Tiger throws driver into gallery in disgust....

[NormH3]

he does stop and nod and say atleast 1 full sentence .... of course no one has any idea what he said.

"I can't believe you touched my club"

[Sherlockian]

How often does Ernie Els do this? Is it a normal for him to throw clubs, slam them in the ground, or curse like a sailor on leave? NO!!! Now, how many times this year, or his last two tournaments has Tiger done these things?

[groovezilla79]

"I can't believe you touched my club"

I litterally just LoL'd

[Rob]

From what I saw,he just slammed it down,or let go at impact,and it bounced into the gallery. Did you see anyone pissed off? Tiger alone probably sold 60,000 tickets by taking the $3 million fee,plus he won,plus they loved him!!! I don`t throw clubs,nor should he, but if I had made a billion,I tell you and the other critics to kiss my a**,and tee it up.

[DBeane]

If it was a lower ranked player, they might have DQ'ed him. When your a guy like Tiger and your making tournaments, sponsors, cities, etc... that much money just by showing up, and playing as well as he does. He could punch out a 14 year old girl wanting an autograph, and they would say "well, Tiger appears to be a bit frustrated with himself, none the less that girl shouldnt have gotten in his way, we'll have security escort her off the property"

People love winners, winners get away with anything because people love winners. A-Rod used (uses) steroids, Ted Kennedy killed a chick, John Daly acts like an inbread backwoods moron, I dont even know where to start with NFL players and shooting themselves, fighting dogs, Michael Irvin and cocaine. Yet people still scream their names, and throw money at them.

-Beane

[Mr Blue]

Erkle does it again and gets away with it!! His bad behavior is not random and it is time it was stopped. When you are the hightest Paid pro EVER fines don't really mean much. It is time the viewers do something. Erkle gets more air time then anyone for me the GC is the biggest culprit, can they kiss his ass anymore then they do now? I stopped watching the new Big Break after the second show with all the whining. Is this the way golf is played now? Is it ok now to throw clubs swear on TV let your caddy be a bully and all the other things Erkle gets away with? Lets try and remember this is supposed to be a game that is differnt then other games where you call a penalty on yourself, not only if you get caugth! Where a certain "higher standard" is part of the tradition. Behaving like a ass is not supposed to be part of golf. Erkle is allowed to be what he is by us the viewing public. You can all make excuses for him but you know it is wrong and the posts on this forum prove it, from what I read most seem to think what he did was wrong and it is about time. PGA tour / Golf Channel are you listening?

[iacas]

If it was a lower ranked player, they might have DQ'ed him.

Right, let's just make stuff up now... c'mon.

A-Rod used (uses) steroids, Ted Kennedy killed a chick, John Daly acts like an inbread backwoods moron, I dont even know where to start with NFL players and shooting themselves, fighting dogs, Michael Irvin and cocaine. Yet people still scream their names, and throw money at them.

And Tiger Woods threw one club into a gallery so far as we know. The only other time I've seen him throw clubs it's been:

a) at his golf bag (away from people) b) forward off a tee at TPC Boston into a marsh (well away from people) c) I've seen him drop it on the follow through (not near people). Yeah, steroid use, killing people, and throwing one club once into a gallery... so similar. Make your point without making your argument look stupid by exaggeration. I've already voiced my dislike for this despite not caring one way or the other about previous acts, but this has happened ONE TIME. If it happens again, then clearly he didn't learn, but I'm also willing to give the guy a break the FIRST time specifically _because_ it's not like he did drugs or killed a woman. Jeez... If he does it again, well, all hell breaks loose. But Bobby Jones did it once, learned his lesson, and became a gentleman. Tiger has the same opportunity now. DBeane, if you've never made a mistake in your life, go ahead and chuck all the stones you'd like.

Erkle does it again and gets away with it!!

As I said earlier, define "gets away with it." Every time the guy sneezes a thousand forum threads pop up. He's not "getting away with it." And the issue of fines has already been discussed.

Plus, if you're gonna diss the guy, at least get his nickname - the one used by his close college friends - right: Urkel.

[Matt M]

I stated earlier that I thought Tiger's actions were unacceptable. What I find interesting is the way some people carry this to a whole different level. Throwing a club is in poor taste I hate to see it on the course. Well maybe that's not true there is a comedy factor in watching grown men act like 4 year olds having a temper tantrums on the course. With that said it was a mistake and Tiger like all of us when we make an embarassing mistake have to face up to it. I'm hope when Tiger looks at that he'll think wow I made an ass out of myself, and move on not to make the mistake again. Lets not turn this into something its not.

[Shorty]

How often does Ernie Els do this? Is it a normal for him to throw clubs, slam them in the ground, or curse like a sailor on leave? NO!!! Now, how many times this year, or his last two tournaments has Tiger done these things?

Look up "the Big Uneasy" on youtube. Els angrily throws his club at his caddie. He'd probably say he was aiming at the bag, but when the caddie ducks for cover, Els just walks off. Much nastier than anything you've ever seen Tiger do.

[DBeane]

DBeane, if you've never made a mistake in your life, go ahead and chuck all the stones you'd like.

The idea wasn’t to exaggerate the examples, more so to illustrate how celebrities/winners/champion athletes get away with things that would get normal people jailed, fired, fined etc.. The stones were not directed at Tiger, I'm just as big a fan as any. They were more so directed at the bi-polar behavior of the people who will call for a police officer to be fired for writing a celebrity a ticket for running a red light. Yet, the celebrity gets off with a warning for the pound of pot he has in the trunk. The general theme on the majority of the responses seemed to be critical of Tiger's behavior. The "people love winners" idea was more a response to the criticism. I don’t have a problem with Tigers behavior at all; he has a very explosive, emotional personality which, on the positive side (fist pumps, victory shouts, etc...) sells a lot of that junk Nike golf equipment and ad space for networks. On the negative side he can appear "hissy" at times. I would say his behavior is actually very consistent. People should expect it, not criticize it. I have to say on the positive side it was kind of cool to get my first muti-quote rebuttal from the owner. -Beane

[Zeph]

The thread title is the point where the exaggeration starts. He didn't throw the driver into the gallery. He threw it into the ground and it unfortunately bounced up any into the crowd. Of course he didn't mean to do so. I'd rather see him hit the driver in the ground than curse after a bad shot. He has taken a habit to this club slamming, it's when he let it go things like this can happen.

He is clearly agitated and not composed when throwing the club like that, but he should make sure the club at least does not bounce away. Throw it out in front of him or not let go of it should suffice as to getting the anger out.

[EightBlue]

question for everyone who thinks people are overreacting-- imagine the outrage on this message board is rory sabbatini did the exact same thing

[zeg]

question for everyone who thinks people are overreacting-- imagine the outrage on this message board is rory sabbatini did the exact same thing

Um, honestly I think it'd be the same or less.

It's poor form regardless of who you are, but compared to other sports it barely even registers as an emotional outburst.

[lobsterzilla]

it'd be less easily. No one would care. it'd be a story for 1 day, he'd get his fine and everyone would move on. Because no one cares what Joe Bottom-of-the-money-list does or doesn't do.


and chances are extremely good if it was in a tourny with Tiger or Phil in it that we wouldnt even have seen it other than on youtube or possibly a clip on golf channel live.

[iacas]

Um, honestly I think it'd be the same or less.

Agreed. Yep.

[TempoIsKey]

Does anyone remember when these outbursts started? Was he doing this 6 or 7 years ago?

[Matt M]

The idea wasn’t to exaggerate the examples, more so to illustrate how celebrities/winners/champion athletes get away with things that would get normal people jailed, fired, fined.

I"m not sure you can put club throwing in the, normal people getting jail time, fired, or even getting fined category. It's already been said Tiger acted immaturely he wasn't John Dailying it passed out in a Hooter's parking lot or destroying a hotel room.

[iacas]

Does anyone remember when these outbursts started? Was he doing this 6 or 7 years ago?

More like 1997. Or earlier.

His verbal outbursts are actually tamer these days, but physically he seems a bit more... "outbursty."