf Digest was heading to the printers in mid-November and the editor was quite rightly congratulating himself on a major coup, Tiger was still Tiger — the shining role model and dedicated family man.

The coverline reads: “10 Tips Obama Can Take from Tiger.”. Whoops, there goes another reputation. Inside the article piles on the embarrassment by referring to the president and the scandal-plagued golfer as “two men [who] might have much to talk about, like siblings separated at birth”. Ouch.

Tiger is also praised as “a good role model because he has always been able to pull himself together after setbacks”.

The article, somewhat unsurprisingly, doesn't mention Tiger's Worldwide Shag Fest Tour from 2002-2009. But then, who knew?

Golf Digest goes on to claim that Mr Obama could benefit from a Woods-like agility with image control, adding: “Tiger never does anything that would make him ridiculous.”

It has now emerged that three more women — waitress Mindy Lawton, Las Vegas model Jamie Jungers and socialite Cori Rist — are claimed to have had affairs with the world's most famous golfer, bringing the total to six. Blimey, he has been busy. And we here at SMTG have had a tip that impending news out of Toronto won't help either.

The magazine cover has been the subject of widespread amusement and ridicule in the golfing world, even from its own readers.

Brenda Laurenti of Willard, Utah, wrote on the Golf Digest blog: “Nice Jan 2010 cover… I got a huge laugh. 10 tips Obama can take from Tiger… DON'T GET CAUGHT! Don't you wish you could have a redo!”

Bret Hopman, Golf Digest's publicist, said the magazine went to press well before the stories about Woods's alleged infidelities. In a defence of the article that may not be appreciated by the White House, he pointed out: “It's about two great leaders in their fields, both with their strengths and both obviously have their shortcomings.”

YEAH, BUT CHECK OUT THOSE SALES... NOW WHERE CAN I GET A COPY?