More Tiger

[mweston1016]

Some interesting letters from readers this month with Tiger coming in for some stick surrounding his attitude on the course, espcially at The Open.

It's the spitting and swearing which is upsetting most of us. You can't excuse that. What's the solution and how do you police swearing and spitting, because it isn't just Tiger? Peter Allis was quick to pounce on the latter a few weeks ago.

 

[HomerJSimpson]

As we have mentioned elsewhere nothing will happen as the USPGA are scared of killing the golden goose. If they fine or ban him as they would have done with Daly etc then think of the uproar from sponsors, TV and advertisers.

Until someone has the balls to stand up to Tiger and punish such behaviour it will continue and a generation of young golfers will come into the game thinking it is the acceptable way to perform. I've seen juniors at my own club kicking at tee blocks and swearing and when asked why I was even told with a completely straight face "Tiger does it to get rid of his frustration". It is a trend that is set to poison our game unless stopped from the very top

 

[viscount17]

Fines for 'conduct contrary to etiquette'? but then who is to police, enforce. Officials can't (or won't) enforce the rules against slow play.

The fines themselves may be meaningless though the embarrassment factor, were they to be made public (which I doubt) might work.

It may be a case where the grass roots has to show the way, starting with the juniors, though to be fair to them plenty of adults are as bad.

 

[mweston1016]

I think Daly had a few other things going on that didn't help his case, but I see your point. I don't see why the issue can't be addressed, but it should because it's not only setting a bad example, but it's making him unpopular, which is sad considering he's such a gifted sportsman.

 

[forefortheday]

I believe he is the most fined man on tour but since the USPGA don't officially comment nobody really finds out.

So maybe if they actually commented on who and why in relation to fines it might shame them into stopping.

On the other hand they could try doing what they do with slow play fines and double them after each offence?

 

[HomerJSimpson]

Why not do what other sports do and bring him officually to account for bringing the game into disrepute. Footballers, rugby players (both codes) and even cricketers are held accountable for their on field actions and dealt with if they step out of line. Why don't the USPGA (R&A for the Open) actually come out and say we are calling him in to explain x, y or z. At least it will be out in the open for the public to see them taking the matter seriously even if the "punishment" is not made public.

I think if his dad was still around then he would have nipped it in the bud much sooner as he was very clever at recognising public opinion and would have seen that this was having a negative impact. That and he had very strong views on how to behave as a golfer and as a human and I think he would have found his sons behaviour unacceptable on both levels

 

[ball_basher]

i wonder what his sponsor's think of his attitude, and do they want to see this carry on ????? there the ones paying all the millions, now that might worry him lol

 

[rgs]

in my view fines are useless as theses millionaires wont miss a few thousand$/€/£.

A 2 shot penalty for each offence might quickly change the attitude of some pros.

 

[ball_basher]

here here .... or 2 strikes and your out

 

[Dodger]

Anyone that gets offended by a bit of spitting and swearing needs to get out more.Spitting is a natural function especially when your arse is nipping in the heat of battle and swearing shows some fire in the belly...in fact what about a bit of club throwing to liven up our sport...

 

[forefortheday]

in my view fines are useless as theses millionaires wont miss a few thousand$/€/£.

A 2 shot penalty for each offence might quickly change the attitude of some pros.

But how would you apply a 2 shot penalty for swearing?

What happens if it's picked up 3 months later and the guy won a tournament by 1 shot?

Or do the R&A employ at team of Mary Whitehouses?

 

[haplesshacker]

I wonder if it's not so much a case of a bit of swearing and spitting. But more a case of who's doing it?

It's the responsability that comes with the fame that being world number 1 brings, that's possibly more of an issue.

As for role models for kids. There are worse. Some gansta rapper dude that's in jail for smakin' his biatch up. Some image concious wannabe spend a-lot female with no decernable talent. You get my drift. A bit of emotion is not always a bad thing to show. Especially if kicking a tee marker is what it boils down to. Some kids do far worse things. So keep a little perspective on it.

 

[Atticus_Finch]

Anyone that gets offended by a bit of spitting and swearing needs to get out more.Spitting is a natural function especially when your arse is nipping in the heat of battle and swearing shows some fire in the belly...in fact what about a bit of club throwing to liven up our sport...

Why then did Nicklaus, Seve or Palmer not feel the need to do either of these things?
You're wrong Dodger, and so is Tiger.

 

[Dodger]

Ah the olden days when men were men and a pint was tuppence and you unwrapped ya golf ball from a black wrapper....everything was so much better back then.

 

[GB72]

There is finally someone who has stuck their head over the parapet and let out their feelings on Wood's attitude. Heard about this on 5 Live last week

http://www.guardian.co.uk/sport/lawrence-donegan-golf-blog/2009/jul/23/golf-tigerwoods

 

[Dodger]

Best part of that patronising article is this reply I have cut and paste....sums up my feeling exactly...get a grip gentleman!

Golf is meant to be one of the last gentlemens games played fairly, by the rules and with the utmost respect for your opponents.

Golf... the sport that by its very design is meant to exclude the vast majority of people from ever being able to play. Golf the sport for the really rich and their black-balling budies. Golf the sport where membership to golf clubs, if they even let you join, can be so expensive to make it crippling..

Golf, the same sport which hundreds of brain dead airhead footballers play, and due to natural ability most of them play in low single figures.
Golf, the sport which does as much as possible to keep exactly those kind of people of the courses then loves them the moment they are really really rich.

Golf has made a lot of steps for the better, but it is still one of the most patronising sports in existence.

Dont give me the gentlemanly bullshit. Snobbish self important retirees.

Tiger's entrance to golf did a lot to bring the sport to the masses. Happy Gilmour proabably did more to make golf appeal to the masses.

Tiger swears? Bummer.
Angel walks around smoking a ciger - now that is controversy. That has to be verging on illegal - smoking that close to crowds, setting a bad example on national tv, the guys a role model etc etc - surely he should be kicked off the tour?!!
WONT ANYBODY THINK OF THE KIDS!!!

I love playing golf. I believe it is impossible to be a high flying business man without golf, i may have been mislead but it would certainly seem an enjoyable way to do business, and i intend to get a lot better. But the patronising attitude of golf clubs really annoys me.

It always seems there are clubs for the common people, and clubs for the patronising bastards.

 

[julsk10]

Dodger I am in agreement with you. I do not believe that Tiger is the only player that spits/curses etc on the course but due to the fact that every breath he takes on the pga tour is covered it is hardly surprising that a few nuances occur.(I am not condoning these actions, merely making a point that I am sure others do it too.) As for being a role model to children, I can not think of any front page news articles involving Tiger, unlike the many other 'role models' from the world of football, rugby, cricket etc! In fact Tiger appears to be a committed family man who has a desire to excel beyond all others in his sport.

 

[Imurg]

Far more kids watch footy than golf. They're auditioning for "Gob of the Day" every 5 seconds, shouting and swearing at the ref and linesman, cheating, elbowing and then complaining when they lose.

This is who our kids role models from the world of sport are. Tiger and co, for the most part, set a fine example. Yes they have their moments but put it into perspective against Football for a while......

 

[rgs]

Many pros have gone through tough times on the course without resorting to club throwing swearing etc.

Just look at Padraig Harringtons attitude. Hes had a terrible season, hes missing fairways, greens etc and yet he is the model of decorum on the course.

We all get annoyed at a poor shot but Tiger gets annoyed more than most.

 

[viscount17]

In fairness, I did see an interview in which Gary Player admitted that, in the days when he, Arnie and Jack shared rooms on tour, a trashed room was not unknown, infrequent but not unknown.