Tara Sullivan, columnist for the Bergen Record, was barred from the locker room after the Masters. She was attempting to interview Rory McIlroy, who was the leader heading into the Sunday.
“Bad enough no women members at Augusta. But not allowing me to join writers in locker room interview is just wrong,” the initial tweet read.
A member of the Masters media committee (Steve Ethun) told her that it was a mistake and that she should have been allowed in to conduct her interviews.
Augusta National Golf Club has a long history of discrimination and still does not allow female members to join the club.
For the second time since August, Jim Gray has found himself in the center of controversy involving professional golf.
In August of 2010, he got into a heated exchange with last year’s U.S. Ryder Cup team captain Corey Pavin, calling him a lair after he insisted that Pavin had told him Tiger Woods would be a shoe-in to make the team. Pavin refuted Gray’s report and the two exchanged words, at which point Gray shouted, “You’re going down!”
His most recent incident came at this weekend’s Northern Trust Open. Golfer Dustin Johnson was assessed a two-stroke penalty but avoided disqualification after he was late for his tee time on Thursday morning. Johnson’s caddy, Bobby Brown, took responsibility for the mistake and then became enraged when Gray decided to question Johnson during live action. After the round was complete, Brown and Gray reportedly got into a heated, profanity-laced argument.
Now, some will say that Gray was just doing his job but he could have waited to question Johnson until after the round was over. The penalty had been assessed and the round had already started, so most journalists would have probably waited before questioning the golfer about what happened.
Not wanting him or the situation to become a further distraction, the Golf Channel removed Gray from this weekend’s coverage. It was a smart move considering that Gray has taken it upon himself (whether purposely or not) to become the story. When you’re getting into multiple incidents with the people you’re supposed to be covering, that’s a problem.
Gray has been around long enough to know that he shouldn’t be a nuisance and yet that’s what he’s become.
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Listen as commentator Ewen Murray tongue-slaps Tiger Woods for spitting on the 12th green at the Omega Dubai Desert Classic over the weekend:
The European Tour wasn’t pleased with Tiger’s actions and announced Monday that it will be fining him an undisclosed sum. Tiger has since taken to Twitter to apologize about the grave injustice to the world of golf.
The Euro Tour is right – it was inconsiderate to spit like that and I know better. Just wasn’t thinking and want to say I’m sorry.
Murray obviously has a point: nobody wants to put through Tiger’s spit and Woods should have apologized for not having more awareness. But I don’t think there was any reason for Murray to channel his inner Joe Buck.
Tiger Woods waits to hit off of the 11th tee box during the first round of the Quail Hollow Tournament in Charlotte, North Carolina on April 29, 2010. UPI/Kevin Dietsch
There’s an unwritten rule in baseball that says rookies need to mind their own business, shut their mouths and always show veteran players respect.
Apparently these same rules don’t apply to golf. Either that, or Brendan Steele doesn’t follow them because he recently called out one of the best golfers the sport will ever see.
From SI/Golf.com:
Rookie Brendan Steele didn’t see eye-of-the-tiger intensity from Tiger Woods when he was paired with Woods in the final round of the Farmers Insurance Open at Torrey Pines on Sunday. Steele shot 70 en route to a T17 finish, while Woods shot 75 to finish tied for 44th. Afterward, Steele said that Woods appeared to lose interest in his round Sunday once he started to struggle, according to an article in this week’s issue of Sports Illustrated.
“I don’t think he gave it everything today,” Steele told SI. “Once it started going in the wrong direction, I don’t think it had his full attention.”
Here’s the deal, even if you think Tiger didn’t give it his all, you don’t say that. You tell your buddies about it when you’re kicking back a few cold ones or smoking some cigars, but you don’t tell Sports freaking Illustrated. Somebody needs to teach that boy some r.e.s.p.e.c.t. Find out what it means to me…uh, him. (To be fair, Steele had nothing but respect for Tiger before the tournament, stating that he was excited to be playing alongside one of the greats.)
That said, I think it’s obvious that Tiger lost his confidence in 2009. He clearly hasn’t been the same player since his ex-wife may-or-may-not-have taken one of his nine irons to the side of his dome and he hasn’t regained his swagger. Maybe he will eventually, but right now he’s in a major funk.
Every athlete goes through phases where they struggle with their confidence. They feel as though they’ll never get another hit, have another 100-yard rushing day or win another tournament. It happens. Tiger just needs to fight through it and find the motivation to be great again.
