Tour Jackass of the Week: Rory Sabbatini
Posted June 13th, 2005 by Erik J. Barzeski
Ben Crane may play slowly, but that in no way excuses what Rory Sabbatini did to him over the final two holes of the 2005 Booz Allen Classic.
Rory Sabbatini plays quickly. Ben Crane, a Tour winner, has a reputation for playing rather slowly. Like oil and water, the two often don't mix, and when the group is put on the clock, a fast player quickly comes to resent the slow player.
Tour officials put the Sabbatini/Crane group on the clock Sunday at the Booz Allen Classic, but both players had caught up by the 17th hole and were off the clock. When Sabbatini hit his approach into the water, he walked behind the green and prepared to make his drop before Ben Crane could hit his approach shot. Sabbatini was nearly directly behind the flag, standing there, waiting for Crane to hit his shot. As soon as Crane's ball stopped moving, Sabbatinie dropped, played his chip, walked onto the green, marked his ball, and then put his ball down and putted out. He then walked to the 18th tee before Crane finished out. He was booed, and booed again as he approached the 18th green (where Crane birdied from 50 feet away and Sabbatini managed to two-putt).
The two exchanged a palm slap that barely qualifies as a handshake before retiring the scorer's tent, Sabbatini chewing out Crane during most of the walk.
Though it's true that players who are put on the clock ten times in a year are given a substantial fine, this in no way excuses Rory Sabbatini's rude behavior. Paul Azinger took Sabbatini to task on the air, and I'm doing it now: his behavior was rude, uncalled for, and completely out of line.
I can understand being upset with a slow player. However, the slow player is a Tour winner and was within two shots of the lead, and walking ahead will do nothing to speed up play. Perhaps Sabbatini was trying to demonstrate to Tour officials that he was now the reason the group was put on the clock, but instead his display came off as selfish, jackassed, and completely discourteous of his playing partner.
Sabbatini should be fined for his actions.
Ben Crane, who Azinger remarked on the air was one of the nicest guys you could ever meet, attempted to diffuse the situation in a post-round interview, saying:
Rory's a fast player, and I'm a slow player, so the only reason we're on the clock is because of me. Is Rory out of line? No, not really. I'm the one who got us on the clock. I understand how he feels. Can that change it? No. I need to work on picking it up, but I obviously don't want to hit the shot before I'm ready.
Though I appreciate the humility and respect which Crane showed for his playing partner, I would not have blamed him for lashing out just a bit. I don't think anyone else - particularly those who booed Sabbatini after witnessing the event - would either.
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Posted 13 Jun 2005 at 4:37pm #
you beat me to writing this up
if i were ben crane, i would have taken an extra club on my approach into 17 and tried to hit rory. what a jerk! i have so much respect for crane the way he held his composure and handled the media.
Posted 13 Jun 2005 at 6:04pm #
Jackass of the week? I'm saying jackass of the year!
Ben Crane was very gracious in the situation, but like Azinger said, Rory would have had some mud on his pants after I got done with him.
Very weird situation. I actually started feeling some rage when it was occurring..
Rory dug his grave no doubt, and he will live with that the rest of his career.
Posted 13 Jun 2005 at 6:11pm #
Not to nitpick - and I agree with everything you wrote - But Ben Crane is not a major champion. His only victory on tour was the 2003 Bellsouth. You're thinking of either Ben Curtis or Rich Beem.
Posted 13 Jun 2005 at 7:57pm #
You're right, WGV, and I was thinking of Ben Curtis when I wrote this up. Seething anger (at Sabbatini) can be blinding, I suppose!
Posted 13 Jun 2005 at 8:44pm #
If it hadn't happened in mid December last year then I would rank Ricky Barnes' performance at the Australian Masters as a worse example to lead Jackass of the Year.
A whole round of petulance, attacking trees, making a 5 putt and other idiocy. The fact that he was paired up with the eventual winner made it worse. Imagine playing to win with that going on alongside you.
Posted 13 Jun 2005 at 8:45pm #
Indeed, Bruce. Ricky Barnes is way down on my list of favorite people. Jackass of the Year… yeah, I think Barnes won that one in 2K4.
Posted 13 Jun 2005 at 10:22pm #
I was still stewing about Sabbatini's classless behavior today but totally got that bile cleansed away with The Golf Channel's retrospective of Payne and Phil at Pinehurst. If there's any such thing as an "all about me" moment in golf, it would be when you win a major in dramatic fashion...yet Payne Stewart took the time and made the effort to show such grace and compassion for his playing partner...it just floors me every time I see it. You take away that etiquette, that gentlemanly code of conduct and golf becomes just another sport. Which it ain't. I hope Rory was watching and taking notes.
Posted 14 Jun 2005 at 10:38am #
Why does Nike keep this under contract in the same stable as Tiger and Justin Leonard? Notice what Wally Uihlien did with Paul Casey after he (Casey) opened his yap during the Ryder Cup. See ya, Paulie...go be a jack ass for Nike.
Lesson for players on Wally's Titleist payroll: don't make us look bad or you'll be kicked to the curb. (or if you are a newly minted Masters champ...don't come looking for evenmore cash than you are alread getting.)
Notice how DL3 told Nike they can keep their mountain of cash...he's a Titleist guy even if it means taking less.(http://www.golftoday.co.uk/news/yeartodate/news00/love2.html)
Posted 17 Jun 2005 at 2:03am #
Olin Browne and Rocco Mediate show the young guys how things get done when conditions are tough.
Posted 24 Jun 2005 at 4:00am #
Jim Furyk leads after first round of the Barclays Classic with Perry and Singh not far behind.
Posted 27 Jun 2005 at 1:34pm #
Though I don't agree completely with Rory's action I was amazed at not only how slow Crane set up but he even walked at 1/4 speed. I play in a lot of am events and would go crazy with a partner like Crane. On secound thought I agree completely wtih Sabbatini.
Posted 21 Jul 2005 at 9:20pm #
Ben Crane takes all day to shoot a 62… but it's because of a weather delay, not slow play. Or was it?
Posted 10 Aug 2005 at 11:02pm #
I disagree with this article. Ben Crane plays painfully slow. As a golfer it can be extremely frustrating. I applaud Rory for the 'statement' he made regarding Ben's slow play. Forget fines. Slow players need to be penalized strokes. That'll speed them up.
Posted 01 Oct 2005 at 10:23am #
Slow play drives everyone nuts, but everyone is responsible for slow play. Odds are, there are ways you too could speed up your play.
Posted 19 Feb 2006 at 8:49pm #
Sabbatini is an idiot. I root against this idiot now. I'm sorry that he won today, I was hoping the ass would choke hard. Can't wait to see him in my home town and let him know how I feel.
Posted 10 Aug 2007 at 10:57pm #
Rory is just plain out an IDIOT his talent or lack of obviously doesn't do the talking on the course so he has to run his mouth off the course.It maybe true Tiger is more beatable now than ever
LOL but not by the likes or you Rory.You get the Jackass of the year award hands down:mad:
Posted 13 Aug 2007 at 10:18am #
I am a South African and never ever liked or had any time for Rory Sabbatini. I turn the TV off if they focus on his game too long, one day he will be running his mouth and choke on the GUM he chew with a open mouth all the time.
Posted 31 Aug 2007 at 8:00am #
[...] Sabbatini (who was once named the Tour Jackass of the Week) attended the University of Arizona and is 5'10", 165 lbs. He's also 31, born April 2, 1976 in [...]
Posted 04 Jan 2008 at 2:07pm #
Believe in Karma, Baby!
Rory just got dropped by Nike over the off season. This is most likely due to Tiger's influence/reprimand for Baby Rory leaving/quitting the Tiger Target Challenge early without saying a word to the host, Tiger Woods!
Now, Baby Rory is sporting Adams Golf gear and his gay belt buckles!
"What goes around, comes around!"
Posted 02 Aug 2008 at 7:07am #
I had the pleasure of being a honorary observer at Firestone CC following Rorry and although he does play fast, he was classy and patient the whole time.
Get off his back as the rumors about Tigers tourney is about nothing at all considering Rorry wasnt doing well and had an injury, just media blowing hot air.
Have you ever had shin splints? Very painful. Look at what may now happen to Tiger's career because he played to long and hard with an injury.
Posted 04 Sep 2008 at 9:19pm #
I don't think the PGA Tour needs the antics of the likes of Rory. If he can remember to behave like a gentleman, his wife a lady, and James D's opinion matters, maybe we can all tolerate him. I actually saw him at an event....throw his chewing gum at a spectator...quite the gentlemen. I was hoping it had been myself or someone I cared for, then we could have found out about the this little fraction of a man.
Posted 11 Sep 2008 at 7:00am #
Oh please - if he truly threw gum at a spectator, that would have been in the news somewhere. Even if true, have you seen some of those rabid foul mouthed fans that do nothing but insult and taunt some of the players?
And you are attacking his wife? I would bet she has more class in her pinky then you do in your whole being and it's great how she shows 100% support for her husband on the golf course.
I liked her t-shirts with the messages - The "Keep UP" as I agree that it's not fair for the PGA to penalize a group of players just because ONE is playing to slow.
The better one was the "Stoopid Amerikan" t-shirt that was directed to Casey making anti-American remarks - good for her to stand up!
James D.
Akron, Ohio
Posted 30 Oct 2008 (4 weeks ago) at 2:26pm #
Man, I remember that - what a classless action by Rory. I'm glad Zinger took him to task because as soon as Crane diffused the situation, all I heard were people talk about how he deserved it. That's not the game of golf I know of....