PGA Tour Players Reaction Mixed to Tiger's Friday Reading
by Ryan Ballengee on Feb 18, 2010 8:30 AM EST
in Golfiness
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PrintAs golf was actually being played in Arizona - albeit on a lousy course - Tiger Woods' representation made its announcement that Woods would read a prepared statement on Friday morning in front of a camera and less than a handful of reporters at the clubhouse at TPC Sawgrass in Jacksonville, FL.
Some of the participants in the WGC Accenture Match Play Championship weighed in when prompted with the news by media.
Rory McIlroy has had enough of the whole thing.
"I suppose he might want to get something back against the sponsor that dropped him," referring to the timing of making the announcement during a tournament sponsored by one of the companies that dropped him in the wake of the scandal and rumors.
"I'm sick of hearing about it. And I'm just looking forward to when he's getting back on the golf course."
Sergio Garcia didn't seem particularly fazed by the announcement of the announcement, but more focused on his own game.
"I guess everybody is going to get their answers... I'm focused on this tournament, here. That's a lot to worry about. I think he'll be okay."
Open Champion Stewart Cink sounded almost positive about the news.
"It's encouraging that he's coming back to at least be seen by the public, and the rest of us, too, I consider myself the public when we're talking about this matter. So it's good that we're going to see Tiger Woods."
Cink seemed much less cynical about the timing of the reading, saying, "I think it's coincidental that he would pick the Friday of Accenture to announce. It's probably got more to do with his schedule than anything else."
Ben Crane, whose name was out-and-out slandered by being attributed to some nasty things said about Tiger Woods, was not asked about him at all following his surrender-win against an injured Henrik Stenson.
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typical
the players don’t know what he’s going to say – so NATURALLY, all the microphones run out to the players to see what they think…about something…they don’t know anything about.
another example of just how bad the media is these days.
"this ball will fit in that fairway"
grr - did it again...
…gotta quit hitting enter before I’m done….
Well done Sergio ! (and we don’t get to say that very often)
Do we need more evidence that Rory McIllroy and Michelle Wie are somehow genetically linked ?
"this ball will fit in that fairway"
Good for Ernie
http://sports.espn.go.com/golf/news/story?id=4924113
“It’s selfish,” former U.S. Open and British Open champion Ernie Els told Golfweek magazine. “You can write that. I feel sorry for the sponsor. Mondays are a good day to make statements, not Friday. This takes a lot away from the golf tournament.”
Good for Ernie
Damn well said, by the Big EZ. There’s a lot of pissed off people here in Marana. Stephen Ames was just livid about it, as I overheard him speaking to Mike Wier. Seems fairly consistent from players,to organizers, and my fellow volunteers. I think Woods will get an ice cold reception(inside the ropes) when he returns." He doesnt appear to have changed "is an oft repeated quote here. Adios………………..Z.
you're still away,...choke on it !
The big JealouZ.
The irrelevant players are livid, because the Show is at Sawgrass…..Who cares what Ernie does or says…..What tournament has he won lately. Stephen Ames 9 & 8. As for the Ice cold reception. Beat the guy that is the challenge facing these players. Last i checked miss congeniality never wins anything. This isn’t a weekend fousome we’re talking about. Remember last year at the Match Play it was all about Tiger. How’s he looking? Have you seen him? etc……..These players are tired of the Arse kickins, the questions, and the whole Tiger situation. Memo to Ernie: Beat him. We get it you’re envious, and jealous, but the best way to deal with the “story” is to beat Tiger, and deny him of majors. Stop Talking, and work on that putting stroke. it’s that EZ.
"The game is swell when it's played well."
by Fairways and Grins on Feb 18, 2010 7:11 PM EST up reply actions
Deny Woods his majors !
Seems to me that’s exactly what happened last year. I cannot recall Woods winning a Major , nor the Players, nor the Tour Championship. Oh, but he did win a diluted field at his AT&T, as most of the top players took a pass. Plus the WGC Bridgestone with a little help from a rules official with a stop watch. So that’d be 9 losses and 1 victory in the biggest events of 2009. Like Sabatini said “he’s more beatable than ever”, and in 2009 he was getting beat in the top field events. “Top events”,…. as in those that are given the highest Sony event ranking points. AT&T ranks right up there with Bay Hill Invitational, LOL.
you're still away,...choke on it !
let sleeping Tigers lie...
The numbers are correct – but this kind of thing keeps happening in Woods’ career. Somebody says the wrong thing even with the best intent, and Woods steps up and beats him down. Stephen Ames learned that it’s best to not wake a sleeping Tiger. Media people have said he’s done, that his days of dominance are over only to see him step up with double digits and multiple majors the next year when his swing changes are ingrained.
Duval and Vijay Singh had incredible years to take Woods’ top spot in the rankings away, but they couldn’t make it last.
It just seems like it’s better to keep quiet and not rile the guy up, then figure out where things went wrong when he’s done playing or some of these young players figure out what it takes to win against the best.
or am I being a wuss on the subject ? :-D
"this ball will fit in that fairway"
Wuss ??? naaaaaw.
From where I stand, I don’t see Woods as intimidating. Great player,..but one can only control one’s own game.The 20’s something guys seem to have taken that philosophy to heart. The older guys ??,…perhaps not so much. There’s a lot more Sabatini’s out there today, and a lot fewer Davis Loves’. TW will still be the man to beat, and the new talent has leveled the playing field. Woods no longer wins with his c+ game. He needs the A game to win, and he’s not done winning by any stretch. Just not at the pace he was on,…most notably in the big events. Quite a testament to the player he used to be, but Father Time and injuries eventually catch everyone. That’s life……………………….Z.
you're still away,...choke on it !
Are you the guy?
Who called him a BMW 530 ix. The guy who went on and on about him not being able to come back from ACL Surgery? Are you the guy who said all that. And now you say he didn’t win any majors, and only one big event last year. The year following the knee surgery. Man 3 irons you always seem to talk out of both sides of your mouth. From here you sound like the typical jealous guy who now is reduced to bashing, and trashing. Did he not win 6 times on tour last year? Did he not win player of the year? Did he not win the scoring title? Was it not the first year back from RECONSTRUCTIVE Knee surgery? Did you not say it would be atleast two years before he regained any form. Did you not site Ernie Els, and others as case studies on recovering from knee surgery. Try this 3 irons. He’s the greatest golfer of this generation, and the greatest athlete also. He can still win with less than his best. This is year 2 of the knee recovery. He’ll be stronger, and have a clearer mind. You are right He’s not done winning by any stretch. Game on. Please stop talking out of both sides of your head. you sound bitter and silly. IMHO.
"The game is swell when it's played well."
by Fairways and Grins on Feb 19, 2010 10:02 AM EST up reply actions
F&G's
Yea he won 6 last year, but only 1 of any significance and ZERO majors! That’s how Woods measures himself,…MAJORS !!!. He’s not the player he was, and never will be again. Els never came back. Faxon never came back. Matice never came back. All had identical surgeries to Woods , and never regained previous form. Woods has shown the same. You can deny this all you like, but the facts show he’s lost a step, and is not nearly the player he was. His mechanics are totally changed and his game has slipped a step or two as a result . Now we have this personal crisis for 2010, which means he may not play at all. His best days are long gone, but he’s still the guy to beat. And,…judging from last year,….HE IS GETTING BEAT in the events that mean the most to him. Sorry to burst your bubble, but those are the facts…………………………………………………………….Z.
you're still away,...choke on it !
Maybe Els tried to come back too fast ? It happens all too often in the NFL – guys trying to make a full comeback after a year, but it’s a two year process for complete healing. Woods’ game “slipped” every time he had to make a major swing change (the years Duval and Singh took the #1 ranking are the easiest examples), but as soon as he had the swing the way he wanted it, he took back the king of the hill spot AND won multiple majors.
The point is not that he has had low patches in his career – it’s that he keeps coming back from them and putting up monster numbers. You’re definitely right that he has an extra big boulder in his path this time. It’s not just a swing change – it’s a life change, it’s rebuilding his family, it’s facing up to behavior and emotions he may never have had to change in his life…but if the guy has proven anything in his life, he finds ways to make the changes needed and then he gets back to work.
Nicklaus didn’t get #18 until he was 46 years old – Tiger has 12 more years to reach that mark.
You COULD be exactly right – this kind of emotional strain COULD turn him into the next David Duval…then again…it might not…and that’s the fun of sports.
"this ball will fit in that fairway"
Good points Court
I will agree with most of what you say, save the part about major swing changes. The previous changes were part of his search to improve his ball striking, and he did. However, this recent swing change is all about putting less strain on the knee joint, and has absolutely nothing to do with increasing his performance. This was a neccessity aimed at longevity. Do not confuse the two. I can see clearly what Woods has changed, and predicted that his ball striking would become indifferent, his trajectory control would lapse, along with reduced body speed through impact. ALL that has come to pass. Woods “power centre” was his lightning fast hips thrrough the ball. That is now gone, and he relies on arm speed and timing for the strike. This is why he is sooooo wild at times. When he’s “on time” it’s great. But timing it “perfect” is a fleeting thing. This is why he has lost a step. It wasn’t born of attempts to improve, it was born of necessity, and at times he fights it. This is the new Tiger, and from my perspective, he is nowhere near the player he was. But his “A” game is still good enough to win, but it used to be he’d win with his C+ game. That is how much the injury has cost him, and it really is quite normal. Athletes do not come back 100% from ACL’s. better than ever. It just doesn’t happen in individual athletics. Something always seems to be lost in the process. I call it the “edge” that they used to have, has been dulled. IMO………………………………….Z.
you're still away,...choke on it !
I don’t know about that “nothing to do with increasing his performance” – I’d say that not breaking his knee again is probably a positive for performance. :-)
He won a couple of tournaments this year when he did nothing but swing smooth – he kept the ball between the trees…mostly even in the short grass…instead of miles into the trees. Then he put that game away and did what you describe – he tried to power the ball with too much upper body. (that’s when Johnny Miller made his “brilliant” statement about Tiger’s biceps being too big – and it almost made sense)
It’s going to be interesting and fun to watch when he comes back. The knee will be 100%, and whatever swing adjustments he makes will be solid – then we’ll see where his head is.
Did you see the interview with Bodie Miller last weekend ? He said something that caught my ear. He was talking about maturing as a racer and how his “balls to the wall” style was flashy and all kinds of fun – but it was TOO far on the edge and it cost him a lot of races and medals.
So he reeled it in a little bit – got his balance more centered and skiied with more control – and he started winning again – but it wasn’t as much fun and he was losing his mental edge because he was winning in what he thought was a “boring” fashion. No flash – very little edge – no big chances…but lots of wins.
I wondered if that is what has happened to Woods over the years. Like you said – the swing changes gave him more control and his management got better and better so he didn’t need all the flashy shots he pulled off early in his career. Is the “fun” gone from Tiger’s game ? His reaction after making that putt at the Palmer last year tells me it’s not completely gone – but we don’t see the huge flop shots around the greens, or the wild finishes to shots in the woods nearly as much.
"this ball will fit in that fairway"
He plays a different game now,
but not by choice. His swing changes have completely changed how he plays. He was hittin’ 5 woods off the tee at Memorial to keep it in play and that’s how you hit 75 % of the fairways. But he’s still the best at gettin’ out of jail, and he needs to be. Bottom line is, he’ll still get it done, but it’s no longer the precision it used to be. Great short game and pure putter hold him in good stead. But there isn’t the gap between him and the top 15-20 as it was 5 yrs ago. It’s actually good for the game because it’s much more competitive. These new kids can really play, all they need is a little experience as to how Tour life works, and they’ll find the comfort zone. The future of Tour golf looks very good, even if Woods hangs’em up in a few years. ………………………..Z
you're still away,...choke on it !
Hang on – while it’s true he was hitting 5-woods off of some of the tees – he was hitting 5-woods 275-290 yards ! Instead of hitting wedge into a green, he was hitting 7 or 8 irons. That’s pretty amazing to me. He was still #1 in scoring average at 68.84. That ain’t bad.
When I was teaching tennis, the general “wisdom” was that it takes 5 years to make a player, 10 years to build a winner, and 15 years to build a champion. It seems like the process in golf is about the same, and the kids coming into the game in the Tiger Woods era are at or really close to that 15 year mark – so he’s going to start seeing some tougher competition and these older guys who have been beaten down by Woods for most of the last 13 years are going to get run down by the next generation.
"this ball will fit in that fairway"
Good points Court.
I hear ya about making champions, and I do believe these 20’s something, youngsters, are gonna run over the Justin Leonards and Bubba Watsons. Tiger will get run over as well as he gets older and the skills deteriorate. That’s just Father Time doing his thing. FYI,…the last I saw TW play was Doral last year, and watched him hit balls. If he was hittin’ 5 wood 275-290 ,I’d have surely picked up on it. That’s his 3 wood at 290. His 5 wood carries about 250-255. The announcers on the broadcasts are known to “exaggerate” from time to time.
you're still away,...choke on it !
In Effect: "Yes I AM Bigger Than The Game."
Once again, Tiger shows the world that he knows he’s bigger than the game and the PGA Tour just stooges along with it.
Why didn’t the Tour tell Woods that he should wait?
Or if they did, and Woods told them when to jump, why did they ask “how high?”
As my English friend put it in an email about Tiger’s scheduling: “What….a…..COCK.”
not the game...the Tour
umm – because the media has made him bigger than The Tour – and he knows it. The Tour has bent over backwards for 12 years to keep him happy. Luckily, he hasn’t taken advantage of his status as much as he could have.
I agree – it does come across as vindictive to schedule this on the Friday of the Accenture – but we have known that Woods has had a bit of a vindictive side to him with some members of the media. It doesn’t help his cause if he is truly tring to heal his public persona.
And Michelle Wie is next in line for the “bigger than the tour” mantle.
"this ball will fit in that fairway"
I wonder how much of this is Nike being the tail wagging the dog.
That’s no excuse for Tiger and his arrogance.
by Charles Boyer on Feb 18, 2010 11:25 AM EST up reply actions
I'd like Finchem to be asked why it couldn't wait until Monday
He should be taking care of the sponsors & other players – not kowtowing to Woods.
Only until our first " lover's quarrel", Nibs!
Then you’ll be telling Diane & Chips (& a dozen others?) that you’ve preferred them all along.
Chips? do you mean chip’nputt is a girl? I feel terrible if she is, I really try not to be so vicious with female posters
Nibs.....
There is a Chipin….who I think is a guy and chipnputt is a “girl” from Australia(I think)…..you probably need to spend a little time in “timeout”…..lol
The Saints ARE the SUPER BOWL CHAMPS....WHO DAT!
I agree with Court on this...
… the media has made him (and his extraordinary talent) bigger than the tour. And this “final firestorm” is between Tiger and the golf media. The fans, the players, Finchem and the Tour are all just collateral damage.
(don’t agree w/ Court on MW though – just want to make that clear) ;o)
One could also be cynical...
… regarding the Ernie Els statement, as in: these guys all realize that sponsorship dollars are going to be hard to come by in the current landscape and Accenture just let go of their biggest athlete. Can’t hurt to suck up to a company that may be looking for a Tiger replacement.
I didn't say I felt Ernie Els ...
or any other golfer’s statement was self motivated. I agree with Wendy, it’s not his style. What I was talking about was that those in the media who feel that questioning motives and being cynical is a necessary part of what they do will logically want to question that as well.
Hey now CG
don’t be sniping at the poster girl for the LPGA…This is the year of the Big Wieze, I have been tellin you that since the play in Mexico…I guess some people just take longer than others to come around..:) lol….STUB
hey – I didn’t say she wouldn’t win – look at all the W’s on Tiger’s resume – I said Wie is going to be facing the same media fantasy land that Woods has had to deal with…and Wie hasn’t exactly been a down home country girl with her fame and fortune. She hasn’t found a camera she didn’t like yet.
"this ball will fit in that fairway"
OK, got the Wie
subject out of the way…On to players reactions…Do any of us on this site really think a player who gets a mike and cameras stuck in their face and this type of question thrown at them is going to be the candid person they would be sitting at home with their wife, etc.??…You can rest assured, Ol Timmy is writing notes and taking names…We here all have our opinions on Tiger, good bad or indifferent…We don’t disagree on talent, where we do differ, is our opinions on his character…I don’t know how anyone would disagree with the lack of character he has shown….All the platitudes and other rhetoric are just opinions but the lack of character cuts deeper than that….If a person is a cheat and a liar, they lack the main parts of character….it’s just that simple….STUB
“I don’t know how anyone would disagree with the lack of character he has shown….All the platitudes and other rhetoric are just opinions but the lack of character cuts deeper than that….If a person is a cheat and a liar, they lack the main parts of character….it’s just that simple”
…well said, thinker/stub
have you heard anybody say (seriously) that what Woods did was alright ?
"this ball will fit in that fairway"
Not really. But is that the point?
We have posters that can easily separate Tiger the golfer from Tiger the person and some posters that can’t. Court…..you’ve taken the easy road…..react in disbelief to those who hear and discuss the media reports and then you criticize them all as rumors and silliness…..if they turn out to be true, then no one cares what you thought and if they all turnout to be false, you can say I told you so……..very safe.
The Saints ARE the SUPER BOWL CHAMPS....WHO DAT!
not really ?
arguing the “right vs wrong” of what happened is a waste of time – and so is assuming that Tiger has always been someone who would cheat on the people he is closest to in his life. none of us truly know his character or if what he did was out of character, if he had let things into his life that made him think what he was doing was ok, or, as you guys keep wanting to say – he is and has always been a very bad guy.
"this ball will fit in that fairway"
court,
Take your Benadryl because I know you are allergic to facts, but the facts are these. Tiger has always been a rake, a satyr; his father Earl, whom Tiger adored, cheated on Tiger’s mother; Elin knew of his rakish behavior before their marriage and made Tiger promise to abandon such behavior as a condition of marriage(for all the good that did); Tiger was caught philandering 2-3 years ago and instead of learning his lesson then and changing his bad behavior, he had Team Tiger buy out the magazine in order to not run the philandering story and Tiger continued on his merry cheating way.
Now those are facts! I still believe that Tiger can change, I hope he does, but I doubt it very much.
I honestly don’t care what his stance on clearing leaves and bunkers is….
REALLY ! I realize that I am asking questions of a deity – but just where are you getting this information ? If Tiger had been CAUGHT philandering 2-3 years ago and you had this information – why didn’t you put it out in the media ? We’ve already seen that the Enquirer and TMZ don’t even wait for confirmation to put out a story – how could this information been known by you and not made it to the public ?
Oh wait – it wasn’t known until about three months ago.
What you are saying is true – but it wasn’t known until after Thanksgiving. These women didn’t start coming out of the woodwork with their stories (and open palms waiting for some cash) until December.
All of these accusations you make about rakish behavior his entire life don’t hold water. Where are the women he dated in high school and college ? Where are all the one nighters he would have had to have to make your nonsense true ? You like throwing around words like Satyr – but satyrs roamed in groups. Where are the guys he was picking up women with ?
"this ball will fit in that fairway"
Tiger made a deal to squelch the 2008 affair.
He did an interview in Men’s Fitness, whch was a “sister” publication of the Enquirer. In excahnge, the Enquirer dropped the story (and photos)of Woods bangin’ some bimbo in his suv in a parking lot. I thought everybody knew about this. Apparently not………………………………………Z..
you're still away,...choke on it !
Wasn’t that just a few months ago that he was being blackmailed by Men’s Fitness ?
"this ball will fit in that fairway"
Blackmail, lol
I read it was in 2008 , as I remember it …………………..Z.
you're still away,...choke on it !
yes - blackmail
not even cablanasian male…
pretty close – the story I found said that the Enquirer caught him in ‘07, but told him they would keep the story quiet if he would agree to do a cover and story for Men’s Fitness, which he did
Now I’m wondering if the Enquirer was just waiting for any sort of Woods blowup to pull that story out of the safe. Wouldn’t surprise me.
"this ball will fit in that fairway"
If there were to be an anonymous poll
what % of the players at Accenture would express the same opinion as Rory, Ernie, etc?
just a guess ? not nearly as high as the percentage of guys who would just say “I really don’t care”.
"this ball will fit in that fairway"
You're possibly right about his infidelity
but detracting from the tournament they’re playing in hits them somewhat closer to home, don’t you think?i
not really – they’re not playing for ratings – they’re playing to win the match and a bigger check and hopefully to win the tournament.
"this ball will fit in that fairway"
I've read too many complaints on Twitter
from players about lack of TV cover of their play to think that it has no impact – ergo/ego – ratings matter.
TV coverage of the Match Play starts at 2:00 eastern. that’s 3 hours for xxx Golf Channel to put people into a coma with their “analysis”.
"this ball will fit in that fairway"
I don't mean players are complaining about TV coverage
of the tournament per se but as they are all “performers” I’m pretty sure
that it matters to them whether or if the appear on TV.
Court, even should you win this ratings war with the charming
Wendy, it’ll be tough to top her ergo/ego phrase. Always know when to retreat.
NON SCIENTIFIC POLL
Wendy,….I’m in Marana volunteering, and from what I see and hear, it is very likely that 70-80 % of the players are seriously miffed. Especially the Euro’s. Took some serious “balls” by Ernie and Rory to publicly comment as they did. Good for them. I caught Stepen Ames rant in the parking lot, and he made Miceili look like a choir boy ! W-O-W. Too bad about the timing, but that is pure Woods,…..control freak that he is. Movin’ on …………………….Z.
you're still away,...choke on it !
US Weekly Says Photo Opp Was a Setup
“Tiger’s team set this photo up with [photo agency] Getty in advance,” a Florida source insists to UsMagazine.com.
TMZ says that the well-composed picture of Woods (in Nike shirt and shorts but no wedding ring) was taken by Sam Greenwood — a “pretty famous” Getty-employed sports photographer whose work includes two Sports Illustrated covers.
Woods: One thing to remember
Be careful on the way up – you’ll meet the same people on your way down.
Don't worry, nothing will be allright.
at "the gathering"
RB – you were willing to test the laws of physics to get from Mexico to Tucson – well here’s something a little more realistic.
Mike Buteau is going to be AT “the gathering” Friday morning. I’ve played golf with Mike – he’s a little guy. I’m thinking that if you could get down to Sawgrass tonight, you could take him out and grab his credential… :-D
"this ball will fit in that fairway"
If the media stopped asking everyone and anyone
about 100 Tiger questions, it wouldn’t annoy the players as much
It’s sickening seeing them try and try and try to get an answer out of them that they dont want to answer.
You're right Alious
One can hear the irritation in their voices – they want to be asked about THEIR golf rounds, not TW.
I agree Wendy
I would say Tiger is not here this week. If you want to talk about this event, i’d be more than willing to speak. If you want to talk Tiger, then find someone else. Just because someone asks a question doesn’t compel you to answer it. Golf is an individual sport. The reason so many of these guys have had trouble with Tiger, is they’ve had him on their minds. If they asked me anything not pertaining to my game, i’d say no comment.
"The game is swell when it's played well."
by Fairways and Grins on Feb 19, 2010 10:05 AM EST up reply actions
I would have said "no comment"
until he chose to announce his conference in the middle of this tournament. Sorry, I’m with Ernie on this one. If he’s got a week out of rehab as is being reported, he could still have made a statement on Monday. He doesn’t need to call this farcical conference at all, IMO. Sadly, the way this is being handled may cause him more adverse comment which he can do without.
Well Wendy
Now that he’s taken this step the train is atleast moving in the right direction. You say farcical, and that may well be. If he would have had a full blown press conference, it would have been out of control. Way out of control. He will have to answer questions, but maybe he answered some of those questions. We’ll certainly be hearing, and seeing more in the times to come.
"The game is swell when it's played well."
by Fairways and Grins on Feb 19, 2010 11:47 AM EST up reply actions
I wouldn't expect any human being in this position
to expose himself to a full-blown press conference. Too cruel for words. I also believe and agree with him that the details of his infidelities are between him & Elin.
My only criticism of TW before this all broke was about his on-course behaviour;’ and my only criticism of him post-scandal is the timing of this statement, which I find disrespectful of this tournament and his fellow players.
I take no pleasure in his “downfall from grace”.
As usual
Fair Wendy……your words and views are appreciated. Fare Well.
"The game is swell when it's played well."
by Fairways and Grins on Feb 19, 2010 1:06 PM EST reply actions
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