Tiger's Poor (or Childish or Angry or Unprofessional) Antics

[wrx_junki]

I think this may have been covered in the past but wasn't sure what to search for.

What do you guys think of his antics following a bad shot? Where he has some choice words to say and maybe slamming of the club into the ground or his bag.

I find his antics quite distasteful. I would understand some slight pounding of the club but the way he reacts seems a bit too much. I wish he as the best professional in the game could compose himself better.

I'm guessing there aren't any fines handed out by the PGA for this type of antics.

[muggs]

Yeah, I agree. It's the exact reason I'm not a Tiger fan...or not much of one anyway. I still really enjoy watching him play and appreciate his ability but I took my nephew to the Bridgestone Invitational back in '07 and we waited at the 6th tee box for over an hour to get ahead of the crowd and wait for Tiger to come tee off there.

My nephew is a huge Tiger fan and is only 11 (loves golf). Tiger shanked it and dropped a very loud F bomb...I was pretty disappointed.

[David in FL]

I'm guessing there aren't any fines handed out by the PGA for this type of antics.

Here's an article that talks in somewhat broad terms about the disciplinary process on the PGA tour. http://sports.espn.go.com/golf/news/story?id=1887352 I've heard it said that Tiger is one of the most often fined tour players, but honestly don't know if that's the case or not. Regardless, it wouldn't hurt my feelings to see him tone it down a bit. I admire his passion, but his self-discipline could stand a little work.

[wrx_junki]

How were some of the greats from the past? Did any of them have similar blow outs after bad shots? Can't imagine them having fits like Tiger's.

[iacas]

I didn't care if Tiger swore. He's toned down the use of the f-word and has, for a few years, limited himself to "goddammit." I was okay with him flipping clubs - even "throwing" clubs though certainly not as defined by Tommy Bolt et al. - at his bag after a shot.

The slamming the club on the ground, though, goes too far for me. I don't care enough to complain about it much, it just makes me not like him a little teeny bit. I'm also the first to admit I have no concept of the pressure he's under or what it takes to be Tiger Woods, and while some read that as giving him an excuse, I simply see it as declaring myself ignorant, which I am and which virtually everyone else is as well.

Jack, Arnie, Gary, and even Tom Watson could be quite pissy when they weren't playing well. Heck, Jack and Arnie smoked on the golf course, an offense which I personally find more egregious than a club slam - a club slam that didn't endanger anyone (as opposed to doing anything like that near other people).

Everyone has a line. For some, Tiger spitting in the middle of what amounts to a huge field is enough to bug them. For others, it's swearing at all. For me, it sits somewhere after swearing and before he starts whipping clubs at people or beating the ground with his driver.

And as they say, let he who has never expressed frustration inappropriately - on the golf course or anywhere else - cast the first stone. I can't, and I dare say nobody else can either.

[Elsfan]

Its a shame he doesn't have more consideration for the little kids that try to mimic his exact every breath. With that said, you can see he wants it and has become frustrated lately. The great thing about Watson yesterday is when he messed up he just kept going. He didn't kill himself, on the outside at least. Tiger lives under pressure no other golfer will ever understand. I am sure it becomes overwhelming even for him.

[Fat Slice]

Its a shame he doesn't have more consideration for the little kids that try to mimic his exact every breath. With that said, you can see he wants it and has become frustrated lately. The great thing about Watson yesterday is when he messed up he just kept going. He didn't kill himself, on the outside at least. Tiger lives under pressure no other golfer will ever understand. I am sure it becomes overwhelming even for him.

To be fair, he's there to win golf tournaments and not to be a role model for little kids. Knowing what is known about Tiger, any parent would have to weigh whether or not they wanted to get their kid close enough to see and hear a possible Tiger outburst. That's not Tiger's duty though, that belongs to the parents.

The golf psyche is a tricky thing and everybody has a unique one. Do Tiger's antics help or hurt him? Who knows! I sure don't, and I'd not suggest that he 'tone down' because I don't know what that would do to his game. Common sense might say that it would help, but maybe not. Maybe he needs to let off steam so he can move on mentally to the next shot.

[Matt P]

I tend to agree with a lot of what Erik said. I have no idea the pressure he is under, and the pressure he places on himself to be the best.

I am a Tiger fan, but it does bother me a little and is hard to defend at the morning gressy spoon when some older guys claim he is acting like a baby.

One thing, with the way the media guys continually beat into their audience the way his father used to try and get into his head, you would think he would be better at maintaining his composure. But when you are cratering your way to the cut line at what for him was surely a record pace, slamming the club seems to be a natural result, I know I have done it during league play.

I bet he will see some of his behavior at the Open later down the road and tone it down, I can't imagine he would want to teach his kids that that is how the game is played.

Too bad about Watson though, too juiced shots...and naturally a weak third, who hasn't done it?

[DavidFehertysBike]

Everyone is different and deals with frustration differently. Getting animated is just Tigers way of realeasing that frustration with himself. It doesnt really bother me. If Tiger was calm and cool all of the time no matter the situation, hed probably be getting roasted for being an unemotional robot. He cant win with some people.

[Alohaed]

There is no excuse for Tiger to act like he does. I don't care how much pressure he is under. And every one else on tour is playing to win also. And he should release his anger other ways. Woody Austin, a hot head himself, said it best at a press conference, last year or the year before. "Why is it when I throw my club, or slam it to the ground or my bag, I am considered a hot head, unprofessional, whatever. Yet when TIGER does it, that is ok because he is a very competative person. I am tired of hearing about Tiger and it's a load of crap!" Maybe not in those exact words, but similar. But he is 100% correct. I am so happy each time Tiger misses a cut too.

[dag2000]

To be fair, he's there to win golf tournaments and not to be a role model for little kids. Knowing what is known about Tiger, any parent would have to weigh whether or not they wanted to get their kid close enough to see and hear a possible Tiger outburst. That's not Tiger's duty though, that belongs to the parents.

But Woods isn't playing golf in his backyard. The spectators aren't trespassers. I don't care about the kids as much as I don't like watching a billionaire celebrity whose behavior is boorish, entitled, and juvenile.

The golf psyche is a tricky thing and everybody has a unique one. Do Tiger's antics help or hurt him? Who knows! I sure don't, and I'd not suggest that he 'tone down' because I don't know what that would do to his game. Common sense might say that it would help, but maybe not. Maybe he needs to let off steam so he can move on mentally to the next shot.

I don't care whether it hurts or helps him. If it helped him to scream obscenities to the nearest spectator because it got it out of his system, that would be unacceptable. He needs to adapt his behavior to the requirements of his job.

[Fat Slice]

He needs to adapt his behavior to the requirements of his job.

The requirements of the job are to score low and to play by the rules. You are putting your own personal 'code of conduct' on Tiger. It's your problem, not his. If his 'antics' rise to the level of a suspension, then so be it. For now, however, he's just losing some fans. He doesn't 'need' to adapt his behavior at all. He needs to play better, that's about it.

[Bump-n-MI]

Its a shame he doesn't have more consideration for the little kids that try to mimic his exact every breath.

Screw the complacency and acceptance of mediocrity that seems to have overrun the vast majority of people in this country. Do you honestly think little Johnny's precious mind will be scarred by hearing Tiger swear or seeing him slam his club on the ground? Take a look at the video games and cartoons kids are watching now…talk about twisted reality. And no, every kid does not deserve a trophy. And enough with the PC BS of giving a kid pass/fail mark because a letter grade may offend or single him/her out… I'm doing everything in my power to teach my kids that having a competitive edge is good and that striving to be the best is a good thing and that it is ok to get rewarded for doing something better then someone else. I want them to be able to express their emotions and have an avenue to relieve frustration. Does that mean I want them to slam their golf club on the ground or swear when something does not go as planned? Not necessarily but there are far worse thing they could do. Are Tiger's "antics" hurting anyone? Hell no. Could he do a better job of curbing his emotional outbursts, maybe. But that appears to be his way of dealing with frustration….and that (IMHO) is completely acceptable.

[andy]

Tiger has an extreme personality. One that also places an inordinate amount of pressure and expectations on himself. Anything less is unacceptable and what you're witnessing is a short burst of frustration. Big deal.

I'm trying to look for it but there was an article about a sports psychologist saying that it's actually healthy to unleash your frustration but the most important part is to forget and move on. Everyone handles their own frustration differently, and apparently Tiger gets relief w/ lashing of clubs and swearing.

To me, it doesn't bother me one bit. In fact, it adds some excitement to watching TV golf

--

Andy

[senorchipotle]

Its a shame he doesn't have more consideration for the little kids that try to mimic his exact every breath. With that said, you can see he wants it and has become frustrated lately. The great thing about Watson yesterday is when he messed up he just kept going. He didn't kill himself, on the outside at least. Tiger lives under pressure no other golfer will ever understand. I am sure it becomes overwhelming even for him.

it's like charles barkley says, ''i am not a role model.''

[RocketSauce]

personally i am sick and tired of his ridiculous behavior. i know a lot of people disagree and throw out the " at least he's not like all the other robots out there showing no emotion", excuse, but come on. hes the only one acting this on a regular basis. i know another excuse is that its just because the cameras are always on him that we see this behavior, but i dont think that is true at all. ive been to MANY tournaments in person and have never witnessed anyone throw a club and curse as much as he does. do others do it? yes of course, but not as much as he does. he will throw his club several times during a round of golf. the cursing doesnt really bother me actually, but the club throwing does. its ridiculous and im over it. i dont really care for him anymore simply because of his childish behavior

[Elsfan]

Screw the complacency and acceptance of mediocrity that seems to have overrun the vast majority of people in this country. Do you honestly think little Johnny's precious mind will be scarred by hearing Tiger swear or seeing him slam his club on the ground? Take a look at the video games and cartoons kids are watching now…talk about twisted reality. And no, every kid does not deserve a trophy. And enough with the PC BS of giving a kid pass/fail mark because a letter grade may offend or single him/her out… I'm doing everything in my power to teach my kids that having a competitive edge is good and that striving to be the best is a good thing and that it is ok to get rewarded for doing something better then someone else. I want them to be able to express their emotions and have an avenue to relieve frustration. Does that mean I want them to slam their golf club on the ground or swear when something does not go as planned? Not necessarily but there are far worse thing they could do. Are Tiger's "antics" hurting anyone? Hell no. Could he do a better job of curbing his emotional outbursts, maybe. But that appears to be his way of dealing with frustration….and that (IMHO) is completely acceptable.

Acceptance of mediocrity, give me a break. His little act has gotten worse. People in this world have true problems, unlike Tiger dropping F-bombs on tv cause he missed a 30 foot putt. Get real. Take pride in being the most famous athlete in the world and set an example. His antics are duplicated across American golf courses as we speak where some kid right now has taken a club and hacked out a huge chunk of turf because his wedge ended up 15 feet left of the pin.

[Awsi Dooger]

I'm ordinarily not a Rick Reilly fan but I understand he gave Tiger some deserved grief on this topic yesterday. I have a feeling there will be increased scrutiny. Today I read a golf media thread on a non-sports site, with about 60 comments and many of them dealing with Tiger's swearing and antics. If it's hitting mainstream, then it's more widespread and important than we believe.

It didn't really bother me until a few months ago, when Tiger returned from his layoff. I followed him at Doral and he was smacking clubs and mouthing obscenities. Only at that point did I realize how out of place it was, nothing similar while he was gone. I guess I had come to anticipate it from Tiger, so it blended beyond rightful.

And it's one of the reasons I don't appreciate CBS. They cover the majority of the golf events and are content to look the other way and give Tiger a free pass. Occasionally Jim Nantz will give a brief glancing mention as the camera cuts away, "Unfortunate...," but none of the so-called funny men dare challenge Tiger on anything including his behavior. Johnny Miller is more pointed but unfortunately he saved most of his disgust for his book, "I Call the Shots," not his on-air critique where he mentions it but doesn't make it a continuing theme.

Frankly, I wish some network would embarrass Tiger by doing a running count of club slamming and spitting and profanity. Put a meter in the corner of the screen for each one. Nothing would jolt him than if he's mocked for the first time in his life.