Is it all about Tiger?

You kind of picked a bad time for a great post. With me on vacation this week, I couldn’t even respond to this as the moderator! But you are completely right. Tiger gets way too much attention. The problem is that he is an easy – singular – story to cover in golf. And because he wins so often, he is the story by default. Needless to say, though, I disagree. Mickelson is the Masters favorite in my mind.

by Ryan Ballengee on Mar 28, 2009 2:43 PM EDT reply actions

Phil at Augusta

Ryan,

I agree with you. I’m a golf reporter myself, and I find Woods the most boring player to write about in the long run. No doubt about his class, but I’m getting tired of hearing the same tune all over.

For the record, I think you are right about the Masters.

Best regrads,
Espen

by Espen Uldal on Mar 29, 2009 6:16 PM EDT up reply actions

Why wouldn't it be?

When Tiger is shown, ratings soar
When he isn’t, they drop

I personally am a HUGE golf fan but I prefer watching Tiger Woods over anyone else

by AppleCub on Mar 28, 2009 7:35 PM EDT reply actions

@AppleCub

I respect your personal reason. I get some great kick watching him as well.

Best regrads,
Espen

by Espen Uldal on Mar 29, 2009 6:18 PM EDT up reply actions

Espen, yes it is all about Tiger and...

…also, since you were gone, Bill Clinton was re-elected in 1996. Arnold Palmer retired for the 11th, 12th, 13th and 14th times. Geo. Bush was elected and re-elected. Phil Mickelson won his 1st, 2nd and 3rd majors and a gentleman by the name of Barack Obama was inaugurated this past January. You really didn’t miss much else, unless all of your investments were in stocks. If so, in the 13 years you were gone, your fortune has dropped 60-70%.

Welcome back. Don’t stay away so long next time…

by One-Eyed Golfer Guy on Mar 28, 2009 8:30 PM EDT reply actions

So... Narrow-Minded Golfer Guy

‘96 is the year you were born? Or started watching golf? I thought so. Answers like the one you just gave, are true Tiger-Get-in-the-hole-I-got-my-beer-cup-on-course-and-get-drunk-but-don’t-really-know-golf-fan.

Are you also one of those people (if you ever go to a tournament and have been a golf fan for more than five years) that start moving and talking when Tiger has made his shot/put so other players have to ask for quiet?

Tiger Woos probably has the most dumbest fans in sport, ever, and with your answer you just spoke for all of you and summed it up in one word: Ignorance.

Best regrads,
Espen

by Espen Uldal on Mar 29, 2009 5:02 PM EDT up reply actions

to be the man, you have to beat the man...

…and to this point – nobody has done it. I don’t consider Woods to be a prohibitive favorite at The Masters, I don’t even think he will win, but you can count on Vegas putting out a Tiger vs The Field wager. Mickelson skipped facing off with Tiger to play Houston next week, giving him a better chance to take over the #1 spot in the rankings – but I’m not going to hold my breath on that.

Did you really expect any different coverage to Woods’ return ? He is the single most dominant athlete in any sport on the planet. He won his last tournament in ’08 on a fractured leg and a badly damaged knee, and was having one of the great seasons with four wins and two seconds with a major. The media hates it when he is gone because they have to do a little bit of work to learn about more than just one or two guys each week.

You said some things about the man that just aren’t true. First off, it’s not Tiger’s job to “control” his caddy. This is Tiger’s 13th year on Tour, and he has had Steve Williams on the bag for the majority of those years. In well over 100 tournaments, Steve has done 2 things on the course that were attacked in the media – both had to do with “professional” photographers who didn’t know how to control themselves. (they are constantly reminded at tournaments to not take pictures during a player’s swing) Off the course, it’s not Tiger’s job to “control” what Williams does. If you are talking about Stevie’s alcohol loosened tongue this past January, you can bet that they had a talk about what happened. Williams is an adult and Woods isn’t his babysitter.

Second – the idea that Tiger is a “bad tipper” is nonsense. That happned one time during Tiger’s first year on Tour when he was 20 years old and had no concept of the money he had or was playing for. He, by comparison to other players, “stiffed” the clubhouse staff by leaving less than the other players. His coach and mentor at the time, Butch Harmon, went behind him and covered the “slight” and proceeded to chew Tiger out what happened. Harmon told him that he should be carrying around a pocket full of hundreds and helped Woods get a grasp on the money he was worth compared to what the people who take care of him at tournaments, hotels, restaurants, and any other place he goes.

“CAN’T” play Ryder Cup ? Ok – not the greatest record to this point, but he has accrued 11 points in 25 matches and has really only had one partner he played well with…no…not Mickelnuts. (what a disaster that was) Beats me why he hasn’t put up more points in team play, but I have a feeling that’s going to change with some of the younger guys who aren’t as beaten down by Woods.

I’m not sure where this idea that a man spitting outdoors is a mortal sin came from. That’s just silly. If he were caught spitting in the clubhouse – that might be a problem worth talking about – but it’s outdoors on grass. I don’t much care what a handful of snobby Brits say – they spit on the course, too – I’ve seen it. The language does surprise me. Someone who spends so much time and money working with kids should have a little better control over his tongue.

The NHL comment is constantly taken out of context. It wasn’t said while he was playing golf and it wasn’t said in a discussion about hockey – it was said during a playoff game with his beloved LA Dodgers. It wasn’t said with any kind of snide tone – and really – what kind of idiot asks a hockey question during a baseball playoff game ? Remember, too – one of Tiger’s very good friends is none other than Wayne Gretzky.

If you want to pick nits – fine – but who of us hasn’t made off the cuff remarks we regretted later ? The difference is that every syllable this guy says gets raked over the coals. Pretty sure that doesn’t happen with us.

Back to the agreeing part..with a twist. Woods doesn’t act like he is bigger than the game. On the course, he dominates the game. Off the course, he has been made a very wealthy man because a number of companies pay him to represent them. He doesn’t just pick up the clubs 17-20 weeks out of the year – he works very hard on his game and spends a lot of time fulfilling his business obligations, as well as time with his foundation.

I love watching the guy. He comes up with some incredible shots, and very rarely disappoints when he’s in a tight spot. What I find annoying is the media’s constant use of hyperbole over everything he does. I am sick to death of comments like “heroic” when he pulls off a shot from a fairway bunker or a run-up shot from between trees – but when someone else pulls off a similar shot, they get a "nice shot " from the booth, like it was no big deal.

I don’t tire of watching Tiger – I tire of listening to people who should know better than to talk the way they do – but do it anyway.

just a little correction – Mickelson shot 63-72-62-72 – and that was the week – his great rounds weren’t back to back, and neither was on Sunday.

"this ball will fit in that fairway"

by courtgolf on Mar 28, 2009 10:05 PM EDT reply actions

@courtgolf

Answers to you:

First: I never said Mickelsonson shot 63 and 62 back to back. I never said one of them fell on a sunday. I said he shot 63 and 63. So to quote you: “I tire of listening to people who should know better than to talk the way they do – but do it anyway.”

Next, from the top:

I never expected a different coverage to Woods’ return, but I expected more nuance. It takes brains to watch golf in the long run.The media don’t like when his gone, because then all the “GET IN THE HOLE”, fools don’t watch tv. I know. I’m a golf reporter myself.

I never said it’s Tiger’s job to control his caddie, but like children often copy their parents opinions, Williams has over the time gotten used to the attitude Woods has towards Mickelson – often displayed in bad behavour, like in the Ryder Cup. What Tiger and Williams think of Mickelson in their case, but it should not come out like it did, and Tigers comment was lame. Williams conduct however was even more lame.

Why defend Tigers bad RC-record with Mickelsons bad record? USA won the Ryder Cup last year because Tiger was not there, and they could play like a team. When Tiger is around for a Ryder Cup, 11 other players + a captain has to fit their game to the way Tiger want’s to train, eat, sleep and so on. A true world class player is also team player, and Tiger is not. Ryder Cup is not only a battle on course, but also outside the course. Look a little closer at his two matches with Mickelson. You call that a team player? I was there. He hardly talked or looked at Mickelson the whole day. What a classy guy, that Tiger.

Spitting outdoors is a mortal sin – it’s just a sign of no class. Brits or Americans. It shows – again – lack of respect for other (in this case) players. I don’t know how old you are or how you are brought up, but it’s sad you condole spitting where other people picks up their balls.

The NHL comment is NOT taken out of context. Either you did not see it, or chose to ignore the idiotic remarks. I saw the interview – more than once! Again – you defend Woods in a infantile way. By The way, you should read NHL’s Answer to Tiger here! It’s quite fitting. And who needs a good seven months to recover from a standard knee surgery??!! By the way, every time the Press – or NIKE – think someone has offended Tiger, they explode in the press right away, demanding this and that. Tiger himself, (NHL and Mickelson) comment when he feels like – if he feels like.

I did not post my first comment because I did not know anything about golf or Tiger – I am a working golf journalist, but I posted it to see the reactions of Tiger fans – and I got it. Sadly it was somewhat bad mannered (like Tiger fans at a tournament) and denying any sorts of facts. That’s just sad, and it’s bad for golf in generel and in the future. Because when you guys start loosing you interest for golf and start go back to tractor pulling and Indy car racing it will be considered as a lacking of interest for golf. But in reality it’s a good sign – then golf can be about golf again.

Just to make one thing clear: I think Tiger Woods is one of the greatest athletes the world has ever seen, but he’s also a sad example of what people car (and don’t care) about in sports these days. That’s ok in most sports, but golf used to be a gentleman’s game – and it’s not anymore. All sports that’s loved in the masses suffer – so does golf. And then it’s OK to spit on the green and bad moth your fellow players.

I wonder what chess will be like the day that Ozzy and Harriet takes a liking to it.

Best regrads,
Espen

by Espen Uldal on Mar 29, 2009 6:06 PM EDT up reply actions

"I'm a golf reporter"

in what language ? Certainly not in English – “Tiger Woos has the most dumbest fans” ? You want nuance, but you don’t understand the implications of saying someone shot 63-62 ? Do you do all of your research on Google ? Do you quote blogs very often ? There is such a thing as credibility…unless you’ve been following Woods around checking on his tipping habits, quoting unprovable posts from a web site doesn’t carry a lot of weight.

Seriously ? You were expecting nuance out of xxx Golf Channel and NBC ? Aside from the guys covering the European Tour, what in their past would make you expect any kind of depth or even accuracy ? Come on – we’re talking about Johnny Miller ! (lol) xxx Golf Channel people don’t know the difference in a pitch and a chip, and Johnny Miller has his head so firmly up Tiger’s hind parts that he declared Tiger the winner before the end of the 17th hole. Not sure what the media etiquette is on your side of the pond, but over here, the media isn’t supposed to cheer for or against anyone.

“Woods is great – no doubt about that – but no one is greater than the game, not even a guy that can’t control his caddie…”
Are you SURE you didn’t say that Tiger was supposed to control his caddy ?

Pretty clear that you didn’t pay attention to the context of the NHL comment and the ridiculousness of the question during a baseball playoff game. I agreed with you that it wasn’t the brightest statement – but your condemnation of someone based on one offhand comment is a bit harsh.

Read a little closer – I didn’t defend Tiger Woods’ Ryder Cup record using Mickelson’s record. I said I couldn’t explain why he hasn’t won more matches and that Mickelson was NOT the reason.

I do not defend Tiger Woods. There is no need to. His career speaks for itself. If you don’t like the man – that’s fine, and you can stoop to name calling all you want, but if you’re going to trash the man, at least do it with better reasons and proof than you were using before.

Not sure what you are calling “ill mannered”. Reading through all the posts here, you have been the only one to call names or put someone down. You make a lot of accusations with no proof, and respond with name calling when challenged. How is it that you get so bent out of shape over someone spitting on grass, but have no restraint in how you speak to others. My guess is that if you actually do write for a paycheck, it is for one of the Euro tabloids where the truth never gets in the way of a good story. I have no idea why you would repeatedly throw out that you are a “working golf journalist”. I’m pretty sure that if I made that many mistakes in grammar and facts, I wouldn’t be bragging about being paid to do something. Johnny Miller makes a lot more money than you, and he is rarely right. Are you SURE you want to use a pay stub as your credential ?

There is a basic truth in logic – if you start with a bad premise, you are going to end up with a faulty conclusion. You started off with baseless accusations and exceptions to normal behavior – admittedly to get a reaction – and ended up with people taking exception to your faulty premise.

I do have to admit that I’m curious as to what the heck that last line means. “I wonder what chess will be like the day Ozzy and Harriet takes a liking to it” ???

"this ball will fit in that fairway"

by courtgolf on Mar 29, 2009 10:29 PM EDT up reply actions

Behavoir, Courtgolf???

First of all. Let’s not talk about behavior, John Doe. Where do you get off sitting behind some lame blog name (Courtgolf and One-Eyed Golfer Guy??!! Where do you get these names?) and wise crack?

No, I don’t do research on Google and I don’t quote blogs often (although bloggers try to get a credible rep and wants to enter the press tents), but it seems to be the places you look, so I referred to these places as a courtesy. Does you out of date argument’s carry a lot of weight? Hardly.

First of all, I asked a question about some people’s relations to a player, and you guys answers with dumb remarks like the one from One-Eyed Golfer Guy??? You, Courtgolf, have some points I agree on, but in general you just choose to use old and outdated arguments to defend Tiger. It’s not Tiger I’m talking about, but we will get back to that. It sounds like you guys sit in a couch with your pc’s and just hack’s on anyone who tries to ask a detailed question. That’s you idea of good behavior? I don’t care how much golf you play – there is a lot of beer drinking driver fanatics out there who does not get the idea of the game.

What I don’t get (and that’s why I asked my original question) is this: Why do you people answer the way you do? If someone says something about Tiger Woods or questions his fans, the answer is "F… You!" That alone says everything.

And let med explain to you the meaning of the sentence: "Woods is great – no doubt about that – but no one is greater than the game, not even a guy that can’t control his caddie…"

Williams work for Tiger. Like an employee who works in a firm. Do you think it’s ok for a lawyer to go out and bad mouth another company (in a really unintelligent manor, by the way)? Don’t you think your company would accept that? Do you think your company would ok a behavior like that and set aside their own reputation? Do you? Don’t you think that an employer usually demands some kind of good behavior from a employee? That’s the kind of control I’m talking about. Do I have to explain this to you? How old are you?

Is the concept of ethics and good manners really that hard for you to grasp? Obviously. Spitting and other acts that is not exactly role model moves from a sports star, is ok with you: If it’s Tiger who does it, it’s just fine! And F*** some old lame assed Brits! This is 2009, man! GET IN THE HOOOOOOLE!!!

And you are criticizing Johnny Miller???? Why? Miller is a product of what you and other hard core narrow minded Tiger fans have created. Golf Channel and other golf channels has to be just as narrow minded as a certain part of its Tiger loving viewers. I just love the sense of fairness and logic you display.

You write: "I do not defend Tiger Woods. There is no need to. His career speaks for itself." Mr. Courtgolf, don’t you get it? I’m not talking about Tiger Woods or his career. I’m talking about people like you. I’m talking about your narrow mindedness, I’m taking about that a certain kind of Tiger fans that can’t shut up when other players are playing with Tiger and he’s not hitting. I’m taking about a certain kind of Tiger fans that are just blind and ignore all ethic and good behavior. I’m taking about a certain kind of Tiger fans that goes off the chart when someone asks them to act accordingly. I’m taking about being tired of listening to "GET IN THE HOOOOOOLE!" If Tiger should ever need someone to defend him, I don’t hope he has to rely on people like you and the wise "One-Eyed Golfer Guy".

The sad thing is that you think I’m the one being rude. When people use a certain tone, I answer in that same tone. I did not start that way of communicating. Just read the answer of the wise "One-Eyed Golfer Guy".

The problem with most Tiger fans is, that they very quickly get defensive in a passive-aggressive way. Talk about Arnold and Jack, old golf fans can have a heated but civilized debate. But most of the time you can’t debate about Tiger. Tiger is the worlds greatest player, but his fans are a muddy group of goods and bads. Only natural, because he has the most fans of any athlete in the world. He has all the great fans, and he has all the lousy fans. Some of them are not even golfers in the classic sense: Hitting drivers on a range while drinking beer hardly qualifies as being a golfer, but funny enough these types are mostly Tiger fans, it seems to me.

Another funny thing among the Class B Tiger fans. It’s always like: "Tiger is the best, and f*** the rest." What a wonderful way of looking at the game. Ups, did I say "Game?" Does the game of golf exist for the Class B Tiger fans at all? I really don’t think so. Because it’s not really about the game, is it? As you hint, Golfcourt, Old school golf is for old British idiots and loosers. Ok, so let’s dump Mickelson (to you, Courtgolf, he’s Mickelnuts, right?) García, Singh, Harrington, Ogilvy, Perry and all the other loosers and just watch Tiger play alone. Wouldn’t that be wonderfull!!! We could just sit there with the chips, the beer, the goatee and all be a part of the winning team without having the faintest clue what’s going on. What a perfect world… F*** the all the aspects of one of the oldest games in the world

I have a lot of respect for Tiger Woods and his merits, but I have no respect for a large part of his fans. Mainly because they have no respect for the game, and when a person like Steve Williams (who seems to have no respect either) go and do a stupid thing like he did to Mickelson, those Class B Tiger fans okays it, because right and wrong no longer matters. If it comes from the Tiger Camp it’s ok. And if you are not ok with it? Oh, prepare for the army of esteemed Courtgolfers, wise One-Eyed Golfer Guys and other incognito oracles. They will tell you what’s right – in their own civilized and factual way. They will tell you that it’s all just old mean irrelevant gossip if Tiger does something wrong or if one from the Tiger Team is criticized.

So, oh Mighty Courtgolf, let me try to answer the chess comment you did not get.

Can’t you just see the day that chess gets it modern master? A guy with a logo cap from some sports brand and maybe even a goatee. And f*** the suit that those old Russian geeks used to wear. The Modern Chess Master – who has made chess the new In-Game of the world and beats (nearly) everybody all of the time – wears a slick nylon bodysuit with an ad on.

Everybody watches him from afar in quiet, either in the dome or on live cable, waiting for the Modern Masters move. When the Modern Master has made his move people cheer loudly (all though half of the fans have no idea what a pond or a horse really is capable of). Now the opponent has to think and make his move, but the majority of people in the dome don’t care. They start talking, laughing, checking ipods, walk for beers and fries… Some – usually a broker with a free pass around his neck – even shouts "KILL THE KIIIIIIIING!"

In the homes, watching on cable, Ozzie and Harriet and all the other fans who has taken great interest to the Moders Master in the last few years or moths (but not in chess in particular) are cheering as well. They don’t know who the Modern Master is playing against, and they don’t care. What they care about is that they are a fan of the Modern Master – the worlds greatest athlete. Because, as long as they are on his side, they are winners as well, and they are safe. They can cheer for the winner without knowing what is going on. And in modern times that also gives them the right to say F*** YOU to all others.

It’s just so wonderful to be a fan of a winner.

—-
Thank you for your time. Over and out.

Best regrads,
Espen

by Espen Uldal on Mar 30, 2009 7:51 AM EDT up reply actions

well – like I said – nobody on here stooped to name calling and swearing…except you. Does your editor allow this kind of language in your articles ?

ok – it took three screaming paragraphs to explain the chess non-sequitor…and you missed the fact that Ozzie and Harriett were the ones being watched – not doing the watching. but the “pond” and “horse” line was pretty funny. you’re right about how the less indoctrinated fans talk about the game. I was stunned last week listening to Craig Kahn say that Tiger “chipped” in for birdie at one on Friday – a 30 yard “chip”…over a bunker… Craig – that’s a pitch, not a chip. The broadcasting was horrendous this weekend.

"this ball will fit in that fairway"

by courtgolf on Mar 30, 2009 8:08 AM EDT up reply actions

Name calling and swearing? You really don’t get it, do you?! And you don’t know a chip from a pitch either. It is possible to hit over at bunker with a chip, you know.

Was this post too hard for your delicate soul too?

Best regrads,
Espen

by Espen Uldal on Mar 30, 2009 5:55 PM EDT up reply actions

Ups...

I mean 63 and 62. Not 63 and 63. Sorry for the type o.

Best regrads,
Espen

by Espen Uldal on Mar 29, 2009 6:08 PM EDT up reply actions

@courtgolf again...

It’s hard writing in a train, but I forgot the tipping part.

It’s clear you have no idea about all the episodes with Tiger not tipping. You know of ONE episode, but it’s quite a common problem. Check it out on Google.

Again – I can only quote you again: “I tire of listening to people who should know better than to talk the way they do – but do it anyway.”

Best regrads,
Espen

by Espen Uldal on Mar 29, 2009 6:24 PM EDT up reply actions

All about Tiger?

Ryan…you should direct your comments straight to The Golf Channel (oops, sorry, Golf Channel)…they are by far the worst offender…but I understand why…if you had a cable channel that pulled an .02 Nielsen share most of the viewing day you would be paranoid, too……let’s face it, nobody really watches (The) Golf Channel unless they show boobs bouncing on the Big Break or Chas. Barkley fresh out of jail. What’s next, mud wrestling female caddies?

by rubdown on Mar 29, 2009 7:59 AM EDT reply actions

Great Commend

I totally agree with you on (the) Golf Channel issue.

Best regrads,
Espen

by Espen Uldal on Mar 29, 2009 6:26 PM EDT up reply actions

Oh please

Rubdown,

Don’t give GC any ideas. They may just do that caddy show.

by Bill Jempty on Mar 29, 2009 9:53 PM EDT up reply actions

why is it all about Tiger?

Have you check today’s result from Bay Hill? In-freaking-credible!

Truth has a well-known liberal bias.

by dianemarie on Mar 29, 2009 9:28 PM EDT reply actions