Nike's 30-second spot featuring Tiger Woods' stark image and a voice over from his late father is sparking a lively round of criticism and praise around the 'Net.

Wieden + Kennedy is Nike's ad agency and the spot coincides with Woods' return to professional golf at The Masters and follows a press conference earlier this week in which he again addressed the scandal that battered his previously sterling public image.

The ad features the late Earl Woods saying: "Tiger, I am more prone to be inquisitive, to promote discussion. I want to find out what your thinking was. I want to find out what your feelings are. And did you learn anything?"

Nike said in a statement today: "We support Tiger and his family. As he returns to competitive golf, the ad addresses his time away from the game using the powerful words of his father."

Here's the spot:

Eric J (4/09):
The ad is classic Nike... The fact that Tiger agreed to do it and use his father speaks to his desire to regain his once indisputable role as the greatest athletic icon of our generation...

Its part of a long rehabilitation that will succeed.