TIGER WOODS NEEDS A LESSON IN MANNERS
Swearing and club-throwing set shocking example to kids
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THE sixteenth hole at Scioto Golf Club, Columbus, Ohio, was the setting for one of golf's most enduring anecdotes.
A fresh-faced teenager named Jack Nicklaus was negotiating the 420-yard par four under the watchful eye of his father Charlie.
After striking the perfect drive, Nicklaus Jnr was left with a relatively straightforward eight-iron to the elevated target. He dumped his shot into a greenside bunker. And the eight-iron was not far behind.
Charlie marched over to his son. "Young man, that will be the last club I will ever see you throw or hear of you throwing, or you are not going to be playing this game."
Those who follow golf regularly will be familiar with this tale. Those who tune in every now and again to watch Tiger Woods scatter his equipment over Britain's coastline will not.
Nor will they recall an incident at Doral in 2008, where a twitchy-fingered photographer felt the full, profanity-spattered wrath of Woods.
But they might have clicked on YouTube and seen - or rather heard - the world number one denounce an errant drive with some choice words.
And I assume they are aware of how Woods marked the start of the 138th Open Championship. God dammit, seemed to be his catchphrase.
The only dark cloud on that tranquil opening day at Turnberry enveloped Tiger's Nike-capped head.
Remember the smile that seemed powered by the national grid? A dazzling but distant memory. Back then, you could even chuckle at the relentless fist-touching with his thoroughly annoying caddie Steve Williams.
Now, they march around with matching scowls. Glum and glummer. It was Williams - someone who makes his living, don't forget, by carrying another man's bag - who, earlier this year, described Phil Mickelson as a 'p***k'.
When Woods did not sack him, golf's governing bodies should have taken action. But upsetting Tiger is the biggest no-no in world sport. He is untouchable. He is the towering exception to the rule suggesting that no one man can be bigger than any sport.
When he was absent after his knee operation, TV ratings for PGA Tour events in America went through the floor. Down 48.6 per cent.
Little wonder America's most senior golf administrator, Tim Finchem, has no qualms about banning John Daly for six months after he fell into a drunken stupor outside a Hooters restaurant (and finished his night's sleep in the slammer) but would never say boo to a Tiger.
And do you think those chaps from the Royal and Ancient, who would choke on their pink gins if someone broke clubhouse etiquette, had the bottle to go up to Tiger after round one of this year's Open and warn him about club-throwing and cursing?
Of course not. Even The Open organisers know that Tiger has to be kept sweet at all costs. Not that his misdemeanours are anything remotely like those of, say, Daly.
Nor has he ever been embroiled in the sort of Colin Montgomerie controversy that reared its head again this week thanks to Sandy Lyle.
And he is, without doubt, one of the most talented sportsmen in history. Throw into the mix the wonderful work done by his charities and it seems churlish to find fault. Most of those charities focus on giving opportunities to kids. Which is great.
But the example he is giving kids right now is that you respond to your own mistakes by shouting, swearing and spearing your two-iron into the turf.
And, sadly for him, it means that while he will undoubtedly be remembered as golf's greatest-ever player, he might not be remembered as its greatest-ever champion.
Now get the News of World print edition for more from Andy Dunn
This article has 14 comments
if i had his cash,i'd wake up giggling every day! bad mood? no way pedro,as Dell boy would say!
By alan simpson. Posted August 9 2009 at 3:03 PM.
Tiger Woods is a great golfer, but completely lacking in class, taste and grace. As a member of a family with golfers and a pro golfer we follow the tournaments. We are interested in all tournament participants, not just Mr. Woods. The networks seem to forget this. Thanks to Tiger Woods and his ill behaviour, and the overwhelming invasion of Korean women, we are watching less of golf on the U.S. networks.
By jmorris. Posted August 9 2009 at 2:49 AM.
I agree wholeheartedly with what you have said Jim. Its just human nature to point fingers at other people's weaknesses while being quiet to one's own many more shortcomings.
By bOROi. Posted August 9 2009 at 12:27 AM.
Tigers competition is every bit as good if not better than Jack, Arnie's and Tom's. In their primes Jack, Arnie and Tom would have fared no better against Tiger than Phil, Vijay or any of the others. The courses are hundreds and in many cases a thousand plus yards longer. The reason Watson did well at the British was because it was a shorter course and he had some really great shots go in his favor early on.
As for Tiger's tirades, I have seen Jack throw a club or two at a golf bag and I have seen for sure Arnie do the same (he smoked to calm his nerves). I too wish he would cool it, but I also think other players need to be punished as well, specifically Rory "really foul mouthed" Sabbatini and I do think Tiger should be penalized for his behavior.
But PLEASEEEEEE do not suggest that kids learn this behavior from Tiger, most kids learn this behavior and language from their PARENTS or RELATIVES or in public places. Tell me you have never gone to a store, restaurant or public transportation and heard this language or worse!
When everyone of you angels that complain about Tiger, learn to not say F bombs, or A bombs, or C bombs or MF bombs, then and only then will you have room to complain. I for one DO NOT utter those words, because my PARENTS taught me well.
I once slammed my fingers in a safe at work and yelled OH Ouch and everyone in the place laughed and then offered to help and marveled at my restraint.
By Jim R. Posted July 30 2009 at 7:51 AM.
In my book TG is already the best golfer the world has ever seen. As usualthe envious will look at the negatives, never considering at what he has achieved for someone his age. TG Rules OK!!!!!
By bOROi. Posted July 25 2009 at 1:07 AM.
Totally agree wih you RHYS. Every sportsman had issues and at least knowing Tiger's and being able to see he's human and LEARNING from his flaws is good. Like him or don't but I'm pretty sure Jack Nicklaus was not perfect either. And by the way , money makes the world go round, show me one sport that thrives without it.
By Dom Scott. Posted July 21 2009 at 9:26 AM.
I have been saying this about Tiger for ages.....great player and he is responsible for playing some of the most amazing shots I've ever seen on a golf course, but when things don't go his way, he acts just like a spoilt brat. Not a good example but makes for very funny television!
By Brev. Posted July 19 2009 at 11:24 AM.
Funny how you bash the tiger, no mention of Ian Poulter's outburst a few weeks ago,and it was every bit as bad
By jj. Posted July 19 2009 at 11:02 AM.
Just frustrated that a 59 year old can manage to handle the course which he couldn't.
Not going to win each week or be perfect..maybe that is part of the proble when top sportsmen act with anger.
They want to be the best and cannot accept failing.
By Mark. Posted July 19 2009 at 10:59 AM.
I'm afraid to tell you Mr Dunn that greatness is accompanied by extreme intolerance of being imperfect.
I'm sure you'll bring your kids up to say: 'Oh dear, rubbish!' when they come up short. And the chances are they will not be particularly great at anything.
It won't get changed by people like YOU telling him to change. It might be by Jack Nicklaus, Tom Watson or Sir Nick Faldo. After all, Sir Nick had the grace to thank the media from the heart of his bottom after winning the Open once, so he clearly has an attitude problem inside him too, doesn't he, which means he'll probably understand Tiger perfectly, won't he?
If you lot were so good as parents, your children seeing that happen would NOT lead to them imitating them for all time, because you would know how to explain to them what was wrong with the antics, why it might be happening and, more importantly, how to channel the frustration and rage more efficiently.
What is wrong is parents thinking that the primary influence for their children growing up is sports stars, not their parents.
Yes I agree, Mr Woods might do better to rein in his anger. But really: top quality sport does NOT include perfection at all times, rather the unquenching DESIRE to reach such lofty heights, with which comes strong emotions.
Like you lot want to see when the England soccer boys were toned down, nice little boys who pfaffed around for 70 minutes doing something slightly more directly foul-languaged than 'not a lot......'
By Rhys Jaggar. Posted July 19 2009 at 8:39 AM.
I've said this about Tiger for years - great player but not a great example on the course. I also concur with Jack Arnold's analysis - Tiger's competitiors are not of the same ilk as Gary Player, Arnold Palmer, Tom Watson, Lee Trevino etc. Too many of today's players are afraid of Tiger and when he's in the lead are beaten before they start. You couldn't have said that of the aforementioned players - true greats of the game. And by the way I'm not an old codger having a go - I'm 38!
By Michael. Posted July 19 2009 at 8:32 AM.
My advise to Tiger is --Stop being a Whimp -- Go for everything, attack the course at every available opportunity. Failure is not the end of the world so give it a blast get your head up and smile !!! Easier said than done of course
By Alan Beresford. Posted July 19 2009 at 8:17 AM.
What an example...here is someone who many, many average everyday working men and women pay good money to go and see...and what does he do? Have a tantrum - not just one, a load.
Where is his PR crew? Notwithstanding his apparent charitable donations to help kids and others, wouldn't it have made more sense for him, once eliminated from play, to search out some kids' hospitals, or old folks homes or whatever - someplace that he would easily be recognized, and for him to show up there to the utter delight of all of his fans - instead of cancelling his order to his chef, having his pilot flash up the Gulfstream and slip home to the US. What a jerk - an absolute spoiled brat jerk. What got my wife and I going, even prior to THAT prank, was the total coverage he receives on TV, as if he were the only player out there!!
Go for it Tom, show them you still have it - and are a gentle man and gentleman, not some overpaid jerk.
By Tony Whitchurch. Posted July 19 2009 at 4:05 AM.
Golfs greatest ever player??...dont make me laugh. Tigers competitors are no where near as good as jacks were, and i dont think woods will get passed jacks record of 18 majors
By jack arnold. Posted July 19 2009 at 2:09 AM.