Capelle On Golf

Big Media has been noticeably silent about Tiger Woods’ club throwing incident in Australia last Saturday at the JBWere Masters, perhaps because they believe there is no story there, or because it conflicts with their Tiger worshipping message.

But one has only to peruse the golf forums to find proof of the growing disconnect between their view of the news and the real news.  Tiger has gotten his fans and critics in an uproar – some correctly denouncing his tantrums while others have rushed to his defense.

In a previous column I presented my views on Tiger’s behavior. Then I read hundreds of posts to see what his defenders had to say. Below is the gist of their arguments and my response.

The club throwing is an isolated event not worthy of further discussion defense.
Tiger threw the club in a similar manner only two months ago at the Deutsche Bank, and more than likely has many times in practice where his temper, according to Butch Harmon is on full display. So he must know that a driver thrown straight ahead into the ground will likely bounce sideways, possibly into the fans. Besides, Tiger is a habitual offender, so the outcry is not just for this offense, but for the hundreds that have preceded it.

Expressions of emotion are allowed in other sports so they should be allowed in golf defense.
This defense comes from those unfamiliar with golf’s traditions who think it should be like other sports. These folks need to read the USGA’s rule book, which expressly forbids Tiger’s behavior.

Other pros do it defense.
Tiger, unlike other pros, is paid $100 million a year, so he has an obligation to his sponsors to behave. And even if other pros misbehave, anecdotal evidence says that Tiger is the most heavily fined player on tour even though he plays a shorter schedule.

Bobby Jones threw clubs, so why can’t Woods defense.
Jones threw a club, hit a lady in the gallery, and drew blood. He learned his lesson, wrote the USGA a letter of apology, and stopped throwing clubs

Woods didn’t throw it at the crowd defense.
He threw it close enough to the crowd that a predictably unpredictable bounce sent it directly at the fans. With fans lining both sides of the tee, there was no safe place for this kind of slam/throw.

He didn’t throw the club hard enough to hurt anyone defense.
I’ve seen two versions of the throw – the popular YouTube version shows a moderately hard throw. Another on the Golf Channel shows a harder throw. It would be nice to know which is the original. Still, even at the slower speed the club was traveling much faster than you can walk – let’s say twice as fast, or about 6 MPH when it entered the crowd. At that speed, if they clubhead caught someone in the teeth, or the end of the shaft poked someone in the eye, serious damage could have resulted.

The Australians aren’t mad, so why should it matter to us defense.
They were so happy and starved to see Tiger they he could have lobbed rotten eggs into the crowd and they would have just giggled as they did following the club throw.

It showed he is human defense.
His misbehavior shows the weaker side of human nature. While some amateurs may be expected to behave this way, it is not what you’d expect from someone  in the public eye who is so highly praised for his self control (at least before he hits certain shots).

Tiger does so much for the game defense.
Imagine how much more Woods could be doing for the game by showing kids how to act on the course, and by interacting with the fans. Besides, how do we know that he really is good for golf? Participation is down since he took up the game and he’s been teaching a new generation of golfers that it’s okay to act like a spoiled brat on the course.

Equating flying objects to other sports defense.
Broken bats and flying pucks are part of baseball and hockey, but the players do not intentionally send them into the crowd. Besides, those objects are expected, and there is much more time for the fans to react. Tiger’s club throw came at short range and was unexpected, giving the crowd little time to defend itself.

Tiger’s displays of anger show his passion for the game defense.
Tiger’s passion is more like a perfectionist’s obsession, and it could be at the point where it’s hurting him more than its helping. We know he loves the game already – he’s been devoted to it his whole life – so he doesn’t need to prove it by over the top displays of anger.

Tiger never gets a break compared to other pros who misbehave because the all cameras are always on him defense.
Because the cameras are glued to him, and he knows they are, that’s all the more reason to be on his best behavior. Besides, he gets paid that 100 mil in part because of those cameras.

You’re just a hater defense.
I dislike this one the most because it is not about hating Tiger. It IS about disliking Tiger’s on course behavior because it goes against the tradition of the game. If you have an objection to someone’s actions, expressing it seems to make you a hater. Not true.

He is great for golf because he doesn’t get in trouble defense.
Unlike football, where 20% of the players are felons, golfers are not known for getting in trouble with the law. And saying Tiger doesn’t get in trouble is like praising someone for not beating his wife. It’s not what you don’t do wrong that matters as that should be a given. It’s what you do that counts: Tiger curses, throws clubs, and ignores his fans.

He is great ambassador for golf defense.
Right. He shows foreign fans the ugly American and makes golf look like it’s as much fun as a kidney stone. What foreigner would want to take up a game that doesn’t bring joy even when you’re busting par on a tough track?

Let’s drop it because Tiger apologized defense.
Tiger’s comments on his club throwing on the thirteenth tee: “That was my mistake. I got hot after a bad tee shot and let go of the club.” What was his mistake? The bad tee shot or the club throw? And where is the supposed apology?

Plenty have tried to defend Tiger, but to no avail. The verdict: guilty of gross misconduct on a golf course as charged.