To The Sickly Go The Spoils at WGC Match Play
by Ryan Ballengee on Feb 18, 2010 12:02 PM EST
in Pro Golf
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PrintHenrik Stenson had caught the flu or a virus or something, in his words. Knowing that, he opted to take his place in the WGC Accenture Match Play field of sixty-four. The injury proved to be too much for him to participate in his first round match with Ben Crane. Less than a hole into the match, the Swede conceded to Crane.
Crane moves on to round two. Stenson is out, but pockets $45,000 for flying into Tucson for one hole of action. Stenson had no intention of playing his match with Crane. He just wanted the payday that comes with an attempt to play his match.
Stenson spoke with media after the concession. He said that he knew there was no use in playing.
"As soon as I tried to start to hit balls, it was an out-of-body experience. It was no point, really."
Seems like Stenson was trying to recoup whatever costs he could from flying out of his home in Orlando to Tucson. Between hotel, caddy, and such, it can add up quickly, I guess. Call that selfish, Ernie Els.
Whatever happened to the Henrik Stenson that wanted to win so badly that he would strip down to his underwear, reveal his tighty whities and hit a golf shot out of mud?
Sure, Stenson was perfectly healthy when he went Chippendales on us, but couldn't the guy wrap a Snuggie around himself and play in that?
Or better still, why not just withdraw and let someone else have a chance to go deep in the tournament while heading back home to Orlando to await the birth of his second child in two weeks?
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well said
it kind of reminds me of those guys who used to fight Tyson for the payday only to basically take a dive or throw in the towel 30 seconds in to the fight. Peter McNealy anyone?
we would all do the same thing
sigh – he wasn’t sick until yesterday, so he couldn’t just call the next guy on the list, who is down in Mexico….stripping down to play one shot isn’t the same as playing 18 holes plus warm up, plus media time, plus travel time, yada yada yada….you don’t take a chance on getting even sicker and missing more weeks…and you don’t want to get other people sick.
he’s a professional golfer – which means he travels and plays for money – he has bills to pay and the rules stipulate that he has to hit at least one ball to collect his paycheck – so he hit one ball. Even if he just hands the check off to a charity, he gets the tax benefit. why throw away a paycheck ?
hitting that ball also helped Ben Crane. If he had not started the first hole, Crane would not have been allowed to play the rest of the course yesterday, giving everybody else an advantage in preparing for the next round.
this really isn’t a big mystery.
"this ball will fit in that fairway"
It’s the same reason that some are upset at Tiger for calling a newser on Friday morning of the match play. It’s just kind of selfish. Literally every guy in Mayakoba would have flown up to Tucson (all 90 minutes of it) if he had a chance to play in the match play. And who knows, that guy may have done some serious damage.
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by Ryan Ballengee on Feb 18, 2010 12:27 PM EST up reply actions
how is it “selfish” ?
90 minutes of air time = several HOURS of travel time IF you’re lucky enough to just have a flight just waiting to fly to…Los Angeles or San Diego…but we’re talking TUCSON !!!!!! Not exactly a major hub of airline travel.
If the guy says he’s sick and can’t go – why would you question him ? You said as much yourself – the guy has always been willing to do what it took to win.
"this ball will fit in that fairway"
I'm just glad it was safe to say. You're
pretty tough today, Court.
He's tough every day`
He’s the Sultan of Swat.
by Charles Boyer on Feb 18, 2010 2:51 PM EST up reply actions
On that stage, that close, I’d do that in a heartbeat.
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by Ryan Ballengee on Feb 18, 2010 12:43 PM EST up reply actions
SURE ! They could’ve just beamed the next guy over from Mexico…just takes a few seconds, right ? Oh wait – that isn’t reality either.
Interestingly enough – Chris Wood was in and he is 69th this week.
Steven Marino, Ooosthuizen, Ben Curtis, Katayama – not in the field at the Mayakoba.
Now what ?
"this ball will fit in that fairway"
Just planning to play the first still seems like a loop hole,
of sorts. (Use of loophole as two words intentional)
Well said Court...
I was going to write the same thing, but you used all my words….STUB
The guy wins millions per year. How is giving up $45K (which he won’t even really make after taxes, fees, accommodations, etc) something that we would all do in that situation?
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by Ryan Ballengee on Feb 18, 2010 12:43 PM EST up reply actions
it’s $45 THOUSAND – not 45 pennies. Are you KIDDING ? Rich people stay rich by doing the things they did to get rich. In this case, collecting checks.
Why don’t you get mad at him for getting paid to wear the clothes he wears ? Couldn’t he just go to Old Navy or Target and get som khaki’s ? Why does he have to wear custom made shoes that would cost us hundreds of dollars when he can just drop by the local sporting goods store an pick up a pair for $35 ?
"this ball will fit in that fairway"
For the same reason
the Engish football (now ex) captain, who gets paid £125,000 per week, takes £10,000 backhanders to rent out his box /show people round his local ground. As Court says, " Rich people stay rich by doing the things they did to get rich". I’m not on the poverty line, but I would have done the same thing. As far as I know, no-one was standing by either (and for all we know, he may have checked this out). I certainly don’t think less of him for playing that one shot.
John Terry and Tiger Woods in the same article? Interesting…
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I WAS tempted to make that analogy
but no whilst I was defending Henrik. Also my gripe is that Ryan could at least have given us (me) a link to the pic. of him in his designer skivvies.
and here I was figuring you’d have that picture as a poster on the wall :-D
"this ball will fit in that fairway"
Kudos, Wendy!
I finally set you up. Man, it wasn’t easy. Been trying for weeks now.
Thank you Court
If you catch a little grovel in any posts I make to you in the near future – I owe you!
I’m giving Stenson the benefit of a doubt because this is not something he has done on anything resembling a regular basis.
I think he gave it his level best but if he was woozy – say his inner ear had an infection – 18 holes of competitive golf, walking, would be an interminable hell.
by Charles Boyer on Feb 18, 2010 2:54 PM EST up reply actions
if it was his intention from the
day or so before, then I still think it’s shonky.
There IS another aspect we haven't looked at...
…we know Henrik’s not too bashful to strip down to the skivies in public – did anyone stick around to make sure Stenson’s one shot got past the lady’s tees ? Most of us know the traditional punishment for failure to get your tee shot past those red markers. :-D
"this ball will fit in that fairway"
well – depending on the ruthlessness of the group – either pants around the ankles for the rest of the hole – or a lower half “full monty” for the rest of the hole. personally, only once with pants at the ankles.
"this ball will fit in that fairway"
If I explained it to you, Court,
it would be too much information.
Yet it was kinda the exact amount she asked for.
He obviously hoped he could get through the first round..
it is matchplay…had it been strokeplay he probably wouldn’t have entered. To suggest he only turned up for the 45 grand is being narrow minded. It is a lot to us, but thats not the reason he turned up. He would be more concerned about progressing in a knockout comp…if he scraped though he might have recovered for the next round.
Well said, Eas…I agree with you. Let’s be fair, Stenson probably flew into Tucson Sunday or Monday; at that point in time, he surely had every intention of playing his match against Crane. Even when he went to bed Tuesday night, he probably hoped that he would feel well enough to play the next morning. I know I’ve gone to bed feeling tterrible and had a miraculous healing with a good night’s sleep. Even Wed morning, although he felt like crap, maybe he thought he could pull a Michael Jordan, who scored 51 points in a playoff basketball game while suffering from the flu. My only criticism is that if Stenson played one hole he should have continued until he was 3 or 4 down and then withdrew…who knows maybe Crane would have pulled a muscle or something and had to withdraw himself before Stenson.
Guys – the field has been set for two weeks except for the guys who pulled out. Stenson wasn’t sick two weeks ago. He wasn’t sick last week – and we have ALL had the flu and know how fast it comes up on you. Jordan scored 51 in a basketball game that lasts 2 hours with a 20 minute break in the middle and he can sit out when he needs. Not an option in a golf match. Then he would have had to get up early and go again the next day – Jordan had 3 or 4 days to recover.
"this ball will fit in that fairway"
Plus, Pippen couldn't help Stenson
hit the ball.
This is incredible even for you, court…you posted…
“Jordan scored 51 in a basketball game that lasts 2 hours with a 20 minute break in the middle and he can sit out when he needs. Not an option in a golf match. Then he would have had to get up early and go again the next day – Jordan had 3 or 4 days to recover”
…that implies that playing golf while under the effects of the flu is more difficult that playing basketball while under the effects of the flu. If I told you how I really felt about you right now, you would like to knock me off the barstool!.
nah – I’d just wait a little while for you to fall off by yourself.
I don’t see you saying anything to disprove what I said.
"this ball will fit in that fairway"
What I originally posted disproves what you said….
" Even Wed morning, although he felt like crap, maybe he thought he could pull a Michael Jordan, who scored 51 points in a playoff basketball game while suffering from the flu."
…have someone read it to you!
yes – that “maybe” really solidifies the argument for me – what could I have been thinking ?
"this ball will fit in that fairway"
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