Masters Week & Predictions

[iacas]

Almost like he was undermining the applause.

I don't think that was it in the least. The fans were applauding a birdie. Tiger wasn't looking to finish three strokes back - he was looking to win.

It just kinda gets to me when I see these multimillionaires playing these awesome courses that some people only dream of...getting treated like royalty acting like itty bitty babies sometimes.

I suppose you never throw a little temper tantrum? That you never get frustrated at yourself? True? No, I didn't think so.

In the upper reaches of golf, the money doesn't mean squat. The top-tier golfers are competitors and human beings . They're not "role models," they're "people." Yes, people with immense skills, but still people. Human beings. As such, I don't blame them for moments of frustration. Y'know, almost like the whole "people who live in glass houses shouldn't throw stones" thing. If you've never gotten frustrated, I take back all I've said. But I doubt you can say you've never been frustrated.

These guys are living the dream man!

Your dream. Their dream is to WIN. I've never seen a guy winning a tournament get super-frustrated and hack at rough.

ps/ I agree with you on Phil hugging his kids. Talk about a PR stunt.It was making me nauseous

Hey I think all that rain rusted your brain!!!The man shares a highlite in his life with the wife and kids and you knock him?Do you have kids?If you do maybe you should hug yours once in a while if you don't do the world a favor and don't have any.

Dude, calm down. You're way out of line here.

I'd personally have had an easier time watching Phil hug his kids if I wasn't wondering how much of it was for the cameras... and that's all he's saying. Disagree all you want, but hoping someone doesn't reproduce really doesn't make you look as mature as you'd like to appear.

[cmarkmyers]

Tiger showing his frustration is not much different from any other golfer doing the same. The difference is you see every time Tiger acts that way because he gets so much air time. A lot of the other golfers do the same, it is just not televised.

That said, Tiger may be harder on himself then some other golfers are on themselves. Lord knows we (the fans, love him or hate him) are and certainly so is the media.

[Thrash13]

And frankly, I don't have much of a problem with it. I don't swear much at myself or others on the golf course - never have. It's my choice. Tiger swearing or not swearing has little to no actual impact on kids these days.

You may not think it has an impact on kids, but I definitely do and have seen it first hand. Tiger will definitely not be a role model for my kids. There are too many other classy individuals in the golfing world to choose from. Sure, Tiger is the best "golfer," but he isn't the best person. And that's what I look at more often than not. I don't get caught up in the records as much as I get caught up in the character. Maybe that's why most of my favorites are very quiet for the most part.

I guess this is kind of off topic now.

[iacas]

You may not think it has an impact on kids, but I definitely do and have seen it first hand.

I have a kid. I coach a golf team. My wife's a teacher.

A golfer swearing is the least of their worries or concerns, and it's the last thing that will get them to do something. How about their parents swearing? Or people on TV? Or their third-grade (or any grade) friends? 100x the impact Tiger Woods has. See, the other thing is that you don't really get to pick your kids' role models, either. They tend to pick them out themselves. You can push them in a direction, but you know how kids tend to react to being pushed towards something...

Tiger will definitely not be a role model for my kids. There are too many other classy individuals in the golfing world to choose from. Sure, Tiger is the best "golfer," but he isn't the best person.

Because you know everything there is to know about every golfer out there. What if you choose golfer X and, years later, it turns out he has a gambling problem? Ooops.

Tiger can teach a lot to kids, and a big part of that is that he always gives his best, that even though he was #1 by a large margin twice, he never stopped working at his game and trying to improve, etc. Perhaps other traits can be taken from others. Role model by committee. Parents that try to find a role model for their kids are, in my opinion, treating their kids like they're stupid. Kids are smarter than most people give them credit for, and they can make the decision to swear or not on their own.

I guess this is kind of off topic now.

Yes, back to topic.

[Jeepthrills]

I have two sons, ages 11 and 8. I have told them that all I ask is they do their best and have fun. I have also told them somthing that many people will disagree with. It's OK to be mad when you lose. It's OK to hate losing. Do you think Michael Jordan would be the best ever if he was OK with losing. Tiger is Tiger because he hates finishing second. I would like my kids to use Michael Jordan and Tiger as role models. They are incredibly hard workers and extremely succesful for their efforts. When you lose you have a few choices. 1. Accept that the other person was better and be fine with second place. 2. Accept that the other person was better and get to work to better yourself, making sure that they never beat you again.

I want my kids to aim as high as they can. As long as they are good sports while competing and play fairly I will be fine with them hating losing. Life is a competition. When they are in High School their grades will determine the college they get into. When they are in college their grades will determine the job they get. We have softened kids by saying "it's only for fun." "It doesn't matter who wins." At my kids ages the sports are about development and participation. They learn team work and they learn to compete. As they get older, the competetive nature will only help them progress. If I ever need an atourney, I want one that hates to lose. If I need a doctor. I want one who strives to be the best and doesn't tollerate anything but his best. Hell, I want my barista at Starbucks to strive to make the best Vanilla Soy Latte.

[Thrash13]

I have told them that all I ask is they do their best and have fun. I have also told them somthing that many people will disagree with. It's OK to be mad when you lose. It's OK to hate losing.

I agree, and my kids will surely be very competitive as well...just as I was in all the sports I played. But you can hate to lose and strive to be the best without saying the "F word" and "GD" on national television. That's classless and tasteless in my opinion.

That's my main problem with Tiger.

[Jeepthrills]

But you can hate to lose and strive to be the best without saying the "F word" and "GD" on national television. That's classless and tasteless in my opinion.

The one thing you have to remember is that these guys have mics and cameras only a few feet away from them. They can't scratch their nose without it being on TV. If you sit close to a basketball game you will hear much worse.

[nurseduffer]

Hey I think all that rain rusted your brain!!!The man shares a highlite in his life with the wife and kids and you knock him?Do you have kids?If you do maybe you should hug yours once in a while if you don't do the world a favor and don't have any.

Wow!!! Chill out.......as you can see it's not only me who feels that way.

....I thought this was a friendly place to post thoughts.....and since you can't play nice with all the other boys and girls...why don't you buzz off

[Thrash13]

The one thing you have to remember is that these guys have mics and cameras only a few feet away from them. They can't scratch their nose without it being on TV. If you sit close to a basketball game you will hear much worse.

Yeah, but I've yet to hear many of the other top golfers say anything like that. So that's really not an argument as far as that goes.

Basketball has turned to trash anyway. I wouldn't expect to hear anything different at an NBA game. I'll just keep my thoughts to myself from here on out. Everyone knows I don't like Tiger or his actions, and we can just leave it at that. Phil may or may not be fake, but at least he portrays a good role model in my opinion. That goes a long way.

[nurseduffer]

He he he
This has actually turnes out to be a fun thread despite me getting pummeled by Tiger fans!
I agree with Cody that Phil is a better role model. It doesnt mean I don't appreciate and am in awe of any of these guys for what they do. I like how these guys always have to perform to stay on the tour. It's not like they get signed to a 5 year contract from the PGA for 8 figures out of college like some other sports. If they don't play well it's back to Qschool or Nationwide.
So there is obviously pressure to perform, and thing are sometimes tense.


Erik I don't want to make you mad but it is kinda funny how Tiger can do nothing wrong in your eyes! It cracks me up! Okay so I am sorry...I know he never has gas and his poop doesn't stink and he doesn't put his pants on the same way! I will promptly say 20 Tiger Rosary's, go read my Golf Digest and promise to never blaspheme the name of The Holy Tiger again.
I stand corrected!

[NCGolfer]

Cody - even though I disagree (somewhat) with you, I have a bit more respect for you now...not that it was low or anything.

I agree that Tiger would be well served to keep his obscenities to a minimum. That is one thing that I need to do as well on the golf course is keep my temper and emotion a bit muted. That being said, when I'm on the golf course, I expect so much of myself that it really upsets me when I continue to do some stupid things. That competitive fire is what burns inside of myself and even brighter in Tiger. I have a child on the way and would gladly have them look to Tiger as a role model simply because of his work ethic and what he does with his charities. I hate the swearing, but I (from personal experience) understand why he does it.

I'll just keep my thoughts to myself from here on out. Everyone knows I don't like Tiger or his actions, and we can just leave it at that.

Don't do that, this type of banter makes the site and forums what they are.

Phil may or may not be fake, but at least he portrays a good role model in my opinion. That goes a long way.

I'd rather see someone be true to themselves. I hope he isn't a fake, with some of the grumblings you hear about him...where there's smoke, there's fire. He's one heck of a player though and nobody can take that away from him.

[NCGolfer]

I saw this and had to post it in here given our discussion.