Tiger - could it be about to get worse?

[MikeH]

Dodger

a paper like the LA Times wouldn't print a story like this without all thier legal advisors having been all over it before it got anywhere near publication.

That doesn't of course mean it's 100% percent true but it's now more than tittle tattle and is a story that is now out in the public domain as and such I thought it was worthy of posting a link to and discussing becuase of the implications for the game of golf if it were it to be correct.

With a few minor blips golf has always been a sport that is super clean and where cheats (be they someone one improves thier stance or takes performance enhancing drugs) are not tolerated. And I for one am really proud of that fact.

Therefore, if the person who many believe to be the greatest golfer who has ever played the game, has a cloud of doubt now hanging over him then I think its a major golf story.

As I've said before, what Tiger has done off the course in his private life, isn't in my opnion really 'core' to the game of golf. However anything he might have done that influences or imapcts upon what happens on the course is certainly 'core' to the game.

 

[Deleted member 1418]

Although I am not a huge Tiger fan, I seriously hope that this rumour is not true.

One of the reasons I love this game so much is that its traditions and values are at the core of what is so good about it, i.e. respect shown to your playing partners / opponents and to the rules of the game. If Tiger is found to have used HGH or other performance enhancing drugs, then I cannot see how he can still possibly command the respect of his fellow professionals, as there will always be questions marks against his past and future victories.

I have read numerous accounts over the years of players stating what a good guy Tiger is both on and off the course, but how many will now have doubts as to whether he is a 'cheat' or not.

And if you add in the effect that this would have on the game in terms of tournament sponsorship, particularly during the current financial difficulties, then I am hoping this rumour turns out to be false.

 

[stevek1969]

That aside. I cannot believe that Tiger would ever, ever take steroids.

Well, look at him at the 97 Masters. That is an ectomorphic body shape. You can't change this naturally. Yes, he could build up, but he wouldn't end up with the shape he is now through work and nutrition.

Wrong again Toon Army yes you can have a body like that through working out and nutrition i happen to have one

its called hard work and dedication and crawling nite clubs looking for some slapper like he has done for a few years now and sharing with his forgetful caddie who never new it was happening, my arse.
Seriously your correct you cant get that shape without some "HELP" so maybe Garry Player was correct after all.

 

[HomerJSimpson]

I agree totally with Mike and think GM have taken the correct stance to date. Leave the womanising to the tabloids but where the name of a game built around individual honesty is questioned then that has to be looked at and commented on.

In a sue now and worry later culture like the US there would have been a team of lawyers probing every word of the excellent article and so for it to go to press means that they certainly think they have a story. By that thinking it would make sense that they assume its got some truth to it and in which case it is a very black day for the game and would certainly throw its inclusion in the Olympics into question.

Very interesting that it appears the pros were questioning his length of absence after surgery even if it was in hushed tones. From the various professional sportsmen I have had the pleasure of knowing over the years, many have had doubts or stories about fellow competitiors which were either hushed up or there wasn't the technology for dealing with it (60's and 70's). Very true about those with the most information being those closest to the crime.

From my point of view I'm desperately hoping that this is just another angle to proliferate the story life of the Woods fall from grace. I am not a Tiger "fan" per se but do appreciate how high he's raised the standards of the game on course and the work that players now need to do off course as well to compete. Add in his hugely successful charitable work and his dominance attracting greater prize fund, bigger purses and more youngsters into the sport and you'd have thought that a pretty decent legacy to leave the game even if he was to call it quits now. However with this sword of Damacles now hanging over him much of that will vanish as soon as anything is proven.

Will the game survive. Of course in the same way that baseball, football (remember the dispute over coverage stopping games being covered?), boxing and cycling have all carried on. You only have to see how successful guys like Haye and the British cycling team have become through correct training and not scientific stimulation to see that old fashioned grit and determination is still a core component

It's going to be a tough old Christmas from Mr Woods on many fronts and hopefully the lessons of 2009 will be quickly learned. If he does get found to be a drug user as well as a philanderer then I hope he does the right thing and leaves the sport to those that understand and cherish its core foundations

 

[Screwback]

Of course he could in to that condidtion without taking performance enhancing drugs!! I mean what next since crashing into a tree he has had more women than russle Brand he is now addicted to drugs and now i see in the paper he is addicted to watching childrens cartoons.

What Next???

 

[haplesshacker]

I can't wait for the 'real' autobiography, it's sure to be a best seller now. Though from the sounds of it, you'll probably need to be over 18 to buy it.

Film rights anyone!?

Tigers about to get richer than he ever thought possible. He or his manager just don't realise it yet.

 

[HogansAlley]

Is there actually any shred of proof about the steroid story? I thought not. This really is hearsay of the highest, sorry lowest, order. I'll reserve judgement until something approaching the facts appears.

 

[stevelockie]

No.1 Golfer in the world.
"Best" golfer the world has seen.
More majors than Jack Nicklaus.
First billionaire sportsman etc etc

To risk all the above, PLUS the integrity of the game of golf itself by taking steroids, which have very limited potential for improving golfing ability.
Tiger would not be that reckless/stupid!

 

[USER1999]

Tiger clearly is reckless or stupid, as the smut proves. I mean knocking off two porn stars is going to dent your reputation a bit, when you have a young familly who only the day before the revelations came out were his stated number one priority in life. Stupid? Yes, very.

 

[Chrimbo]

No.1 Golfer in the world.
"Best" golfer the world has seen.
More majors than Jack Nicklaus.
First billionaire sportsman etc etc

To risk all the above, PLUS the integrity of the game of golf itself by taking steroids, which have very limited potential for improving golfing ability.
Tiger would not be that reckless/stupid!

Unfortunately top athletes don't think like that. I recall a study some time ago when a selection of athletes were posed a hypothetical question which was:-

I have a pill here that if you take it it will make you the best in the world at your sport, Olympic medal, world No.1 etc. However it has a side effect which is that you will be dead in ten years. Do you want to take it?

The majority answered - yes.

Would an athlete risk their reputation and health to be the best there ever is ..... of course they would.

 

[freddielong]

I don't for one minute think he has done steroids to improve his figure or his golf, but my big worry is he approached this guy to help sort out his long term knee injury, which would still be illegal.

 

[stevelockie]

No.1 Golfer in the world.
"Best" golfer the world has seen.
More majors than Jack Nicklaus.
First billionaire sportsman etc etc

To risk all the above, PLUS the integrity of the game of golf itself by taking steroids, which have very limited potential for improving golfing ability.
Tiger would not be that reckless/stupid!

Unfortunately top athletes don't think like that. I recall a study some time ago when a selection of athletes were posed a hypothetical question which was:-

I have a pill here that if you take it it will make you the best in the world at your sport, Olympic medal, world No.1 etc. However it has a side effect which is that you will be dead in ten years. Do you want to take it?

The majority answered - yes.

Would an athlete risk their reputation and health to be the best there ever is ..... of course they would.

I can appreciate that comment from athletes such as runners, cyclists, weightlifters, baseball etc. Sports where steroids, while not allowed of course are susceptible to athletes using them, and fans of the respective sports have become almost conditioned to it.
To make the question accurate and relevant, it should have been directed to pro golfers.

Integrity and honesty, the fundamentals that elevate golf above all other sports. Who would want to be forever remembered as the man who dragged the good name of golf down into the gutter by using steroids to cheat!

 

[Chrimbo]

To make the question accurate and relevant, it should have been directed to pro golfers.

Integrity and honesty, the fundamentals that elevate golf above all other sports. Who would want to be forever remembered as the man who dragged the good name of golf down into the gutter by using steroids to cheat!

They all share the will to win and to be the best at their sport.

The money and prestige on offer today in all sports has the ability to corrupt and I don't think golf can be exempt from that ...........

 

[muttleee]

The money and prestige on offer today in all sports has the ability to corrupt and I don't think golf can be exempt from that ...........

But the thing is, Tiger was aleady far and away the best and most successful player in the world. It seems a tad reckless for him to risk everything for seemingly little gain.

 

[Chrimbo]

But the thing is, Tiger was already far and away the best and most successful player in the world. It seems a tad reckless for him to risk everything for seemingly little gain.

Who knows what goes on in the mind of those who decide to 'gain an advantage' ...........

 

[golfcitydweller]

a couple of americans joined up with us during the summer and the word on the street in the US was that he took a longer than expected break with his knee op ..allegedly it was for his system to clear ! as random testing was to increase as a knock on from the gary player scandal ...if it`s true can some one email him and ask to send me some as i could du with an extra few yards off the tee !!!

 

[Dodger]

So are folk saying he used a few dodgy substances to aid him coming back and then didn't compete until these were out of his system?

What exactly did he do wrong if this was to be the case?

Came back clean,so where is the problem?

Equivelent to taking certain flu remedies (some of which have been in banned lists in the past) and not competing til a month later to ensure it was out the system.

 

[Parmo]

So are folk saying he used a few dodgy substances to aid him coming back and then didn't compete until these were out of his system?

What exactly did he do wrong if this was to be the case?

Came back clean,so where is the problem?

Equivelent to taking certain flu remedies (some of which have been in banned lists in the past) and not competing til a month later to ensure it was out the system.

Are you being serious?

He took illegal drugs to build the shape he wanted then used the shape to win comps by cheating... I've said it before and I'll say it again, Woods will be a great golfer but never one of the greatest.

 

[StuartD]

So are folk saying he used a few dodgy substances to aid him coming back and then didn't compete until these were out of his system?

What exactly did he do wrong if this was to be the case?

Came back clean,so where is the problem?

Equivelent to taking certain flu remedies (some of which have been in banned lists in the past) and not competing til a month later to ensure it was out the system.

If he took drugs to speed up his recovery and waited till they were out his system before returning I would have to agree that he has not done anything wrong.

Must say this is some defence you are putting up here. If Tigers lawyers are looking in, think you would have yourself a new job Dodger.


Right now your team could do with as good a defence

 

[freddielong]

Until we know we don't know