Tiger Woods retrieves his driver after bouncing it into the ground and over the crowd during the third round of the Australian Masters.
So Tiger Woods’ driver flew into the gallery surrounding the 13th tee at Kingston Heath Saturday at the Australian Masters, which you can see in the video below.
It was a shot perhaps as lucky as his chip-in on No. 16 at the 2005 Masters, and as dopey as Jean Van de Velde’s driver off the 18th tee at Carnoustie at the 1999 British Open.
Some inside the golf blogosphere wonder why this whole Foul Driver Down Under (FDDU) incident isn’t a bigger story, saying that golf writers are just shying away from tainting El Tigre, as usual.
Count me in the Eh, Whatever group, for a few reasons:
1.) Tiger didn’t mean to throw his driver into the gallery, nor did he throw it directly into the gallery.
As you can infer from the video, he slammed his driver down onto the tee box and it somehow ricocheted off the ground back into the gallery. (Quick, someone check the grooves on that thing!)
Of course, had he flung the driver into the gallery with the help of his caddie Stevie Williams and one of those contraptions they uses to launch T-shirts into the crowd at professional sports games, it would be another story, a bigger one.
Considering speed, loft and weight, the worst injury that could have resulted may have been a chipped tooth, yet I’m sure I could probably find 500 million people that would love to be on the other end of that apology note/gift.
2.) Tiger throws more clubs and F-bombs than Williams throws cameras. It’s old news, which is the biggest story here.
New England Patriots head coach Bill Belichick walks off the field after losing 35-34 to the Indianapolis Colts on Nov. 15.
Maybe if Woods hadn’t fessed up, multiple times before, and said that he’s working on keeping his emotions in check, we’d turn our heads. Instead, it’s about as exhilarating as seeing John Daly’s Loudmouth Pants for the 40th time.
Tiger Tantrum No. 9,837? OK, great. Now put on NBC so I can watch Bill Belichick throw a football game.
3.) Too many people have told me they enjoy those humanizing fits of rage.
Don’t get me wrong; Woods is in a unique societal position, much different than any weekend hacker, and really should think at least twice about the image he is relaying, to junior golfers especially.
It’s un-Augusta National-like, for sure.
But who am I to judge, especially when I’ve had to throw 5-irons up at branches in order to knock my driver back down?
(I was 12, and it was raining, but I’m not going to make any excuses.)
Forty years ago at a preseason New England Patriots football game, my father jumped down five rows, onto an older couple, to catch a football that had been kicked over the netting. (It was a split-second decision, and all parties involved laughed it off.)
It’s one of my favorite pieces of sports memorabilia.
If we are to get on Tiger for anything this week, it should be for taking the driver back from the fan who caught it.
Comments
rpayne1942 (anonymous) says...
Eric, if your picture is any indication, I can see that your are of a generation that has no concept of proper maners or correct public behavior. I would bet you are one who thinks that our government giving away billions of dollars to people who do not earn it is an OK thing since it is old hat and nobody is being hurt. Woods' actions are a disgrace and if the PGA had any guts at all he would not be playing next year in America. He is only a step above John Daly, and his actions should be condemmed in no uncertain terms. He did not mean to throw his driver into the gallery, where did it end up? A chipped tooth, I guess that doesn't count for much if you have everyone like Eric falling all over themselves to make excuses. Woods is working on keeping his emotions in check, and John Daly is only working on wife four or five or six. Eric I am also glad that your father taught you that however gross your acitons it is OK if you get what you want. Too bad the old couple did not cold cock your dad, maybe you would understant that maners matter.
November 16, 2009 at 5:49 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
ebw27 (anonymous) says...
whoaaaaaaa... looks like we found the guy who got hit by the driver! think you might have missed the point... he didn't say tiger was right
November 16, 2009 at 8:36 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
timstover77 (anonymous) says...
rpayne1942...
How is the author's acceptance of Tiger's behavior related to what the government does? And why do you care how many wives John Daly has had?
Nostalgia is great, but you can't hold on to the era you grew up in forever. If you can keep your emotions in check on the course, more power to you.
Today's sports are a lot more competitive and emotions sell, which is why Tiger has huge endorsement deals and the PGA gets more TV viewers and ticket sales when he plays.
November 16, 2009 at 8:40 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
palmstring (anonymous) says...
One of these days, Tiggy or any prospective golfer might either hurl his club or hit the ball to an innocent spectator in the head or any part of the body. That person might someday sue the athlete for damages unless the golfer settles. The PGA Tour could possibly look into the situation & could come up with a fine &/or suspension just like other sports leagues.
November 16, 2009 at 9:17 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Ok_Golfer (anonymous) says...
rpayne, is reading comprehension something that you've lost with age or did you never have it to begin with?
When Henrik Stenson took out his rage on a tee box marker (I think it was in Texas) a couple years ago, essentially vandalizing property, he was served a fine. Tiger will probably have the same. If you look at the picture posted, no one was hurt by Tiger's tantrum, in fact, everyone is smiling.
Not allowing him to play on the most popular tour in the world because of a tossed club would make as much sense as impeaching the president for bowing and shaking hands at the same time with the Japanese Prime Minister.
Go back and reread the article and tell me you see it in the same way. I suppose I will take my own advice and click on it again to make sure I didn't miss anything...but I tend to think you're a little off.
November 17, 2009 at 9:47 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
sgt2k (anonymous) says...
So now we add Eric Soderstrom to the list of golf scribes who are either too in awe or too afraid of Tiger to tell it like it is. I swear, if these jock-sniffing golf writers climb any deeper into Tiger's pants they'll run into Elin!!
Look at the video again, Eric. Tiger doesn't just slam his club on the ground, he consciously flings/throws it forward (albeit on a downward trajectory). That's "throwing a club", and if my Dad had seen me doing it as a kid, he would have sent me home.
Nothing terrible happened in this instance. But shafts break, Mr. Soderstrom. And the jagged edges can hurt or seriously injure someone. This is why Tiger's actions in Australia need to be addressed by Tim Finchem and the PGA Tour. Tiger simply MUST be disciplined for this terrible -- and potentially tragic -- lapse in judgment.
It's time for Tiger to grow up and accept that he's a role model for golfers everywhere (and not just kids). When he throws a club (or an F-bomb), he greatly diminishes the enjoyment we fans can derive from his performances. I'm sure Jack and Arnie and Tom got upset at themselves, too. But they knew that they were public entertainers and kept their reactions within reason.
I'm OK if writers like Mr. Soderstrom want to go easy on their "hero" (or, they hope, future dinner guest or book collaborator) . I can just find other publications to read.
What I don't understand is why Tim Finchem -- thus far -- hasn't done enough to bring Tiger under control. I'm sure there have been a few small fines, but those are nothing to Tiger.
Finchem needs to realize that he owns the keys to the tournaments Tiger covets most -- the majors. If he suspends him for X weeks, then Tiger might not be able to play in the Masters, or US Open, or whatever. Maybe that will finally get the T-man's attention!!
November 17, 2009 at 11:43 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
ebw27 (anonymous) says...
sgt2k - iss hilarious how you don't understand the tongue-in-cheek-ness of this blog. no one is saying tiger was right in what he did! he's talking about why it's not front page news
November 17, 2009 at 1:28 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Know2Go (anonymous) says...
You want a penalty for this? Let the fan keep the club and Tiger finishes the round without it. This penalty (does not change the fundamental USGA rules) and I would be willing to bet would fix the 'perceived' problem - Quick. Now somebody go ask Jim Furyk if his 200+ points loss (FedEx Cup) and $130,000+ winnings loss, for his self disclosure of an extra club - was incentive enough to insure it does not happen again. While these two instances are not quite the same, the net effect or outcome would be. Both instances result in a behavioral change. There is one problem with this suggestion.. If TW looses his driver to a fan, finds himself downgraded to 3Wood, yet goes on to win The Master's or US Open without it.. what then??? He's already proven himself with bum knee...
November 18, 2009 at 2:12 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
golfer78015 (anonymous) says...
I'm getting more than a little tired of seeing Woods cursing and throwing clubs. His boorish behavior is out of hand. We all have shots we don't like. So What! He knows he is on more facial closeups than anyone else so if he wants to curse maybe he should put a towel over his head and then do it. If he wants to slam his club into the ground he should hold on to the club when he does so. Shafts break, clubheads are made out of titanium - a very hard metal-- and people can get hurt. Spectators do not attend golf tournaments to be targets. It is one thing to be hit by an errant golf ball but flying irons and woods are not acceptable under any circumstances. If someone throws a club -- I'm not talking about clubs slipping out of the hands due to rain -- the player should be immediately disqualified and escorted off the course.
Sonderstrom's column is not funny -- it is only a sad commentary on the lack or ignorance of golf etiquette by too many people today.
Throwing clubs is not new -- but there has never been a excuse for doing so.
November 18, 2009 at 1:31 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
tour_hopeful (anonymous) says...
I think a lot of you may have missed this paragraph...
"Don’t get me wrong; Woods is in a unique societal position, much different than any weekend hacker, and really should think at least twice about the image he is relaying, to junior golfers especially.
"It’s un-Augusta National-like, for sure."
This isn't someone praising Tiger for throwing temper tantrums, he is just making light of an unusual situation. And if you've ever spent time at a PGA Tour event, you will see that Tiger isn't the only one who "tosses" his clubs to his caddie or uses a few choice words.
How can you fault someone for living in the moment. It's not like he, or anyone else, consciously tries to desecrate the honor of the game after hitting a bad shot. That's just what competing at the absolute highest level will do to you. Besides, I would much rather watch someone who is emotional and fired up like TW, than some boring robot like Brian Gay.
I can't believe you people know how to use the Internet...
November 18, 2009 at 2:26 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
volfan53 (anonymous) says...
Apparently, from a lot of the comments, it is considered old fashioned to believe that you should be a gentleman on the golf course. If your love for Tiger is so great that you are willing to forgive him anything than where will you draw the line. Does he have to kill someone with a thrown club before you will say ban him for a week? I am a Tiger fan and love to watch him play golf but, I also believe that good behavior should be expected at all times on the golf course. This is not a sport where you are physically being pounded by your opponent and there is lots of physical pain involved. You should be able to control your emotions. Yes, he did not intend to throw the club into the gallery but it went there anyway. He is still responsible for his actions. Quit making excuses. What excuse do you make for the f-bomb and GD he threw out because someone took a picture during his swing. If you can't concentrate with that small of a noise going on what does he do when a bird chirps during his swing? Does he demand that all the birds and other wildlife be driven away so that they won't make any noise when he swings? Are the marshalls going to start holding up signs to hold your breath because he might hear you exhale during his swing. Why is it athletes in other sports can concentrate and preform with lots of noise going on but in golf it has to be soooo quiet you can hear a pin drop. You know, if there was a constant level of noise while you were playing you wouldn't notice it, it would just be background noise. There are too many people out there willing to make excuses for professional athletes when they do something wrong and then when that same athlete makes a mistake that crosses your line you are ready to crucify them because they get away with everything because they are professional athletes. Just accept the fact Tiger did something wrong and won't be punished for it. It is just the way life is. Wrong, but just the way it is. This is just my opinion and I am entitled to it so if you want to get on here and rant and rave about how wrong I am then that is your right. You can have an opinion too.
November 19, 2009 at 11:05 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
blopar (anonymous) says...
this is ridiculous--of course he meant to chuck his driver--are you blind deaf and dumb?? and..... this is certainly not the first time!! Throwing clubs, swearing, pounding clubs, throwing balls and assorted pieces of equipment in anger---are all unacceptable and bad examples for kids, the public, and the sports world at large. Not only should Tiger be fined and punished, but the punishment should be proportional to his status on the tour and income! I bet that if I had made the zillions and billions in golf that Tiger has made, that I could probably refrain from dropping the f-bomb and throwing my clubs--at least in public in front of thousands of spectators and millions of TV viewers. Finchem and the Tour are wimps for not treating Tiger equally because he is a big spectator draw.....I thought this game still had a component of honor, but evidently dollars trumps all!
November 19, 2009 at 12:27 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )