Sal Johnson takes Tiger Woods for the woodshed in part 2 of a 3 part exploration into Tiger’s world. It’s a heck of a detailed piece with a unique inside look at Tiger, the Tour and the inside lives of the players.
From the article:
“Woods could be most selfish player in sports. I think that Phil Mickelson signs more autographs for kids in one session than Woods signs all year. Yes Woods has done great things with his foundation, but other than that he is completely inaccessible. Anyone could walk up to Jack Nicklaus, Arnold Palmer and Phil Mickelson and strike up a conversation and they would most of the time be respectful and nice, depending on the circumstances. But for Tiger, unless you’re a business associate or friend eight out of ten times he will ignore you or walk away quickly. In a way Jack Nicklaus was this way in the early 60s, but changed when he realized how bad it was.”
You never hear the TV broadcasters say anything like that, but after Tiger tried to have Peter Kostis black-listed for speaking his mind, many are too scared to NOT fall in lockstep. The article continues:
“Butch Harmon once told me that Woods in the late 90s found a man that helped Tiger control heartbeat and adrenaline. The secret of Woods is his calmness in pressure situations, nobody does it better. The only person I know of that could come close was Jack Nicklaus, and old-timers like Dan Jenkins say that Ben Hogan was able to do control his emotions too. So the big question is if Woods has this tremendous gift of controlling his emotions, can he also control some of his imperfections?
Over the course of his career I have always felt that it’s not right that Woods has been able to drop F-bombs at will and throw clubs. It seems to have gotten worse in the last six months and I have to wonder where Tim Finchem is on this. Now we know he is the most covered guy in golf, not only through the media but on TV, but I still have to wonder why Finchem can’t control this.”
Finchem will have a lot more leverage now…but then Sal echoes my comment from my last two articles here and here, Woods should be suspended;
“I also have to wonder with rules like being “unbecoming of a professional” why Woods hasn’t been suspended. Frankly I think that the PGA Tour, Augusta National, the USGA, the R&A and the PGA of America would be very popular if they have a local rule that states if a player throws a club or blurts out an F-bomb that a golf cart will be dispatched to the player to pick him up for disqualification. If I was in the gallery and say Tiger missed the putt and I blurted out an F-bomb, I would be escorted off the grounds. So why don’t these events do these things to protect our children that are watching in the gallery and TV. Frankly I would bet you that an automatic DQ during a tournament would have more power than a fine or possible suspension. I would bet my house that the first time Tiger drops an F-bomb while leading a tournament and getting DQd would be the last time that ever happens.”
Exactly. All it takes is some strength of will.
