Tom Watson calls Tiger Woods the greatest ever (even though he’s Jack Nicklaus’ great buddy), yet he deplores Woods’ behavior so much he wrote him a letter (Golf Digest, October):
I did write Tiger a note earlier in the summer about his behavior, but it’s personal. Don’t know whether he received it, and I don’t want to go there.
Evidently Tiger’s got some tough screening criteria, or he read and disregarded his advice, and took Watson of his Christmas card list. At any rate, if Watson has no influence with Tiger or can’t even get past his people, you’ve got to wonder what it will take for golf’s Bad Boy to mend his ways.
Besides, the golf world is not unanimous on this issue. Indeed, the debate rages on at the blogs and forums regarding Woods’ on course behavior. You know the two sides: his outbursts of anger are to be tolerated and even applauded because they show he cares; his ugly side is a breach of etiquette that shouldn’t be permitted.
While the two sides engage in verbal warfare, the right course of action is perfectly clear: Woods needs to clean up his act or the rules need to be changed so golf won’t continue to be the world’s most hypocritical sport
As it stands now, Woods typically violates the rules several times a round with his tantrums. Here’s what the USGA’s rule book has to say:
All players should conduct themselves in a disciplined manner, demonstrating courtesy and sportsmanship at all times, irrespective of how competitive they may be. This is the spirit of the game of golf.
So, Tiger is only in violation of the spirit of golf, no biggie there. And I’m sure none of his intimidating nature that causes players to melt in his presence is derived from his behavior. Yeah, right. Next “rule”:
Players should avoid causing damage to the course by removing divots when taking practice swings or by hitting the head of a club into the ground, whether in anger or for any other reason.
On the ninth tee of his second round at Turnberry, Tiger unleashed a wide right followed by a vicious club slam that left a deep divot in the tee box, but left the hallowed rectangle scot free. Then, at the Deutsche Bank, he flung his driver hard into the teeing ground on the fifth hole.
The problem with Woods’ offenses is that they are penalized only in the court of public opinion, not by stroke or distance. While the PGA Tour levies secret monetary fines, his offenses, to my knowledge, are not penalized in the majors at all. And yet Woods’ outbursts are 1,000 times more offensive than the ticky tack penalties that actually add shots to a player’s score – things like being penalized when the wind blows your ball a fraction of an inch on a slick green after you’ve taken your stance.
If golf really wants to take care of Tiger’s problem, (and you’ve got to wonder if they do) the solution is simple: attach strokes for the infractions mentioned above to his and other violator’s scorecards. I guarantee you that Tiger won’t have to think once about letting loose with another F—bomb or slamming a club if he knows it will add a precious stroke or two to his card – because no one fights harder to saves strokes than Tiger.
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3 responses so far ↓
1 BD // Sep 13, 2009 at 1:37 pm
Tiger’s behavior is fair game for opinion commentary, but to say that he “violates the RULES several times a round” is simply false. The standards you cite aren’t “rules” at all. They’re merely “tips to help all players get the maximum enjoyment from the game.”
Moreover, while everyone would like to see ALL players exhibit good manners and sportsmanship, I for one don’t want to see athletic competitions decided, even in part, on the basis of a player’s perceived charm and congeniality. Therefore, notwithstanding the question of whether Watson’s letter got through to Tiger, I think Tom’s general approach to the problem — peer guidance and suasion — is the correct one.
2 Phil // Sep 15, 2009 at 3:25 pm
BD
Several violations would be an average. Depending on his play, it probably ranges from 1-5. The standards are quoted from the rule book - they are not “tips” from an article or whatever.
His actions do break rules and result in penalties - the PGA Tour, according to anecdotal evidence, fines him more than any other player. My point is that stroke penalties would end his bad behavior because fines don’t, nor do letters from Watson.
There is precedent for stroke penalties - Serena Williams just lost match point at the US Open because of a tantrum. I did not say players must be charming and congenial, just that they follow the USGA’s guidelines for good behavior, which are followed by non-club throwing non-cursing players like Palmer and Nicklaus.
3 Dick Flatts // Dec 24, 2009 at 5:42 pm
Cheetah Woods = phoney scumbag.
I’ve never liked the guy.
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