Tiger Woods has been fined by the PGA after criticizing officials Sunday following the 2009 WGC-Bridgestone Invitational. Tiger was critical of a rule that penalized competitor Padraig Harrington for taking too much time to hit from the rough and then off the green.
The wording of the rule is:
“It is an obligation of membership to refrain from comments to the news media that unreasonably attack or disparage tournaments, sponsors, fellow members, players or PGA Tour.”
Tiger’s words were reported as:
“Like I was telling him out there, ‘I’m sorry that John (the course official) got in the way of a great battle,’ because it was such a great battle for 16 holes,” Woods said. “We’re going at it, head-to-head, and unfortunately that happened. Paddy and I will definitely do it again.”
“I don’t think that Paddy would have hit the pitch shot that way if he was able to take his time, look at it, analyze it,” Woods said. “But he was on the clock, had to get up there quickly and hit it.”
What Tiger said could hardly be viewed as an unreasonable attack on the PGA Tour. He might have taken a pot shot at the course official, but that doesn’t seem worth a fine.
It’s amazing that the PGA Tour would fine Tiger for those comments, yet not after he lays down a barrage of curse words on national television following a bad shot. Seems kind of ridiculous if you ask me.
But what’s even more ridiculous is not allowing golfers to analyze their shots because the TV networks want to fit everything within a certain broadcast window. After all, this is golf – not football. Golfers should be allowed to approach their shots without being rushed in fear of breaking some pointless rule.
Update: The PGA is reporting that Tiger Woods has not been fined and that the originial report was erroneous.
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Posted in: Golf
Tags: 2009 WGC-Bridgestone Invitational, PGA tour, Tiger Fined, Tiger Woods, Tiger Woods fine
tiger woods is to this date the greatest player of golf world over. although rules should be respected you must bend the rules at certain points to make the game exciting your rule does not make sense not to give time for a player to analyze his shot especially from the rough. it is also very dumb for the pga to fine tiger after he has brought golf to the highest level that it has ever been. pga shame on you.
I agree with Jack. Rules are rules but don’t get ridiculous…nice gesture by Tiger for the nightmare 16th hole for Harrington. This is all driven by tv money so that they finish by 6 pm EDT…..I’m sure Tiger can afford many fines…..
Tiger’s comments were given with respect and humility for Padraig and in recognition of a great battle that came to an abrupt end. His reference to “John” could hardly be taken as mean spirited, cutting or unreasonably attacking. The golden goose here is Tiger not the PGA, for without Tiger the PGA would revert to mediocre ratings, lower purses less buzz. Its time for the PGA to realized this and thicken its skin.
After watching this battle thru half the weekend, I can’t believe the PGA would even think of enforcing the “clock” rule. Tiger was right, it was a shame the official got in the way, this was an epic round of golf. Has the PGA ever watched Sergio, or Michael Letzig? I totally agree with the rules of golf, but as the final twosome on the course and with the outcome undetermined, what’s the rush to punish, 60 minutes can wait, it does for football!
I agree with everybody’s comments here. It was the last pairing for christ’s sake…they weren’t holding anybody up. They should have been allowed to take as much time as necessary, unless they were looking for a lost ball or something. Think of how crappy and pissed off it makes the average hacker feel when the ranger comes around to tell you to “pick up your play”. You press, which is exactly what happened to Harrington.
The last thing the tour wants to do is piss Tiger off. The fewer tournaments he plays in, the less money generated for the PGA and those same networks that want to dictate the length of the tournament.
To the PGA, you have acted like small spoiled kids, whiners who can’t look beyond your written rules to make decisions supportive of the tournament, respective of the conditions at the time.
What you need is new management who isn’t worried about anything except ensuring an honest and fair tournament. YOU DIDN’T DO EVEN THAT. Tiger Woods has my deepest respect for his comments, YOU PGA ARE FOOLS.
Rules no matter how good or bad have to be followed by everyone with no exceptions.If it’s not a good rule,petition to have it removed.Remember ,rules are made because too many people abuse their privliges. Unfortunatly, once in place they have to be inforced to include everyone or they won’t be effective.
I watched all play that whole weekend and if John would have been a little smarter I as a spectator would have enjoyed it more and the players would have also. Some times you have to bevd the rules a little, and I will tell you that “No Tiger” no spectators. When he was gone, so was I. Take that as a sign of reality PGA.
Since when does the net work decide how long a golf match goes, do not blame the official, BLAME the NETWORK shame on them, unless the officail made that decision on his own. If slow has been the case 3/4 of the field between thurs day thru saturday week to week, all would be penalized, figure that out. THANKS to the NETWORK for strting more bull crap.
hey whats the big deal I play golf every week and I do not like to be pushed either good for Tiger
for standing up for other players Golf is about sportsmanship and Tiger proves that every time he plays PGA LET IT GO get your head out
This is sort of surprising. I first heard that Tiger would not be fined, now I read that he is being fined. This is senseless. Tiger showed great sportsmanship by saying that the final pairing should not have been placed on the clock. After all, how long has the PGA been searching for another golfer to step up and challenge Tiger. PGA, you had that exact scenario on Sunday and then you rush the guy. I think Tiger would have won anyway, but still, not smart.
Hypothetically, what if Tiger refuses to pay the fine? Is the PGA going to suspend Tiger Woods? What a shortsighted move that would be. Cost yourself millions of dollars and ratings by suspending the best player ever to prove a senseless point. 60 minutes waits on football, let it wait on Tiger also.
I totally agree with Tiger, and the majority of other blog comments. The PGA screwed up and Tiger was sticking up for a fellow competitor who he was in battle with down the the very end. Shame on you PGA for not getting your priorities right. Bob
I have to say that I agree with cut shot. Rules are rules (stupid or not). If the rules are outdated, or don’t make sense, petition to change the rules. I agree with what Tiger said, it was a shame to ruin a great battle, and it was too bad that the “clock” messed with Paddy’ game; but as cliche as it sounds, rules are rules – as soon as you start to “bend” the rules as some of you mentioned, you will have regular requests to bend the rules for all sorts of situations, and where do you stop? Do you bend the rules for Tiger and no one else?. Good for you Tiger, I have the utmost respect for what you did/said, and as far as the PGA fining you goes………you can’t fix stupid.
This was BS pure and simple calling the clock. We were watching Sunday’s final pairing from the first shot on 1 to the last shot on 18 and the entire round was just a few minutes over 4 hours.
What would make a PGA official put a clock on them
if it wasn’t strictly because of network timing. Way to go…in ruining a great battle. Like everyone else in this world it was all about the money.
Does anyone remember the “Heidi” game?? Network switched away from the most fantastic finish in football history. Hard to know if the official simply believes like Cut Shot and Doc, that a rule is a rule, but I’d bet he was under pressure. Cut Shot and Doc don’t seem to realize that the time rule is consistently unenforced. That is what makes the ruling particularly bizarre and unfair to the golfers and the match. As to comments about Tiger’s value to golf and the PGA in particular: Don’t think they aren’t well aware of it. Can you imagine the response if Paddy had made the comment instead of Tiger????
I honestly can say there has been times that I have become very tired of so much coverage of Tiger when I have my own favorite, Watching Padraig and Tiger was so exciting and then I could not believe his shot in the water , I thought choke then later I realized from that point on all was down hill and to watch him loose the lead then return like a champion thrilled me to know end, I guess this was the best way to handle the situation simply because if they had waited to the end and Harrington had the lead and PGA find him and took away the title with a stroke penalty, Iwould be first to send my PGA card in with the other million, Tiger has gained even more respect from the crowds that already love him….
Wow, cut shot said it all, but my question is why wasn’t everyone put on the clock, that was ahead of Tiger and Harrington? I’m new to the game and so are many of my family members. If you want to fine Tiger then we’ll watch some other sport worthy of faireness. PGA I’ve come to learn and love the game but if this is what the PGA is all about (beyond fairness and unreasonable)maybe the PBA is better suited to watch and support.
None of these people are fans of golf at all.They claim an all high and mighty love for the game but also say if tiger is not playing they will not watch..seems a bit bigoted to me most of these golf watchers. What do you expect by people that hold golfers ,well only one, they really do not care about golfers per say,they hold him up to be a god!Why do they do this?IT makes them feel like they are cool because they are on the bandwagon of a guy that other people that they look up to and want to be like worship!! It makes them part of the cool clique because all righttt I ama fan of so and so just like mr. cool!! see thatr makes me cool tooo!!!