What a Tool - Jason Dufner Didn't Watch Ryder Cup

[skydog]

Fair enough. As usual, I'm in the minority here. We'll agree to disagree

[colin007]

as someone who was born in america, do i have an obligation to support, or root for, or in any other way cheer on american players/teams?

[skydog]

as someone who was born in america, do i have an obligation to support, or root for, or in any other way cheer on american players/teams?

Did  I say or imply that anywhere?? For the third time now,  I couldn't care less if you or Dufner watched. That's not what this is about

[cubdog]

Did  I say or imply that anywhere?? For the third time now,  I couldn't care less if you or Dufner watched. That's not what this is about

I'm still not sure what this is about. Obviously you don't like Dufner, nothing wrong with that, but why is he a tool for making a twitter comment? If as reported he was informed as to what was happening at the RC why can't he express his opinions like anyone else. Since, as you said it's not about TV then what is it about other than your dislike of Dufner? I'm not trying to pick a fight just trying to understand your POV.

cubdog

[jamo]

as someone who was born in america, do i have an obligation to support, or root for, or in any other way cheer on american players/teams?

Not if they suck.

[MS256]

I don't keep track of much that goes on in the golfing world, or what players do, but I'm surprised that it's not a given that players not on the team probably wouldn't bother to watch if they have other things to do.

To me it's like baseball or football players watching their championships once they are out of it. Some want to see it, some don't, and some don't care one way or the other but aren't going out of their way to watch.

Maybe it should be different for the Ryder Cup since it's "our" country's team but players probably don't think of it like that since they could have been on the team???

This does have me curious about how many players watch and how many don't.

[skydog]

I'm still not sure what this is about. Obviously you don't like Dufner, nothing wrong with that, but why is he a tool for making a twitter comment? If as reported he was informed as to what was happening at the RC why can't he express his opinions like anyone else. Since, as you said it's not about TV then what is it about other than your dislike of Dufner? I'm not trying to pick a fight just trying to understand your POV.

cubdog

Ok, so like I said, apparently next to no one agrees with me here so I'll let this thread die but to summarize my issues since apprently they aren't getting through

1.) As a former player, don't broadcast that you didn't watch a minute of the RC. It's akin to your wife asking you if she looks fat- sometimes honesty isn't always required. I couldn't care less if he watched it or not, but yes, I would have preferred a little tactful dishonesty in this case.

And more importantly.

2.) If you are going to later announce that you didn't watch a minute of it, don't blow up twitter right after the conclusion of the event with captain recommendations like you are some super invested RC veteran worthy of being listened to. If you're going to announce that you didn't care enough to watch, then you don't deserve to toss your captain pick in the hat for 2016.

[inthehole]

Nevermind all this ... more importantly - did everyone see him in Australia this week ???    He cut his hair and lost some weight - here's to hoping the change will do him good in 2015 ...

[Zeph]

Nevermind all this ... more importantly - did everyone see him in Australia this week ???    He cut his hair and lost some weight - here's to hoping the change will do him good in 2015 ...

He finally got out of puberty? That's nice.

[rb72]

Ok, so like I said, apparently next to no one agrees with me here so I'll let this thread die but to summarize my issues since apprently they aren't getting through

1.) As a former player, don't broadcast that you didn't watch a minute of the RC. It's akin to your wife asking you if she looks fat- sometimes honesty isn't always required. I couldn't care less if he watched it or not, but yes, I would have preferred a little tactful dishonesty in this case.

And more importantly.

2.) If you are going to later announce that you didn't watch a minute of it, don't blow up twitter right after the conclusion of the event with captain recommendations like you are some super invested RC veteran worthy of being listened to. If you're going to announce that you didn't care enough to watch, then you don't deserve to toss your captain pick in the hat for 2016.

Actually I'm kinda with you Skydog. Let me first qualify this by saying that I am somewhat mystified by how many people on this forum count themselves as Dufner fans. To me, the guy has ZERO personality so I'm not quite sure what they are fans of. That being said (and back to the OT) this is, after all, a team he would have been on had he not been injured. Can you imagine the fan reaction if, say, Jamies Winston of FSU would have gotten hurt the game before their national championship game and not only was he not on the sidelines supporting his teamates but he wasn't even in the stadium and when asked, announces that he didn't watch the game (but got updates) after tweeting that the coaches play calling sucked and that's why they lost. The media would have a field day and fans would boo him out of the stadium (and off campus) the following year.

[rb72]

And before I get jumped on for this analogy, I realize these two situations don't EXACTLY correlate (Winston is actually ON the team and Dufner is not although he would have been) but it's a matter of degree matching the level of similarity. While Winston would have justifiably taken ALOT of heat, I think Dufner should take some.

[Gunther]

Non-issue for me. I'm sure he was texting with Keegan throughout the weekend so he was up to speed on Watson's behavior; hence, the Azinger 2016 tweet was educated and as we all later learned, warranted.

[newtogolf]

And before I get jumped on for this analogy, I realize these two situations don't EXACTLY correlate (Winston is actually ON the team and Dufner is not although he would have been) but it's a matter of degree matching the level of similarity. While Winston would have justifiably taken ALOT of heat, I think Dufner should take some.

I believe you and @skydog are taking his comment as more than it is.  Dufner didn't make the team, he didn't participate as a team member.  He was injured and claims he took a break from golf.

He might have watched the Ryder Cup.  After seeing the mess the US made of it and the conflict between Watson and Phil he might have simply decided to play stupid so he wouldn't be asked any follow up questions.   You know if he said he did watch it, the next question would be for him to comment on it and his thoughts on Watson and the team.  No good comes from Dufner playing Monday morning QB on the Ryder Cup at this point.

If he did take a break from golf, good for him.  If he did watch the Ryder Cup but decided to diffuse the entire line of questioning by saying he didn't watch a minute of it, also good for him.  I'm not sure why you and @skydog have such an issue, golf isn't a team sport.

[Spitfisher]

He didn't watch it....must have been an auburn game on. It doesnt' surprise me, for the first time in decades I did not watch the whole thing. I knew it would be a shalacking,

You think tiger watches the masters when he is injured? You think he has the boys over for a superbowl like atmosphere? I doubt he does.

[rb72]

I believe you and @skydog are taking his comment as more than it is.  Dufner didn't make the team, he didn't participate as a team member.  He was injured and claims he took a break from golf.

He might have watched the Ryder Cup.  After seeing the mess the US made of it and the conflict between Watson and Phil he might have simply decided to play stupid so he wouldn't be asked any follow up questions.   You know if he said he did watch it, the next question would be for him to comment on it and his thoughts on Watson and the team.  No good comes from Dufner playing Monday morning QB on the Ryder Cup at this point.

If he did take a break from golf, good for him.  If he did watch the Ryder Cup but decided to diffuse the entire line of questioning by saying he didn't watch a minute of it, also good for him.  I'm not sure why you and @skydog have such an issue, golf isn't a team sport.

Don't get me wrong I'm not saying it's a big deal, but just based on how I would feel about it if the star of my favorite pro team did something like this, it is, at least, a small deal. And correct me if I'm wrong but I believe he did make the team but had to withdraw. I'm not sure how your last statement is relevant since while golf is generally an individual sport, we're talking about the Ryder Cup here which is certainly a TEAM event.

[newtogolf]

Don't get me wrong I'm not saying it's a big deal, but just based on how I would feel about it if the star of my favorite pro team did something like this, it is, at least, a small deal. And correct me if I'm wrong but I believe he did make the team but had to withdraw. I'm not sure how your last statement is relevant since while golf is generally an individual sport, we're talking about the Ryder Cup here which is certainly a TEAM event.

He was in line to make the team given his earnings and points but to my knowledge he didn't participate in any of the team events.

The Ryder Cup is a one week event (3 days of actual competition) out of an entire year, that does not make golf a team sport.

[Ernest Jones]

Let me first qualify this by saying that I am somewhat mystified by how many people on this forum count themselves as Dufner fans. To me, the guy has ZERO personality so I'm not quite sure what they are fans of.

Can't speak for any but myself, but I'm Dufner fan because of his pretty little pitch elbow at A5. I'm just a sucker for a purdy A5.

[MS256]

Don't get me wrong I'm not saying it's a big deal, but just based on how I would feel about it if the star of my favorite pro team did something like this, it is, at least, a small deal. And correct me if I'm wrong but I believe he did make the team but had to withdraw. I'm not sure how your last statement is relevant since while golf is generally an individual sport, we're talking about the Ryder Cup here which is certainly a TEAM event.

Many athletes are not nearly as fan atical as fans are. If they aren't playing, and their team is not playing, many of them don't bother to watch.