Bloomberg news is reporting from the site of the PGA Tournament that Woods denied Monday's story about the PGA fining him for remarks made about officials.
The Bloomberg quote is:
"There was no fine. That was an erroneous report."
Do you think the PGA tested the waters and after the public outcry said: "Oops, our bad"?
ORIGINAL STORY BELOW
Woods who was the beneficiary of a Padraig Harrington meltdown on the 16th hole Sunday at the Firestone Country Club, is reportedly being fined for having an opinion about how that might have happened to his playing partner.
The full story of Sunday's incident is here. In short, the course officials invoked a rule under which if play is considered too slow by any group it is warned and thereafter can be penalized a stroke if it continues.
Both Tiger and Harrington were playing under the same threat but only Harrington seemed to be affected by insufficient time to hit from the rough and then off the green. The lead turned on his mistakes and he wound up losing by four strokes after being up by one.
Tiger Woods who is roundly criticized for being robotic and predictable when he answers questions has been fined, according to a report posted on espn.com. A source close to the PGA leaked the information since the Tour doesn't discuss fines that are levied.
Woods who rarely if ever utters a controversial word, spoke in what I thought were modified tones but apparently that was all too much for the PGA. The wording of the rule is :
"It is an obligation of membership to refrain from comments to the news media that unreasonably attack or disparage tournaments, sponsors, fellow members, players or PGA Tour."
Notice the use of the word "unreasonably". You decide for yourself if the judgment of the PGA is correct. Tiger's words were reported as:
"Like I was telling him out there, 'I'm sorry that John (the course official) got in the way of a great battle,' because it was such a great battle for 16 holes," Woods said. "We're going at it, head-to-head, and unfortunately that happened. Paddy and I will definitely do it again."
"I don't think that Paddy would have hit the pitch shot that way if he was able to take his time, look at it, analyze it," Woods said. "But he was on the clock, had to get up there quickly and hit it."
PGA Commissioner Tim Finchem has taken a page from the Roger Goodell and Bud Selig handbooks. You don't spit into the wind and you don't cast aspersions on the officials. But come on now, was what he said truly "unreasonable". Of course not. Woods can afford whatever it is and in a way it might endear him more to his fellow golfers. Sort of like taking one for the team. Well, OK, not exactly but you get the picture
Photo credit: AP/Wilfredo Lee
Comments
Fining Tiger for commenting on the obvious - that being put on the clock interrupted a great tournament (maybe one of the best battle this year!). More so, that it was done by a European Tour referee who enjoys his image as being the tough cop on the fairway. See this article, e.g., ttp://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/golf/theopen/5858433/The-Open-2009-Referee-John-Paramor-looks-kindly-on-Ross-Fisher.html
Tiger needs to get them back by being the leader to start a union for the PGA...YOu don't freak'n fine the golden goose of the PGA...
This is ridiculous! The PGA is really reaching here. Tiger gave his opinion on how the ruling by the official impacted Padraig's play. Tigher's opinion was definitely not unreasonable or disparaging. Pro athletes disagree with officials/ref's calls all the time and are not fined. What's really going on here?
Is the PGA out of their minds!? Do you really want to battle arguably the most famous sports star on the planet? I wonder who wins that one...
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