Once again, I'm not going to fall in line with Doug Ferguson (what a shock). More and more, Ferguson comes across like just another Tiger Woods suck up artist who cares less about getting the story right than he does having Tiger call him "Fergie".

Rory Sabbatini isn't likely to win a Mr Congeniality prize anytime soon, and he has definitely let his temper and impatience flair on the course from time to time.  Calling out Tiger earlier this year was not his brightest idea ever - even though what he said was technically correct - Woods was not playing his best golf and you have to catch someone like Woods at a low moment to have a shot at a win - but saying things like that out loud is only asking for trouble.

This latest misadventure is pretty much a mystery.  Obviously, finishing last in a 16 man field is pretty embarassing - and starting the final round 28 shots behind the leader is about as bad as it gets.

If he has shin splints as his agent reports, why not say so ?  This isn't some embarrassing injury or disorder, but they can be VERY painful.  They aren't really a "risk" injury to someone walking on grass.  If they have been bothering him for the last 2 weeks, why not say so before this week ?  Aside from the free $170,000.

BUT - if you are in enough pain to pull out of a tournament, there would be some evidence during the third round before pulling out.  Sabbatini wasn't limping or complaining, at least not where he could be heard.  Someone would have noticed him icing his shins, or going to the trainers trailer, or taking some sort of pain releiver.

As someone who has played his share of really bad golf after his handicap somehow dropped into single digits - I can attest to the anger, embarrassment, and even the occassional touch of depression when I can't play anywhere near the level I should, or at least think I should be playing.

Imagine what a proud professional, with a temper and more than a little bit of perfectionist in him might feel under extreme circumstances like these.  

Sabbatini doesn't seem to care much what people think about him - obviously.  The problem comes, in my humble opinion, when he doesn't care about, or maybe he just doesn't think about how his actions reflect on those around him, or the tournaments and tours that are making him very wealthy.  When he pulls a stunt like this, it only opens him up to vilification by tabloid media writers like Ferguson.

Was he wrong to do what he did and how he did it ? No question.  Should he have made some sort of apology or at least a statement before heading out ?  Definitely.  That would be the decent and adult thing to do.

Sabbatini is not some evil little troll patrolling the fairways of the PGA Tour looking for chances for mischief.  He does have a sense of humor and can be a terrific interview.  It would be nice to see that side of him more often. I'm sure his endorsers and the Tours he is priviledged to play on would appreciate it, too.

Back to the Ferguson article.  This mostly useless piece of drivel is filled with vagueries piled up and twisted to make Sabbatini look like a complete jerk.  The quote from the locker room attendant gave no insight to the man or the circumstances.  Fred Couples' assertion that he should return the money gets filed in the "I asked around until I got the answer I wanted to make this guy look bad" with a copy under "mind your own business, Fred."  That money didn't come out of the foundation's check book - it was part of the purse.  I don't recall Fred saying anything about Tiger or Phil taking the cash when they skipped The Tour Championship.

Tiger has too much class, and WAY too much separation in talent and career achievements to worry about Rory Sabbatini.  No doubt he is a little miffed at how Sabbatini treated the tournament.  There may be a few qualification changes made for next year to make it more difficult for Sabbatini to earn a spot in the tournament, and if he doesn't qualify, he will most assuredly not receive an invitation.  Not out of personal spite, mind you, but out of a desire to have the best tournament possible.

Ferguson also brings in the PGA Tour for a comment, even though they have nothing to say in the matter.  Another stone thrown by Ferguson for the sole purpose of making Sabbatini look bad.

Had Ferguson limited this piece to relevant information, his story would have been a one or two paragraph footnote in his tournament recap.  Instead, he took every opportunity to further embarrass Sabbatini and place himself in the position of moral authority.

If the real reason for Sabbatini's pull out ever surfaces - it will not be Doug Ferguson who reports it.  He has made his splash by delivering the dark side of the news and that is what the tabloid media makes money reporting - regardless of how low the blows have to go.

I don't believe what Sabbatini did was intended as a shot or slight at Tiger Woods.  I believe what he did was purely personal and, for lack of a better term, self-centered.  He probably owes Tiger and the Target people an apology, not that they are holding their breath for it to come - but he does not owe an explanation or apology to you or me - and especially not to Doug Ferguson.

Read a later article today that included a little of Tiger's reaction to what went on over the weekend.  From the sound of it, Tiger chose to keep quiet.  He said that he had heard the stories and planned to take it up with Rory to find out the truth.

Doug Ferguson must be bitterly disappointed that Tiger wasn't ready to come out swinging - makes his style of writing a lot easier when there is dirt flying.

And I still doubt we will ever hear another word about it from Tiger.  Sabbatini will have to be the one to speak up.