Rory withdraws from Target

[deakanutz]

Have we heard Sabatinis response yet? Even if he had real bad shin splints I think it will come down to "How he left" ie did he call Tiger etc say sorry man I am just dying in pain out there I will make it up to ya etc. Now he if just jetted and had someone call it in then that is not cool. For now I give any man the benefit of the doubt.

[tiger_who]

i like rory i love what he did in the 2005 booz alan when he was fed up with Crane's slow play that he stomped some 200 yards to the back of the 17th green and waited -- seething -- for the puzzled (and in-contention) Crane to hit his approach
I LOVE IT I HATE SLOW PLAY lol i like tiger so much more but rory is kool he brings spice to the game if u guy think that casue he trash talks another player is bad dont watch boxing :D

[Shindig]

i like rory i love what he did in the 2005 booz alan when he was fed up with Crane's slow play that he stomped some 200 yards to the back of the 17th green and waited -- seething -- for the puzzled (and in-contention) Crane to hit his approach

I didn't follow golf when the '05 event happened, but I was told about it by a friend the first time I complained about slow play. I laughed; it was one of the first stunts by a pro I had ever heard of. It made me respect Rory tremendously, and I still do, despite what may have happened since. Kind of surprising that he was willing to do that, when some other players were fined for

playing too quickly a few years before that.

[Bluenoser67]

I will say he brings that John McEnroe element to a game in desperate need of some characters.

[The Rambler]

To me, this is just another one of Rory's excuses for his inadequate play. He was in last place and said "screw this" and had one of his assistants call in sick for him. Kind of like what children do when they don't want to go to school. Not cool Rory

[Jeepthrills]

Yeah, and to add insult to injury Sabby will not be with Nike next year(Tiger? Did Nike have enough? ???)... He just signed with Adams Golf.

Is this just a coincidence? If I am Nike and one of my Tour Pros is taking shots at the guy that made my company a major player in golf I would not want him back. I doubt Tiger called Phil Knight and said it's him or me, but I would not be at all shocked if someone internally said we need to get rid of this guy before he really pisses Tiger off.

I do agree that Rorry brings some flavor to the Tour. Every sport needs guys to cheer against or for if you like him. I always found him entertaining and was not too upset with what he did to Ben Crane. I'm sure a lot of people wanted to do the same thing. He just needs to back up what he says. Don't call Tiger out then have him hand you your a** only to say he looks more beatable than ever. I want guys to say that they want to go head to head with him. The thing is, you can say it in a respectable way. Say "I look forward to the challenge. Tiger is the best in the world. We all need to measure our game against him." Not something to the effect of Bring it on.

[SubPar]

What did Monty say? Did I miss something?

Monty has had his problems getting into spats with the fans and suffering from a bad case of "rabbit ears". He's mouthed off at a few people during rounds and gotten testy with the press, so he has gained a reputation as a grouchy, overly sensitive fellow.

In fact Monty is one of the few pros who actually yucks it up with his amateurs in the Pro-Ams and he is very friendly with fans. As for this Rory thing Saturday, being in last place in a 16 man event must have given him "shin splints". That's a lame excuse and he will hear about it for some time to come, unless he makes nice with Tiger and the press. SubPar

[g-funk13]

To me, this is just another one of Rory's excuses for his inadequate play. He was in last place and said "screw this" and had one of his assistants call in sick for him. Kind of like what children do when they don't want to go to school. Not cool Rory

Rambler your avatar and subtitle are HILARIOUS. Just in time for the holidays!!! (Ever since I ticked off the moderator of TST I can't change the subtitle of my avatar. . . strange. . .)

Anyway you are right on the money. He played poorly and reacted like a child. . . funny, entertaining, ridiculous and a little sad. . .

[iacas]

(Ever since I ticked off the moderator of TST I can't change the subtitle of my avatar. . . strange. . .)

You're a "Registered User." Changing the subtitle is a privilege afforded to "Established Members."

Let's get back on topic.

[darktone]

I would not be to hard on Rory as you don't really know what happened behind the scenes. He shot an 81 the day before- did he develop a flaw in his swing and not want to hit another ball until it was worked out? Was he really injured? Did a fan make a stupid comment and he lost his cool? I have heard quite a few uncalled for comments at PGA events the last few years- the way's fans behave has changed much in the last five years. Also maybe there was a little ribbing going on in the locker room from other players that aggravated him? Or maybe he is just rebelling because Tiger has so much control over the PGA?
Since I am new here I can't start another thread for some reason and I wanted to ask if anybody new the reason Tourcast was discontinued? Is it still available wireless? Does anyone know what's going to be new with the live scoring this year? thanks!

[shortgame85]

I would not be to hard on Rory as you don't really know what happened behind the scenes. He shot an 81 the day before- did he develop a flaw in his swing and not want to hit another ball until it was worked out? Was he really injured? Did a fan make a stupid comment and he lost his cool? I have heard quite a few uncalled for comments at PGA events the last few years- the way's fans behave has changed much in the last five years. Also maybe there was a little ribbing going on in the locker room from other players that aggravated him? Or maybe he is just rebelling because Tiger has so much control over the PGA?

People are not "hard" on Rory. People expect that a fellow who obligates himself to play golf in one of the most exclusive fields in the world, and who, even in last place, is being paid more money for four days' work than most people in the United States make in a year, simply act professional. We expect a fellow so privilledged to behave like a man and not like a petulant child.

Is this too much to ask of a man making 4 million dollars a year to play a game? I don't think so. Of course, this line of thinking brings up a whole host of other issues about highly paid, spoiled, out of control, bloviated ( did I say spoiled? ) entertainers who also play sports. I can think of another golfer who fits this description. While some may see such fellows as admirable anti-heros, who occasionally make the "grand" gesture of giving a fan their putter or visiting a children's hospital, the reality is that they often live indulgent lives far removed from the ordinary, while contributing far less to the common weal as many, less financially well endowed citizens. So is it really so terrible to hold Rory to a standard that simply requires him to meet a tournament obligation? Maybe there were some circumstances that caused Rory to withdraw about which we know nothing. Don't you think he at least owes people an explanation? After all, I realize $170,000 may be chump change, but surely it is enough to require some better reason than shin splints for withdrawing.

[The Rambler]

(1)

Here is how I am respondig to your post

1. Why? he is a PROFESSIONAL as in this is his job. He doesn't do anything else except play golf. That's like failing a class in an AP course. You are supposed to be on the top tier of your class, you just can't do it. 2. So if I tee it up next weekend and I shank my first shot I'm going to stop playing immediatly and leave? Or if my hands aren't turning over quick enough, I quit? 3. Golf is a mental game. People tell me that I suck all the time, I don't listen. 4. A lot of sports/activities are competitive and yes there is trash talking. Same thing as #3 Get over it. 5. Rebelling by playing bad and then leaving? Rory is a good player no doubt about it but he's got to get an attitude change. He won't win if all he's thinking about is everything but the shot he's on. Merry Christmas

[TourSpoon]

Ok, I just read all of the posts...I have been missing out.

I am not sure how a guy who walks 4 plus miles a day for 5 days a week 30 plus weeks gets shin splints. As someone who has trained for and run 2 marathons, I can tell you that sore shins or real shin splints (the kind that lead to stress fractures) would not prevent me from playing golf. Even when I couldn't run, I could still walk just fine. W/Ding in this kind of event when you are in last place is poor sportsmanship.

Now the thing about Nike and Tiger. You can be sure that Nike is going to protect their relationship with their Golden Goose, even if they have euthanize a duck. There is so much at stake with Tiger and Nike that Nike is not going to fool around.

Sometimes I feel bad for the golfers when fans get a little mouthy about comments they make, but then I think about the poor clerk at the grocery store that gets abuse over nothing. It's almost funny that in those situations that golfers think first amendment rights work only one way. My boss has given me this advice, "You can say whatever you want to the press because it's your first amendment right, but if you say something stupid, you own it". In the real world, if you say something stupid, people will let you know. Now, most golf fans have enough class not to give an opinion in the middle of a back swing. The point is, you have to be responsible for your statements.

Rant over...

[shortgame85]

Ok, I just read all of the posts...I have been missing out.

Apropos of your comment regarding shin splints: I, too, have run two marathons and a number of other races, as well. While shin splints can be an excrutiating injury to a runner, I, like you, find it difficult to believe that a golfer can be sidelined by them.

Your comment about euthanasia was funny as hell and, I believe, accurate. And, I guess, if Rory won't hold himself responsible for his comments, we will!

[TourSpoon]

Thanks Shortgame85. Being a runner, you know exactly what I'm talking about when it comes to shin splints.

I was wondering how many people Nike has assigned to Team Tiger. I will tell you this, Tiger makes it easy for them. You never hear him trash people or have questionable behavior. I just saw the video he did for Buick where he gives away the 4 Raniers. He seems like a real nice guy.

[Bluenoser67]

You can be sure that Nike is going to protect their relationship with their Golden Goose, even if they have euthanize a duck.

I love it.

[FortAsel]

That guy is just a little stupid noob. I i was him, I would try to disapear...

[shortgame85]

Thanks Shortgame85. Being a runner, you know exactly what I'm talking about when it comes to shin splints.

Granted, one would think if you have everything within and without your imagination, you could at least be civil and use some common courtesy, especially if you are acting and speaking in public. Well, a lot of professional golfers, led by one Eldrick Woods, seem to be able to do just that. And then there are the ones who act a bit out of control. They act like they're members of the NFL or the NBA, instead of the PGA.

Seriously, TourSpoon, you're right about Tiger: he seems like a good fellow, in control of himself and respectful of the world around him; all in all, healthy in mind and body.