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, Sabbatini 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 not 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.
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.
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.
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.
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! 😉
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.
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.
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.
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)
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.
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.
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.
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:
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.
😆
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!”
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.
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. 😎
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
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….
I’m all for Rory. Slow play is abominable and players like Crane should be penalized two strokes on every hole they do not finish in a set amount of time.
And then kick them off the PGA Tour.
Good on ya Rory. I had the pleasure of playing a practice round with Rory last year in Vegas…….he was pure class the entire 18 holes, which must’ve felt like 36 to him do to my poor play! I must say his caddy Kevin is one of the coolest dudes on the tour. I was in awe when both Rory and Kevin assisted me in reading putts, Kev offering to clean my ball etc. Yeah Rory can be a little brash, but he ain’t afraid to “call ’em as he see’s ’em!” Don’t let up Rory and Kick Mallinger’s butt tomorrow in the Byron Nelson! Good Luck my friend!
You guys who are knocking Sabbatini are idiots. You are obviously slow golfers. One of the worst things about slow golfers is that they think they play at an average speed or even faster. Slow golfers should be banned from any golf course between the hours of 7 PM and 6 AM.
Yea, Sabbatini!!! You shouldn’t have walked in front of Crane, you should have clubbed him to death !!!!
Crane is an abomination!!!!!!!!!
Guys that cannot stand “slow play” are usually pretty much the same. It “messes up” their concentration – makes them hit bad shots….etc,etc. How cruel.
And they have sooooo many important places to be! In our club they are pretty much eliteists with single digit handicaps. Having to play with those guys that miss fairways sometimes is such a drag. Might they learn that if they aren’t playing on TV on weekends they are pretty much duffers like everyone else?
Maybe if they could make some friends they could talk to while they are playing……..and actually look around and enjoy the environment they are playing in…maybe it would improve their disposition.
Like that extra 15 minutes really screws up their day!!
Tough stuff.
I’m not a slow golfer. Just played 18 with a friend in three hours today.
I knocked Sabbatini because there are better ways than being a complete ass to have handled things with Ben Crane the way he did. And his pairing wasn’t even out of position.
So… at night?
Fast round: 3 hours. Average round should be: 4 hours. Slow play? 5+ hours. People aren’t complaining about 15 minutes, but rather 60, 90, or even 120 extra minutes.
A golfer dies and goes to Hell. The devil shows him around and the golfer is stunned to see thousands and thousands of beautiful golf courses.
The golfer says,” Wow, you mean we get to play golf here in Hell?” and the devil replies, ” Yes. But you have to play with Ben Crane”.
I guess you can understand the defensive nature of American comments about what a plonker rory is for dissing their precious countryman; but do me a favour, the tour is full of bland sycophants too scared not to pander to their sanctimonious american fans, so a player with some mis-placed arrogance and a loose tounge is a welcome change.