Tiger Woods to be fined

[MikeH]

having a look at some US reports on this like the NBC one it seems as Tiger did make some more direct comments regarding Paramor

http://nbcsports.msnbc.com/id/32366967/ns/sports-golf/

"Woods said he told Harrington after it was over, “I’m sorry that John got in the way of a great battle.”

Paramor said the final pairing was well behind most of the back nine, but officials gave them time to catch up. They were still 17 minutes out of position on the 16th tee, when they were put on the clock."

 

[Wildrover]

I don't see any point in putting the last group on the clock on the 16th tee. How much are they going to make up in 3 holes? It actually took longer with Paddy hitting it 7 times (plus one drop). Who were they holding up anyway? it just ruined what had been up until that point a brilliant final round. I didn't bother watching the end after that, just went to bed, cheers Mr Paramour.

 

[DCB]

"Paramor said the final pairing was well behind most of the back nine, but officials gave them time to catch up. They were still 17 minutes out of position on the 16th tee, when they were put on the clock."

Glad they're not Forum members. Imaging being that slow on a Forum meet

It would take ages to get to the bar if they were in front of you. All that extra faffing about with practice swings, changing clubs etc. then they fluff it in the drink !! I can do that without the practice swings and changing clubs

 

[freddielong]

I totally see the point regarding the last group "who are they going to hold up" etc but I suppose it cannot be one rule for one group, and another for the rest of the feild.

 

[Robobum]

It must be a difficult one for referees with any group that Tiger is in. It is virtually impossible for his group to play the course in the same time as everyone else due to the huge galleries that follow that group.

As the masses move from one hole to the next some allowance must be made for them to be able to play their shots only when the crowd is in place.

In Mike's post, a minute per hole doesn't seem unreasonable seeing the size of the crowds that were trying to watch that pairing.

As I say, difficult one as every competetitor is meant to get the same time to play but it's not under the same conditions. It's easy to keep place when one man & his dog is following you!!

 

[Dodger]

If they were 17 minutes out out of place it begs the question why did it take til the 16th to be put on the clock?......I reckon the big fella wasn't doing his job right!

 

[JustOne]

I don't see any point in putting the last group on the clock on the 16th tee. How much are they going to make up in 3 holes? It actually took longer with Paddy hitting it 7 times (plus one drop). Who were they holding up anyway?

Totally agree Wildrover

... and also with Robobum

a minute per hole doesn't seem unreasonable seeing the size of the crowds that were trying to watch that pairing.

To lose one minute per hole is nothing is a situation like that. It should have (if anything) been controlled earlier or not at all. Waiting to the 16th is pathetic.

Still, I'm glad that Tiger won... afterall he IS the greatest player of all time Seems even backtoback major winners (Padraig) crumble under the pressure of being on the clock and facing the roar of the Tiger

 

[viscount17]

at the pace they play, that's what - two holes behind?

pace of play is the issue at the moment, nice of Tiger to say it but the wrong target?

wasn't Monty put on the clock recently, only to be delayed 10 mins when they arrived at the 15th.

 

[ball_basher]

were still here freddie, and he should have been fined for the spitting and club throwing its a disgrace in fact he should have to serve a ban if it continues

 

[Earl]

Slow play is bad in any form of the game. The problem seems to be getting worse and seems to be found acceptable amongst most of the posters on this thread just because it is Tiger. Do you really find it acceptable ? if they are slow put them on the clock end of story and if they complain fine them and if possible fine them again.

 

[Robobum]

No Earl, slow play is not acceptable and any concession in this would not be down to "it being Tiger"

If any group on the course was carrying that many spectators around with them then, IMO, there needs to be some sort of allowance made for it.

As I said, it's a difficult one for the ROs that follow TW.

 

[USER1999]

That said, Tigers comments implied Padraigs bad shots were down to rushing. I still don't see that. Yes, the flop shot wasn't easy, but I can't see why it was going to get any easier just standing there looking at it. In my experience (not the best, clearly), getting on with it leads to the best result. To me, it was a poorly executed shot, no excuses (not that Padraig is making any).

If they were slow, and it looks like they were, then they should be on the clock, even as the last pairing. In general, in any tournament, the last pair get the biggest crowds. The ROs must have experience of this, and must know if the pace of play from the players is acceptable or not, given the crowd conditions in place.

 

[colint]

I take the points about one rule for everyone etc, but this was shaping up to be a fantastic finale, why ruin it by putting them on the clock ? It would have been much better for the support to have a grandstand finsh rather than it fizzling out the way it did

 

[USER1999]

But the rules aren't there to provide a spectacle, they are there to make it a fair sport for all competitors.

 

[Robobum]

But the rules aren't there to provide a spectacle, they are there to make it a fair sport for all competitors.

But there's the catch Murph.......it most definately is, and has to be, a spectacle. If it wasn't there would be no TV coverage, sponsors etc and John Paramour wouldn't have a job.

One thing is for sure, Padraig has shown real quality in his reaction and comments after the incident.

 

[USER1999]

But golf was here long before the tv cameras, and so first and foremost, it is a sport, with recognised rules.

Next thing is you will be saying the leaders are entitled to free drops from behind trees to keep it close.

 

[Brendan]

but I can't see why it was going to get any easier just standing there looking at it. In my experience (not the best, clearly), getting on with it leads to the best result.

That's why padraig is looking to buy his own plane and your posting on a golf forum LOL

 

[MattysDad]

Found this - I agree with every word.

RANDALL MELL, Senior Writer, GolfChannel.com
Posted 08/10/2009, 9:54 AM EST

Tiger Woods was right.

It’s unfortunate rules official John Paramor “got in the way of a great battle” Sunday at the WGC-Bridgestone Invitational.

Padraig Harrington was right.

Harrington clearly got himself “out of the zone” after being put on the clock at the 16th hole, where he made triple bogey.

Harrington also was right in saying officials can’t hold the groups in front of the leaders to a different standard than the leaders.

Paramor was right to enforce slow-play rules. Slow play is the scourge of golf.

So who’s wrong here?

Or, better yet, what’s wrong here?

Maybe it’s the fact that there’s no discretion written in the rule, but rules officials use discretion all the time anyway. How else do you explain that nobody on the PGA Tour, according to the Associated Press, has actually been assessed a penalty shot for slow play since Dillard Pruitt in 1982. That fact is evidence that rules officials use discretion liberally, or we would have seen more penalties, or at least more slow play controversies like Sunday’s.

The PGA Tour and the other WGC governing bodies need to get their acts together and write a better rule, one that rules officials know how to enforce and players can understand. Mostly, they need a rule that doesn’t destroy great drama and theater. That’s what happened Sunday.

 

[drawboy]

I for one feel sorry for tiger getting fined, that's this weeks beer money down the drain he'll have to stay in

 

[toonarmy]

That said, Tigers comments implied Padraigs bad shots were down to rushing. I still don't see that. Yes, the flop shot wasn't easy, but I can't see why it was going to get any easier just standing there looking at it. In my experience (not the best, clearly), getting on with it leads to the best result. To me, it was a poorly executed shot, no excuses (not that Padraig is making any).

I've got to say that Sky were wrong and most others too in seeming to imply that it was Paddy's 3rd or 4th shots that were the error on 16.

The absolutely unforgivable mistake was his 2nd shot on 16. To put his ball on the edge of the bunker is what made everything else follow. It didn't look that hard a shot to put it anywhere on the fairway but certainly not where he ended up putting it. And afer the 2nd shot...well we've all been there when bad shot follows bad shot until the hole is finished.

Personally don't believe it was pressure that much rather than an awkward shot played badly. You don't win the 2 Opens and the USPGA in the way that he did if you succumb to pressure easily. Let's not forget the guy has been fighting his swing all season.