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Tiger Woods to Bridgestone Press: “Go Talk to the Leaders”

The self-immolation of Tiger Woods continues at a frenetic pace, with little likelihood of relief until at least April 2011. After his third consecutive clueless round well over par, his rude and surly dismissal of no less a personage than Larry Dorman, the writer for the New York Times, is Exhibit A that Woods’s definition of “making my behavior more respectful of the game” depends solely on whether his majesty is hoisting a trophy.

And if you need further proof that King Eldrick is still an impenitent tyrant – despite hookers and steroids/PED allegations swirling and shredding his public image – upon being asked by Larry Dorman about his third round, 5-over 75 that left him second-to-last, Woods stormed away snapping, “Go talk to the leaders.”

“Go talk to the leaders.” I’ll bet you a dollar to a donut he doesn’t even feel bad about it…

Want another example? How about Sports Illustrated’s Gary Van Sickle who wrote yesterday:

After Tiger emerged from the scoring trailer early Friday afternoon, a Tour media official, who seemed resigned to the inevitable answer, asked if Woods wanted to do a media interview. “F— no,” Woods answered, in a joking tone of voice. How about a TV interview? “F— no,” Woods repeated.”

Rules of civility only apply to Woods when he feels like it, which is when the selfish kid wins and never at any other time, because it’s beneath him. Meanwhile, a consummate professional, a gentleman, and a staple of the golf media for years, Larry Dorman wouldn’t hurt a fly.

Today, Woods did answer a quick three questions to a Tour representative before slinking away, no questions from any media types. The terse blurbs were circulated in the media center after Woods left.

Tiger’s golf season ends when the majors end – nothing matters except Jack’s record – so once he turns in another milquetoast performance at Whistling Straits, we can shelve him for eight months, eight months he desperately needs to assess the flotsam and jetsam his life has become, but which he’ll use looking around for someone else to blame.

As for the Ryder Cup – has everyone forgotten? We won last time without him. Woods is not on form enough to be selected for the team as a Captain’s pick. Because of all the stress, he doesn’t have a quiet mind, but caged fury…and that’s traveling right down the shaft to the ball, which always knows what you’re thinking…and, mercilessly, does…not…care.

Moreover, every Euro is licking their chops to gang up on his head – which is creamed corn right now – and send him home 1-4. We don’t need him, his attitude, his entourage, or his distractions. Let golf celebrate the Ryder Cup without a dark cloud ominously looming.

I have to disagree – politely – but disagree nonetheless with two friends and colleagues – this behavior by Woods is NOT understandable. Maybe it is understandable to an ordinary tour pro struggling, but not to the best player in the world in the throes of a sordid scandal after he begged us for forgiveness and promised to change. It’s exactly the kind of nonsense he told us he’d knock off and use Buddhism to curb.

Oh, but the next time he wants to push a Nike golf club on everyone, I have an answer for him…

Sorry, Tiger, I gotta go talk to the leaders.

It just became a catchphrase.

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