Westwood on fowler getting rookie of the year via twitter

[zeg]

The players vote.

Oh now, now, don't go injecting rationality into the kerfuffle... As a player-voted event, there's no one to be mad at, it's not orchestrated, and it's not important. That's the nature of a popularity contest.

Regarding Twitter, given that every post is accompanied by his name and is visible with attribution to anyone who cares to listen, it's in many ways the exact opposite of hiding behind an internet connection. If he wanted to do that, he'd use an alias. There's no additional glory or honor due someone who speaks to the world through a reporter just because it's the old-fashioned way.

[Old1964]

Ricky made more money on the tour.

Plus, the vote was taken after Rory gave up his PGA card...hence, he is not a part of the group.

[iacas]

Twitter and the like make it too easy to throw out opinions, insults, etc. without any real accountability.

His name is attached to it. Everyone knows what he said. I don't know what you mean by "without any real accountability."

It's not like he said something horrible. He shared his opinion on a golf-related matter. And you're my age. I don't think you'll get very far with the "old fashioned" card.

[Danattherock]

I didn't know a rookie season was 24 months.

What the hell is Lee talking about?

For that matter, do we know he even said it?

[Sweetswing]

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!!

Man that's a very small minded view on things, you made me sad when I read your post.

[Danattherock]

Have a tissue Sweetthing


Internet rambings man. Nothing more.


I think most folks have great respect for the European Tour. I know I do at any rate.


-Dan

[Sweetswing]

Thanks dantherock, you have restored my faith in my fellow man, and I am once again happy.

[Ash1974]

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!!

What Euro courses have you been looking at then, munis? don't be such a dumb ass!

On this post though, if the Pro's voted and Fowler won then that is that as far as I am concerned, if Rory was excluded from voting cos he gave up his PGA Tour card (can't see how as he came 3rd didn't he?) then that sucks. Rory to be fair was asked the other night on Twitter in an hour long open questions, who should win it? and he said Ricky.

[Danattherock]

Being that Rory is not a rookie, I fail to see the controversy.

[Stretch]

Rory was eligible for the award because it was his first

full year on the tour. That's the standard the PGA sets. Vijay won it in 1993 when he was 30 years old and had already won half a dozen times in Europe. So, even though Rory says himself he doesn't think he should have been on the ballot, the fact is he was and Westwood is entitled to his opinion, which is shared by some of the Americans too.

Dustin Johnson, who said he did not vote, was not aware the award had been announced Saturday night. "He's going to get votes because he had a decent year," Johnson said of Fowler. "But McIlroy is going to win. He's got to win." Told the result, Johnson added, "Rickie won? Maybe he's an American. I don't know why."

[Dave H]

His name is attached to it. Everyone knows what he said. I don't know what you mean by "without any real accountability."

Yeah, I get that. I think its just the fact that you're not saying it to someone who can respond face to face. People are more inclined to say things they wouldn't normally say when there's no in front of them to respond. But, whatever. Like I said I really agree with Lee so it's not that big of a deal anyways.

And you're my age. I don't think you'll get very far with the "old fashioned" card.

"old fashioned" doesn't have to be directly linked with age. Here's a great example: I was raised such that when you have a job, you show up at least 5 min early so that you're ready to work by your appointed time. I have several guys younger than me who work directly under me. If I am the end of gen-x, they are the beginning of gen-y. They all seem to think it's appropriate to stroll in 5 min late, then spend 20 min checking facebook, twitter, etc. Then, they put on their headphones and listen to music all day. Is it wrong? I don't know. But they do consider me the "old fashioned" guy. Anyways, back to the topic at hand...

[ERdiesel]

Throwing my .02 cents in here but since the rookie of the year honor is basically a vote by fellow players on the pga tour, then it really comes down to a popularity contest. In the absence of any quantitative method for selecting the rookie of the year, it is just very much subjective and that is that. Nothing wrong was done, it is just the way the system is setup. I don't know what the % of Americans vs non americans on the PGA Tour is but I assume the majority is American, however I would also like to believe that this played no factor in the the voting to the extent that the majority American players chose to vote for the "best" American player and not the "best" overall player. the players voted for who they "felt" was the rookie of the year. It was "opinion" based, and as with all opinions, there will be those who disagree.

[Thrash13]

I know Fowler played in 12 more events, but he still ended up with more top-10 finishes, more money, and a higher FedEx Cup ranking. I can agree with the players who said McIlroy felt more like a part-timer on the PGA Tour. Sure, his win at Quail Hollow was outstanding, and he finished third in a two majors. On the other hand, Fowler had a damn good year and was deserving as well.

If I would have had a vote, I would have voted for Fowler as well. I'm still trying to figure out how McIlroy was a PGA Tour rookie in 2010.

On a side note, the PGA Tour obviously needs to change the way these awards are determined. Dustin Johnson said he didn't even vote, and he was an important part of the PGA Tour in 2010. Either have all the players vote or have a committee determine the winners. It's doesn't make much sense to me.

Also, I wonder if Westwood would have taken up for Fowler if the results were flip-flopped for the two golfers?!? Nah.

[newtogolf]

Kudos to Westwood for saying what he thinks. The world, especially the U.S. is too politically correct for me these days, so I like when someone speaks their mind even if I don't always agree. I just hope he doesn't back out and say that wasn't him on twitter or someone hijacked his account if he gets some heat for his comments.

[sean_miller]

Kudos to Westwood for saying what he thinks. The world, especially the U.S. is too politically correct for me these days, so I like when someone speaks their mind even if I don't always agree. I just hope he doesn't back out and say that wasn't him on twitter or someone hijacked his account if he gets some heat for his comments.

I wouldn't worry too much about Lee. To get heat people would have to care, and for the most part, they really don't. After all, Tiger Woods might have a new putter.

[Chas]

I didn't know a rookie season was 24 months.

Me neither. But who cares? - we're having a great time acting as if we did. Which is what counts after all.

I mean, if we didn't we wouldn't get to read stuff like, " I wouldn't worry too much about Lee. To get heat people would have to care, and for the most part, they really don't. After all, Tiger Woods might have a new putter. " and well said that man. newtogolf: don't worry, somehow I don't see that happening. Not with Lee.

[Jell0b0y]

I don't think it's a big deal and don't see much coming from it. It's made an interesting topic thought.

[Clambake]

On a side note, the PGA Tour obviously needs to change the way these awards are determined. Dustin Johnson said he didn't even vote, and he was an important part of the PGA Tour in 2010. Either have all the players vote or have a committee determine the winners. It's doesn't make much sense to me.

Remember that we live in a country where typically less than 1/2 of those eligible place their votes for important things like the leaders of our local, state, and national governments, so I wouldn't expect much on something that 99% of the US public couldn't care less about. As to the process, how does one "make all the players vote"? And so what if some don't? Just get enough of the players so that the bizarre choices get marginalized out and it is close enough - there isn't much of a travesty here if they happen to not nail it perfectly.

I guess if Rory was a "rookie" this year, then all those events I saw him play at last year must have just been a hallucination......