Tiger Woods - Why No Criticism Of His Behaviour?

[Posts: 2422Joined: 09 Oct 2007, 20:57]

I am not a great golf fan but I see him spitting, swearing and displaying his general surly expression when things are not going perfectly but commentators just turn a blind eye. Why?

[Posts: 4872Joined: 12 Mar 2008, 23:07Location: Taunton Somerset]

Because they don't want to draw any further attention of bad behaviour of golf's golden wonder boy????

Presumably you're a model of self-control, stilvi, calm to the extreme and able to deal with any professional disappointment?

I would agree that there is absolutely no excuse for a golfer to be seen to be spitting - in reality, there's no need for footballers to be seen to either - but why should judgement be passed on his apparent anger at making mistakes? Tiger Woods is, quite clearly, a perfectionist and a competitive one at that, so is his reaction to a missed putt, or clumsy chip, all that surprising? Do other players react differently when dropping careless shots? When are they held to account by the golfing media (given that you assert that Woods is seemingly free of criticism, yet ignore the fact that Peter Alliss commented on his behaviour last night)?

[Posts: 879Joined: 21 Jul 2007, 17:43]

Nothing compared to a Liverpool player who the other night, with a lovely close up, pressed one nostril whislt clearing the other one on the pitch and then die the same to the other...ABSOLUTELY DISGUSTING!! see the reaction if any golfer did that
Didn't see Woods last night but know what he's like.....the same as alot of golfers. It's ok if not right over the top.

[Posts: 2422Joined: 09 Oct 2007, 20:57]

Presumably you're a model of self-control, stilvi, calm to the extreme and able to deal with any professional disappointment?

I would agree that there is absolutely no excuse for a golfer to be seen to be spitting - in reality, there's no need for footballers to be seen to either - but why should judgement be passed on his apparent anger at making mistakes? Tiger Woods is, quite clearly, a perfectionist and a competitive one at that, so is his reaction to a missed putt, or clumsy chip, all that surprising? Do other players react differently when dropping careless shots? When are they held to account by the golfing media (given that you assert that Woods is seemingly free of criticism, yet ignore the fact that Peter Alliss commented on his behaviour last night)?

So what are you saying other top sportsmen who can refrain from spitting, swearing and going round with a sour face are uncompetitive and not perfectionists? Personally I would just say they know how to conduct themselves.

No, stilvi, I'm saying that Tiger conducts himself in that way because he is a perfectionist and, quite clearly, fiercely competitive.

That said, the lack of professional courtesy he has shown Graeme McDowell this afternoon has been nothing short of disgusting. When Steve Williams publicly attacked Phil Mickelson recently, Woods was seemingly quick to question his caddie's judgement and distance himself from the remarks he made. Yet, following a missed birdie putt on twelve, Tiger saw fit to walk off the green and up to the thirteenth tee whilst McDowell was still putting out. And Williams followed.

Venting one's frustration and disappointment I can deal with, but that's simply not on.

[Posts: 3191Joined: 18 Sep 2006, 15:47Location: County Down]

Tiger is definitely fiercely competetive, and has so many high profile sponsorship contracts, that playing badly really does seem to get to him. When your that high up in your game (where you are more about writing history than winning single events) I think bad form must be really infuriating.

Most professional golfers know that tiger woods is better than them and so they turn up for tournaments in the hope that they have a good round and tiger doesnt. If they have a bad round they accept that, as its nothing out of the ordinary for most golfers. Tiger Woods however knows full well that when he is at the height of his powers he cant be beaten on a golf course, and so when he isnt playing even remotely average by his standards, a great deal of frustration becomes apparent, especially in big tournaments.

Thats not to condone his behaviour, just to possibly explain it.

I do think it good though that he does show that drive to be the best all of the time however, as he has enough money in the bank now to just kick back, basquing in the glory of past achievements, and not worry about the results a la many footballers including as an example Rio Ferdinand who IMO as goood as he is, has never been as good as he consistently was at Leeds, appears to have little interest and wouldnt give fans the time of day.
For all tiger woods faults he is not that type of person, which for me is a positive.

My old man played a Pro-Am with Seve Ballesteros in his hay day at the Carrolls Irish Open in 84, and he thought seve was brilliant. He later seen him at The Open in the late nineties and thought he had changed very much and become a complete arrogant wanker, despite his form having went very much downhill by then , he was apparently very ignorant to the fans. I think success just goes to some people, but I also note that the old fella thought seve was a better person when he was at his best.

FWIW I think Rory Sabbatini looks a good e/w bet in the Masters at 50-1, as does Todd Hamilton @ 80-1. A lot can happen in a high pressure last day at Augusta.

[Posts: 1619Joined: 19 Mar 2007, 17:02Location: Halifax]

It's funny how people want to jump on a couple of inconsequential antics by the greatest man ever to wield a golf club, whilst ignoring the recent spat between Phil Mickelson and Steve Williams.
Williams is a caddy (that's right, a man paid to carry golf clubs and tell his master how far he has to the hole), and the way Woods stepped in- unprompted AFAIK- to publicly set his great mate to right against his most bitter rival on the golfing stage speaks volumes for the man IMO.

[Posts: 1176Joined: 09 Feb 2007, 16:29Location: Leicestershire]

Friggo

You could also say why should we excuse his so called inconsequential antics just because he's the best in the world. My wife doesn't really like golf or watch it much for that matter but when she does she always without fail says that Tiger Woods is a right mardy [expletive] and believe me she would know ! Take the two interviews on Sunday and you tell me who came across as a bad loser. Even Peter Alliss mentioned after PM's interview ( couple of minutes after TW's) something along the lines of "Isn't it nice to listen to a frank and gracious turn of events." As for the spat between Mickelson and Williams, all Woods did was give him a small public slap on the wrist for Williams revealing his own dislike of one of his closest competitors and telling an untrue story in a crude attempt to publicly ridicule that competitor (the "nice tits" joke was about Montgomerie). Most other people would have lost their job. He might well be the greatest player ever and in full flow is a joy to watch, I just wish in the rare times he is beaten he would swallow his disappointment and lose with a little more grace.

[Posts: 2422Joined: 09 Oct 2007, 20:57]

Has he just been reprimanded for spitting on the green whereas had the 'offence' occured elsewhere everyone would have turned a blind eye as they have been doing throughout his career?

[Posts: 4053Joined: 03 Feb 2006, 11:39Location: Sacramento,CA.]

I don't believbe he knows gracious.