November 17 -- Tiger Woods was at it again at last week’s Australian Masters.
Sure, he won the tournament, but what’s becoming almost as frequent as Woods capturing another golf title is Tiger hurling golf clubs. Most recently, he tossed his club to the ground in disgust after shanking a drive during the third round at Melbourne’s Kingston Heath Golf Club.
What happened next was somewhat unprecedented. The club bounced up and into the throngs of fans following his every shot. Said fans then clapped as Woods retrieved his Nike SQ Dymo.
Tiger throws club. Woods’ temper tantrums are, by now, legend. A quick google or youtube search for “Tiger Woods throws club” proves that point.
Topping those lists is Tiger’s unnecessary display down under. But why were his adoring acolytes applauding his bad behavior?
Were they thanking him for schooling them on how to bounce a driver off hard turf and into the gallery? Allowing them to inspect his driver up close and personal? Nodding perfunctorily as he reached for his wayward club?
The Aussies may be golf-crazed Tiger junkies, but get a grip (a tip Woods’ caddie, Steve Williams, might pass on to Tiger).
Woods didn’t even stop to autograph a ball for the spectator who caught his driver. Everyone knows that when a pro golfer’s errant shot hits you, you get a pat on the back, a concerned look, and the golfer’s John Hancock. It’s just pro-golf etiquette, right?
Breach of etiquette. Okay, Woods’ stick did not injure anyone. But when is enough enough with the club-tossing?
For many Boston golfers, one Callaway smashed in anger by a playing partner is one boorish offense too many. Indeed, how many golfers know they risk actual penalties for breaches of etiquette such as those that Woods regularly showcases?
Yup, according to Rule 33-7 of the Rules of Golf, the “Committee” may take “appropriate disciplinary action” against a player who “consistently disregards” etiquette guidelines “during a round or over a period of time.”
DQ. In addition to prohibiting an offending golfer from play, the powers-that-be may actually disqualify a player from competition “in the case of a serious breach of etiquette.”
Of course, the PGA Tour may lighten Woods' wallet for each time he drop kicks a club or cusses, but officials are never going to DQ their meal ticket for such offenses.
It’s not even as if Woods were the only golfer on tour to engage in golf-club abuse. Indeed, anyone who’s ever played the game of golf knows how infinitely frustrating the exercise can be -- and most golfers will never stare down a shot worth millions, or even hundreds, of dollars.
Even so, Woods’ club-throwing incidents are wearisome. Swear all you want -- who on the golf course has never uttered a four-letter word? -- but the club-pitching histrionics are over the top, especially for the world’s best golfer.
After winning her first LPGA Tour title last week, Michelle Wie will try to make it back-to-back wins in the LPGA Tour Championship in Texas. Check it out at Will Michelle Wie make it two in a row?
In case you missed the club-throwing down under, take a look at this video of Tiger’s recent run-in with his temper:
Comments
I totally enjoy the club throwing stunts and am sure majority of the crowd enjoys it too.
So the author wants a player to autograph a ball in between a round of golf? That doesn't make sense to me.
The author should get a life. Find another profession, you are sticking up this one.
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