Who can defend Sergio?

[albatross]

This isn't a discussion about Sergio vs. Tiger this weekend ( I know we already have that thread).  This is just about Sergio.  Just when I try to forget some of his past whining and ridiculous antics (spitting in the cup was the worst of all time), this guy comes out crying and sounds like a huge baby.

And now everyone is saying, wow, it was good of him to talk to the media after his round.  He SHOULD talk to the media after his round.  Part of the reason he was so cordial on Sunday, is because he probably realized what a child he sounded like earlier in the weekend.  I think him making such a big deal of the incident, had to have distracted him this weekend.  He puts these own obstacles in his way.  Other players might have been pissed, but they would have shook it off (unless it was Bubba or something).

I'm just genuinely curious about those of you that like Sergio, how you can root for this guy?  I agree he's got a great swing and at times he can be humble, but it always ruins it for me when he gets in his "poor me", nothing ever works out for me phase.  That's why this guy hasn't and won't win a major championship.

[luu5]

I do not know if I root for Sergio, but at least I am not rooting against him. I watch golf, I do not care (much) about what players do off the course, including tournament interviews. I admit that I have few players on twitter feed, but I do not really know why... Professional tour players do not need our defence, they are doing fine with or without our rooting.

[SloverUT]

I really wouldn't say he was distracted. Until the 71st hole he was playing great golf and was T2.

[MEfree]

Since I used to have a fish named Sergio, I'll stick up for him a bit.  I should preface by saying that I don't have the golf channel and tend NOT to watch/read a lot of interviews, but do watch most network tournaments.  This makes most of my knowledge of Sergio by what I see on the course, not off it.

Until 17, I thought Sergio hung in nicely on Sunday.  No he didn't play a perfect round, but neither did Tiger and they had the same score through 16 (and 70 holes of the tournament).  Golf is judged by score and results, not what guys say in the interview afterwards.  Currently there are only a dozen guys in the world ranked ahead of Sergio, so he must be doing a lot right.  Of those 12, I believe half have won majors and half have not.

Not sure what his thought process was on 17?  Yes, a birdie there might have won him the tournament, but going for the center of the green and hoping to catch the right side of the ridge would likely have been the best play.  I am not sure if he was going for the pin an hit a poor shot or going for the center and hit a terrible shot, but maybe the chance to knock of his rival Tiger either affected his decision and/or execution.

So how can Sergio be one of the players I root for?  Well, I liked the way he played years ago in the PGA and I tend to root for a lot of guys and root against very few.  He has struggled with his putting at times, but has stuck with it and actually ranked 5th in putting this week and is 3rd for the season, so some acknowledgement must be given for a guy who has mostly overcome a past weakness.

[RayG]

There's no need to root against him... he likely shoots himself in the foot anyway. And anyways, complaining about how Tiger messed up his shot by getting the crowd all worked up is a joke. Has he EVER played golf in the real world? Has a bird never screeched "UH-OH" right in the middle of a backswing as is so common in Florida? Someone on the next hole scream "FORE", had a car go by and it's occupants screaming at you on the tee box? these guys have to get over themselves and their idea that the world comes a stop every time the play. If they concentrate so hard then they shouldn't even notice that the crowd gave a small bout of approval- not a ROUSING CHEER when he was making his shot- which, BTW, he had time to back away from.

[gosly]

Originally Posted by RayG

There's no need to root against him... he likely shoots himself in the foot anyway.

So accurate haha.

I'm a Sergio fan because I like watching him play and I like watching him struggle.  I like to see him on the leader board on Sundays because it makes it more interesting for me.  The stuff that happens off the course I tend to filter out.

[albatross]

Originally Posted by RayG

There's no need to root against him... he likely shoots himself in the foot anyway.

And anyways, complaining about how Tiger messed up his shot by getting the crowd all worked up is a joke. Has he EVER played golf in the real world? Has a bird never screeched "UH-OH" right in the middle of a backswing as is so common in Florida? Someone on the next hole scream "FORE", had a car go by and it's occupants screaming at you on the tee box? these guys have to get over themselves and their idea that the world comes a stop every time the play. If they concentrate so hard then they shouldn't even notice that the crowd gave a small bout of approval- not a ROUSING CHEER when he was making his shot- which, BTW, he had time to back away from.

Well said. I totally agree.

[Mr Smell Good]

Agree with the OP 100%

I haven't followed much golf until recently but I thought Sergio's complaint was a little ridiculous.  So Tiger accidentally caused there to be a tiny bit of noise in your backswing... does that really matter that much?  Loved Tiger's response and felt like Sergio choking after that was some kind of karma

[NuclearMike]

He's indefensible.

[ghalfaire]

I am a fan of "El nino" and think he's a pretty good stick. I also happen to be a fan of Tiger and am happy to see him playing better than just good again.  I'm not sure what prompted Sergio to go for the stick on 17 yesterday but I've seen other golfers "press" when playing Tiger and make/attempt shots they probably would not other wise attempt.  I suppose the thought process is I have to stay aggressive or I'll lose because Tiger can birdie any hole on the course when he needs to.  Probably it is always a mistake to get outside of your comfort zone but I have seen a lot of PGA professionals do it when competing with Tiger.

[Paradox]

I don't look at any pro athletes as role models so their personalities and all the other hub-bub never concerns me like it does other fans(I don't care if someone curses or gets mad or whatever).  Sergio has just always struck me as one of those players who always looks for something to blame besides himself(most of the time..a few times he's flat out said he sucked) and like he's just a little too...something while he's playing.  I can't pinpoint what it is but it rubs me the wrong way.

Ian Poulter used to be the same way to me but I watched a "playing lessons" of him recently and he's actually not full of himself and just wants to win..so I can respect him and his fiery attitude while on the course.  I wish more golfers were like he and Tiger and a few others who get mad when they mess up....just don't pout.

[caniac6]

I think Sergio is a very emotional person, and he has a hard time controling and hiding his emotions. He seems to get very upset over things that he can't control. He gets all out of whack about a little noise on the other side of the fairway, but can't see how acting like a jackass at the Ryder Cup bothers other players. Stuff happens on the course, he needs to forget it and move on.

[RonTheSavage]

Sergio is a clown. I actually enjoyed his misfortunes on 17 and 18.

[saevel25]

Sergio wears his emotions on his sleeve, and he's an honest person. To those who don't get to know Tiger, he seems like a very off putting person. He has the cold personality on the course. I think only a select few people can play a round of golf with him and enjoy his company.

Sergio is about 100 times better than he was when he first played Beth Page Black. I think he learned some good lessons there on how to not let people bug him. I think Sergio doesn't like Tiger, and can harbor any ill feelings towards him all he wants, especially blaming him for that bad shot. I don't think its right, but i am not going to go and judge Sergio on it. If he thinks tiger should have waited to start his routine till after Sergio hits, that is his opinion. Though i will say that the crowds will roar for more things than Tiger pulling a fairway wood out. So, its a bit of a stretch to blame the bad shot on tiger. But, i can also see there is a courtasy to know your own popularity, and know there is a reaction to what you do on the course, and how that might effect other players around you. To blame a bad shot on it is one thing, but i do agree that Tiger should be aware of his own presence. Golf is a gentlemen's game after all.

[Ole_Tom_Morris]

How much of all the rationalizing is nonsense? Sergio is too emotional. Maggert was too old, McIlroy too young, Dufner choked, Stenson couldn't close the deal etc., etc. A lot of sports commentary is nothing more than rationalization, seeking pat explanations for what happened..
You can't point to the last two holes and say "Sergio made a terrible decision." He gambled and lost, which made his taking a chance on the second shot at 17 more necessary. Then he gambled on 18 because he had to and lost again. If he had won his bets (and he might have) we'd be saying "What brilliant decisions!" What percentage of the time would he have made those tee shots at 17 and 18? I don't know, but he thought he could. Could have been you or me or Tiger in his place.
Do Sergio's emotions hurt his game? Looks like it, but that may be only because he wears them on his sleeve. Plenty of golfers get really down on themselves but don't show it much.

[GaijinGolfer]

Its certainly difficult to root for Sergio.  He has such a bad attitude and is such a crybaby.  I wouldnt ever root against him though.  Sergio isnt a bad person, he just needs to grow up.

[VinnieL]

I will take the honest full of flaws Sergio I enjoy watching people who wear their emotions on their sleeves and occasionally do or say something that most would not do. It adds color and some drama to what otherwise would be a bunch of gentleman robots hiding who and what they really are. It's always fun to have a Sergio or Bubba around.

[TourSpoon]

I like Sergio because he is not the typical cookie cutter type tour player. A kid that was full of promise that has never grown up and has not realized that potential. Watching him play is always interesting because his heart is on his sleeve for all to see. It's too bad that he is his own worst enemy in all of this. I really wish he would shut his mouth, concentrate on golf, and win a few majors. The drama he brings to the stage with Tiger is good for the game and made watching the Players worth watching.