Westwood on fowler getting rookie of the year via twitter

[jamo]

Man I hate Twitter sometimes. At least when Phil had beefs with the Tour he talked to them about it (then pouted and skipped Playoffs events) instead of indirectly whining through cyberspace. If you're really mad Lee, man up about it and stop "tweeting." At least Rory seems to be handling it fine.

[whatwhatwhat]

Dont think anyone here disagrees with Lee but I thought a rookie just meant his first year with a pga tour card no? Does the amount of tournaments played matter? Tbh I think the fact rory not staying on next year "may" have had some effect on the outcome

[stianvm]

I love twitter. Enjoy seeing what they think and mean behind the polished interview in any golfmagazine interview. That goes for everyone ofcourse, not only golfers.

And is Westwood, and anyone public figure for that matter, obliged to adhere to certain rules because of who they are ? And if so, thats between Westwood and his sponsors if anything.And seemingly that aint no issue, so lets not create an issue.

[Chas]

Man I hate Twitter sometimes. At least when Phil had beefs with the Tour he talked to them about it (then pouted and skipped Playoffs events) instead of indirectly whining through cyberspace. If you're really mad Lee, man up about it and stop "tweeting." At least Rory seems to be handling it fine.

Oh I get it, so it's a case of .....

real men don't twitter . What could be more public (and manly) than a twitter? Gots to admit I don't twit - does that make me a manly man ??? [I do spend far too much time on internet forums tho' - bet most pro golfers don't do that] I've got nothing against sports people twittering. It's a good thing I suppose as long as they don't get carried away and twit something they might regret later. Never twitter when you're angry or upset - that would make you an old-fashioned twit.

[Quinn07]

How do they select the winner? Do the players vote? or is it done by committee?

[motteler621]

How do they select the winner? Do the players vote? or is it done by committee?

they use a tornado tank and have a kid grab a winner in the tank.

[jamo]

Oh I get it, so it's a case of .....

Maybe "man up" was a bad choice of words on my part. I just think that if Westwood really has something to say about the way that the rookie of the year was picked, he should have came out and said something directly to those in charge, whether than be Tim Finchem or his fellow pros, rather than tweeting it. Criticizing something over the internet is far to easy (which I realize sounds hypocritical on my part, but I don't have any non-internet line of communication with Lee Westwood).

[uscfan]

man if they dont like the judging stay on their own damn tour and not play in the majors!! the european tour suks!!! many of those courses look like munis to me. all in all if they dont like it quit whining and stay in europe!!

[shades9323]

How do they select the winner? Do the players vote? or is it done by committee?

The players vote.

Here is what Jason Sobel had to say about it: http://espn.go.com/golf/blog/_/name/sobel_jason

[Dave H]

I hate to say it but I just lost some respect for Lee. Regardless of whether or not I agree with him, which I do by the way, assuming Rory was an eligible rookie. In my opinion the great players think these things to themselves but don't spew them in public. Especially not on a forum like Twitter.

[iacas]

I hate to say it but I just lost some respect for Lee. Regardless of whether or not I agree with him, which I do by the way, assuming Rory was an eligible rookie. In my opinion the great players think these things to themselves but don't spew them in public. Especially not on a forum like Twitter.

I didn't lose any respect. In fact, I might have gained respect.

We beat people up all the time for not saying what they feel, for giving boring answers, for being robots, etc. Kudos to Lee for NOT being another robot.

[Dave H]

I didn't lose any respect. In fact, I might have gained respect.

I guess. I just don't like Twitter.

[shades9323]

I didn't lose any respect. In fact, I might have gained respect.

Do you think Lee would have said that stuff to the press outside of twitter?

[iacas]

Do you think Lee would have said that stuff to the press outside of twitter?

Maybe. Maybe not. Kind of irrelevant.

[Jell0b0y]

I like honesty and being that he is right and not pulling out the PC card makes me respect him more. If Rory was eligible for Rookie of the year he should have won it hands down with Fowler a distant second.


I really think it was a PGA PR job because the Euro wore out the Americans this year.

[Dave H]

Maybe. Maybe not. Kind of irrelevant.

It's only relevant with respect to our opinions

For example, I would probably feel differently if Lee had said the exact same comments in some sort of official media capacity. Twitter and the like make it too easy to throw out opinions, insults, etc. without any real accountability. It's easy to say what you really feel even if it's inappropriate when there's no one in front of you to respond face to face. Humans have spent eons thinking about what they would have liked to say but didn't for whatever reason. Now, with Twitter, facebook etc. people say whatever for better or worse. For the most part I agree with Lee's comments, but to me, saying it on twitter makes it feel like a cheap shot. Maybe I'm just old fashioned though. The only part I disagree with is the notion that this is somehow a PGA tour conspiracy. I believe the award is based on peer votes, correct? It seems unlikely that all the american PGA tour players got together and decided "vote out" Rory.

[Chas]

Why all the hostility towards Twitter? - it's just another communication medium.

Like an internet forum for example.

Agree with Erik on this one. Why shouldn't Lee give his opinion on Twitter? What should matter to people is whether it makes any sense - which in this case it does.

The fact that 99.5% of people twit utter and complete nonsense is irrevelent to the case

[sean_miller]

It's only relevant with respect to our opinions

The good thing about Twitter (I may edit that bit out in a moment) is that the person said what they said. Right or wrong, they typically own it. Unlike statements said "off the record" face to face to a reporter that can easily be denied later. coughPavincough