Tiger Entered Doral on the Deadline...So?

by Ryan Ballengee on Mar 9, 2009 10:36 AM EDT

In reading my morning articles, I came across the same sentiment in two different pieces - criticism of Tiger Woods for officially entering the CA Championship just a few hours before the Friday deadline. I saw the roundtable at golf.com do it, as well as Sal Johnson and Dave Seanor wonder about it at Golf Observer.

The golf.com crew was pretty harsh in their assessment:

Van Sickle: After Tucson, let me say that I'm momentarily Tigered out. However, did anyone see any significance in Woods waiting until the last minute to enter the WGC event at Doral, which we all pretty much knew he basically had to play in? Late entries are usual for him, but why hold off on a WGC event? Or was it Tiger being Tiger? (Sorry, Manny.)

Herre: I think it was Tiger being Tiger, Gary. Might have something to do with his feeling of being exploited by tournaments, although I never understood that. Why shouldn't he help promote the events?

Gorant: Maybe it was Tiger being Manny?

Evans: Tiger has the majors mentality that I think hurts the game, overall. Who can fault Tiger when every question we ask him is about Augusta? He's selfish in not promoting events because we engender an environment for that kind of thing to fester.

Interesting to see a little bit of introspection about asking Tiger the same 15 questions at every press conference. In fact, I think it's so important that I think I may track Tiger's press conferences for a couple of weeks to see what stock questions are asked of Tiger and his stock answers. That way, you'll never miss a Tiger press conference because I'll basically tell you everything that he's going to say before he says it.

As for Woods' entry, though, he is simply gaming the system. When I was in college, I always did things last minute. Studied for tests, wrote papers - all of that was last minute. And I did great in college. Tiger is way better at golf than I was at getting A's. (Well, statistically, that's not true.) Let him go.

The media is saying he is selfish or doing this at the last minute. How do you figure? It's within the rules.

I think Sal and Dave had a good back forth on it. I disagree with Dave’s opinion that it speaks of Woods arrogance, but at least he backed up his argument. Sal made a good point that the LPGA Tour has a Wednesday deadline for entry. Perhaps the PGA Tour should consider the same. Tom Pulchinski at the Northern Trust Open said that they do their most ticket sales the week of the event. If people knew on Wednesday that Woods would be playing, then perhaps that would go better for tickets. Still, I bet phone lines were lighting up at the ticket office well in advance of Tiger’s entry.

Besides, we all knew that Tiger was going to play at Doral. He has won there three times and in the namesake of the event six times. Did we really need to be assured that he would submit the entry form?

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Comments

That's the golf media for you

Tiger got a free pass from most of the press after he defaced a green at the 2005 US Open. He got a Knucklehead award from me.

Later that same year, he headed for home rather than stay in New Jersey when he was still theoretically in the hunt for the PGA Championship title.(Play wasn’t finished till Monday morning. Tiger was -2 and leader in the clubhouse. Mickelson eventually won with -4) I do remember the press getting a little steamed over that move.

by Bill Jempty on Mar 9, 2009 11:15 AM EDT reply actions

Alternate universe ??

These are “professional journalists” ? I don’t understand. With the exception of majors, Tiger NEVER NEVER NEVER NEVER NEVER confirms that he is playing until the 5:00 deadline on the Friday before a tournament. Not regular events – not WGC’s – not playoffs – not even the Tour Championship. How do these people not know this ? He’s only been doing things the same way for 11 years. He confirmed early his first and second years, then he got wise to the problem and has been doing it this way ever since.

And Mr Gorant needs to sentenced to every Manny Ramirez press conference and interview for the next 2 years after that crack.

"this ball will fit in that fairway"

by courtgolf on Mar 9, 2009 11:25 AM EDT reply actions

For what it’s worth, I think Sal and Dave had a good back forth on it. I disagree with Dave’s opinion that it speaks of Woods arrogance, but at least he backed up his argument. Sal made a good point that the LPGA Tour has a Wednesday deadline for entry. Perhaps the PGA Tour should consider the same. Tom Pulchinski at the Northern Trust Open said that they do their most ticket sales the week of the event. If people knew on Wednesday that Woods would be playing, then perhaps that would go better for tickets. Still, I bet phone lines were lighting up at the ticket office well in advance of Tiger’s entry.

by Ryan Ballengee on Mar 9, 2009 11:53 AM EDT reply actions

If the PGA’s deadline was Wednesday or Thursday at 5:00 – Tiger would wait until 4:59 to make the call just like he does now with the Friday deadline. (I always wondered what would happen if he called at 4:59 and got a busy signal) :-)

Dave is an idiot for accusing Tiger Woods of “arrogance” and should be ashamed of himself. Perhaps another envious/jealous sports writer who could never do what ANY of these guys do but always wished he could ? Tiger’s schedule is pretty much the same every year – it’s posted on his web site. Are we supposed to slap Tiger on the wrist for being mean to all these poor little golf writers by not doing their jobs for them ? Poor babies.

"this ball will fit in that fairway"

by courtgolf on Mar 9, 2009 1:19 PM EDT up reply actions

Arrogance by Woods

That’s a little bit of an unfair characterization, I think. Players are given until a certain day and time to enter for a tournament. Now we expect big name players to map out their schedules months or years in advance and set them in stone? If tournaments want more notice then move the deadlines.

Is it possible that maybe he was actually undecided for whatever reason? Maybe the knee is a little sore and he was thinking of giving it a little rest (it’s common for that to happen for a year or even two after ACL reconstruction)

I know what Tiger means to the game, but if tournaments are hanging their hats on him, then there’s a much larger problem. He certainly provides a boost to every event he enters, but if his presence is a matter of sink or swim, the Tour is in serious trouble. Frankly, it’s not really fair to hang that around his neck either.

by Double Eagle on Mar 9, 2009 1:15 PM EDT reply actions

The media doesn't do simple homework

Much was made of Tiger not playing all four Fedex events two years ago. I knew he wouldn’t do it, because simply Tiger hasn’t played 4 weeks in a row since like 1999.

by Bill Jempty on Mar 9, 2009 1:27 PM EDT reply actions

the more you read - the worse it gets

This “panel of experts” sounds more and more like a bunch of cranky old men sitting out on the porch complaining about everything. These guys get PAID to do this stuff ??

http://www.golf.com/golf/tours_news/article/0,28136,1883750,00.html?xid=forecast030909_headline

"this ball will fit in that fairway"

by courtgolf on Mar 9, 2009 1:32 PM EDT reply actions

Very good points made here. I’m not sure that anyone should be surprised that Woods (a) waited to the last minute, (b) entered Doral in the first place, or © is relied on too much by PGA Tour events. Those should be givens.

by Ryan Ballengee on Mar 9, 2009 3:27 PM EDT reply actions