Tiger's Snapped 4-Iron and Nike Not On the Ball

[iacas]

In 2005, Chris DiMarco's driver head came a bit loose. He was given a new one a few holes later, per the rules.

Tiger snapped his 4-iron on #11. At 13, he said "the shot in was a perfect 4. I had to hit a 5, kind of hook it in there and hit it hard." He too was allowed to replace the club - why didn't Nike get him his club?

Was his shot in on 15 also a good 4-iron that he had to instead hit with a 5? I haven't seen that question answered yet.

[Cleveland Gunmetal]

In 2005, Chris DiMarco's driver head came a bit loose. He was given a new one a few holes later, per the rules.

Very interesting, a good point and certainly something to think about. I assumed he was going to get a replacement club per the rules but they (the announcers) never mentioned it.. buuuuuut, I think you're just making excuses for your man Tiger, Erik.

[iacas]

Very interesting, a good point and certainly something to think about. I assumed he was going to get a replacement club per the rules but they (the announcers) never mentioned it.. buuuuuut, I think you're just making excuses for your man Tiger, Erik.

I'm not making any excuses. I told you what he said about 13, and I wonder if he was forced to hit a club other than the one he wanted on 15. That swing with any club would have resulted in a terrible shot.

Was his club ever replaced? Why did Nike drop the ball?

[Q.Q.Quillume]

Nike dropped the ball big time. As soon as Woods snapped the shaft, the announcers mentioned that a club damaged in the course of play could be replaced during the round. It was my assumption the Nike reps would have been jumping through hoops at light speed to get a replacement club to Tiger PDQ. Obviously my assumption was dead wrong. It will be interesting to see if Nike ever comments on this.

[GoingfortheGreen]

The Nike team was too busy replacing a Sand Trap member's (can't remember his handle) non-conforming SUMO2

[MountainHip]

The Nike team was too busy replacing a Sand Trap member's (can't remember his handle) non-conforming SUMO2

Good one!

Was the damage caused to the club by Tiger, covered under the manufacturer's warranty?

[Q.Q.Quillume]

The Nike team was too busy replacing a Sand Trap member's (can't remember his handle) non-conforming SUMO2

It's amazing that mrbillinoc can get unbelievable customer service from Nike but Tiger can't! Well, I guess in a way, Tiger did get unbelievable customer service from Nike . . .

[Cleveland Gunmetal]

How does this normally work during a PGA tour event? I don't know. Is it the Nike reps responsibility to replace the club? Is it Steve Williams? Does Tiger have to request it? I can't imagine him not wanting a replacement 4 iron unless he was looking to blame his performance one something (Ok, I'm kidding...) I know he didn't have it on 13 but do we know for sure he didn't get it replaced after that hole? I'm a little surprised by this... and after the initial comment the announcers said nothing on the subject. I just assumed that he would obviously get it replaced and that someone was going to do a mad 40 yard dash to get it to him ASAP. It's not like it was Trevor Immelman sitting in 50th place who broke the club. How could Nike not be on the ball?

[GoingfortheGreen]

Actually I wouldn't be surprised if each top player had identical second sets sitting around in case something like this happened. In either case, whether they would bring their spare set to the tournament is another question.

I remember from an ebay listing, that there were three identical Newport 2s that Scotty made for Tiger in 2000. It's conceivable to think that he has spares for all his clubs....

[Puttin4Bird]

I tend to wonder if Tiger had his 4 iron replaced right away and used it on 13 would the shot have turned out as good? I bet he would have hit it too far. So in that sense he's lucky he didn't have the 4 iron, but then on 15 when he came up short it might have made all the difference in the world.

Does anyone know what club he ended up hitting for his 2nd shot on 15?

[MGP]

I was going to say the same thing; If I were a tour pro playing for the kind of dough they are, I'd damn sure have a 2nd set of identical clubs available for every round. Especially in a Major like the Masters!

[Shindig]

Actually I wouldn't be surprised if each top player had identical second sets sitting around in case something like this happened. In either case, whether they would bring their spare set to the tournament is another question.

Would Tiger have it on hand for, say, the Mercedes Championship or the Buick? Probably not. Would he have it on hand for the Masters? Probably. Wouldn't the set just be in his locker back at the clubhouse? Since they delay play forever when they want to anyway, as soon as he broke it, someone could've gone to get it, and if they weren't back by the time he wanted it, he could've waited a "reasonable amount of time"? Finally, do we know for certain that his 4-Iron wasn't replaced? I just assumed it was, but (aside from this thread), I haven't seen anything one way or the other about it.

[iacas]

Finally, do we know for certain that his 4-Iron wasn't replaced? I just assumed it was, but (aside from this thread), I haven't seen anything one way or the other about it.

It wasn't replaced two holes later when he said it would have been the perfect club in to 13.

[golfchief]

If Tiger did have extra clubs they were probably packed and ready to go home, it was the last day and he was heading into amen corner. A long way from the club house for someone to get him another club if one was available.
Sure Tiger would have got one if he thought he could in time.

[iacas]

If Tiger did have extra clubs they were probably packed and ready to go home, it was the last day and he was heading into amen corner. A long way from the club house for someone to get him another club if one was available.

You're right. He was just about at the same exact point as Chris DiMarco was when his driver was loosened. A hole later he had a new driver.

[ezmoney5150]

Was his club ever replaced? Why did Nike drop the ball?

The Nike reps were in China hiring kids to make more clubs.....LOL.

[ezmoney5150]

In 2005, Chris DiMarco's driver head came a bit loose. He was given a new one a few holes later, per the rules.

That's a good point. It's not like Tiger was out of the tournament. I got to wonder the same thing.

[Shindig]

It wasn't replaced two holes later when he said it would have been the perfect club in to 13.

I missed this detail the first time around. Thanks.