Sabbatini Ruffles Freddie's Feathers

[Shivas Irons]

True to form, Sabbatini gets another dig in at Tiger by being AWOL for the last round of the Target World but still pockets 170K for his 'efforts'.
As Freddie says, he's messing with the wrong guy.

http://www.tsn.ca/golf/news_story/?I...4&hubname=golf

[EDSGOLF]

True to form, Sabbatini gets another dig in at Tiger by being AWOL for the last round of the Target World but still pockets 170K for his 'efforts'.
As Freddie says, he's messing with the wrong guy.

http://www.tsn.ca/golf/news_story/?I...4&hubname=golf

Gotta love Freddie!

[Shivas Irons]

That's as outspoken as I've heard Freddie be. Tiger's not too happy about it either, this is from sportsline.com:
Woods, the tournament host, shook his head when asked about Sabbatini on his way to the practice range. After winning by seven shots, he said he was trying to sort through conflicting reports.
"I've heard he had shin splints," Woods said. "I heard he pulled out for personal reasons. He packed his locker up at 3 o'clock yesterday, I think headed to Hawaii. A lot of different things going on. And I'd like to try and get to the bottom of it when I'm done here, and we'll see what happens."
Later, he was asked if he minded that Sabbatini left, and a cold stare spoke volumes.

[quinner]

If only I could get my full pay cheque after going MIA for a quarter of the work week.

[NoBack]

If only I could get my full pay cheque after going MIA for a quarter of the work week.

I take it you dont work for the government

[mpare]

Not funny at all for one who has toiled long hours with pride for the governement of Canada since 1988. But knowing that you are such a good fellow, I'll forgive you this uncharacteristic mistake.

I take it you dont work for the government

[NoBack]

Not funny at all for one who has toiled long hours with pride for the governement of Canada since 1988. But knowing that you are such a good fellow, I'll forgive you this uncharacteristic mistake.

It was tongue in cheek Michael.
Remember now, I too worked for the fed govt for many years.

[jonf]

Probably shouldn't have pulled out like that, but at the same time, it's nice to have at least one golfer out there who doesn't bow down before Tiger (referring to Sabattini's past words towards Tiger, rather than this weekend's display).

[nhwott5]

Sabattini was there due to his ranking, not as an invite. Tiger would not have had a choice but have him there.

[leftylucas]

Tiger is not one to talk, he did not attend every Buick tourney this year either, I guess he did not mind ruffling their feathers but was able to take their endorsement money

[Shivas Irons]

Tiger is not one to talk, he did not attend every Buick tourney this year either, I guess he did not mind ruffling their feathers but was able to take their endorsement money

To begin with there is a big difference between prize money and endorsement money - just ask Michelle Wie.
What was Tiger's lame-ass excuse for missing one of the Buick tournaments? Shins splints! Oh no wait, it was actually the birth of his daughter.

[btasse]

The first PGA tournament of the year (Mercedes Championship) has a similar format. Limited invited field; you show up, play one round, decide your not fit, and you get paid last place money (i think $50k; maybe it's gone up). Not bad for a days work.

[mpare]

There's a vast difference between choosing not to play in a tournament and not sticking around once you've chosen to play. Once you make the commitment to play, you play your best and you play every round. Tiger has never, ever, been accused of not giving it his very best. Sabbatini seems to have a different perspective of commitment. It's not one that resonates with most people.

Tiger is not one to talk, he did not attend every Buick tourney this year either, I guess he did not mind ruffling their feathers but was able to take their endorsement money

[nhwott5]

I wonder how many people on here complaining about rory blowing off a day of work and still being paid have ever called in to their work "sick" to play golf or soemthing similar?

same thing to me.

[Hacker]

I wonder how many people on here complaining about rory blowing off a day of work and still being paid have ever called in to their work "sick" to play golf or soemthing similar?

same thing to me.

Only difference here nhwott is that golf is the only sport where you only get paid if you play and perform, normally Rory would have gotten squat for pulling this stunt.....this was a charity event with guaranteed money for the players who were invited and who showed up. IMO showing up means for the entire tournament.

I bet that the Rory would have stayed around if he was going to have to forfeit his cash

[spackler]

Only difference here nhwott is that golf is the only sport where you only get paid if you play and perform, normally Rory would have gotten squat for pulling this stunt.....this was a charity event with guaranteed money for the players who were invited and who showed up. IMO showing up means for the entire tournament.

I bet that the Rory would have stayed around if he was going to have to forfeit his cash

Actually, the tournament is governed by PGA Tour rules. If a player pulls out of a normal tour event after playing the third round, they're automatically awarded last place money. In a guaranteed money event like the Mercedes, the players only have to pull out after registering to receive their last place money. I think there was an issue with Stephen Ames doing that last year with the Tour Championship. He never even went to the tournament site, but because he registered to play, and then withdrew on the Monday, he still received last place money.

All that said I agree with Shivas, I think Rory owed Tiger the courtesy of letting him or the tournament officials know that he was withdrawing.

[Hacker]

Actually, the tournament is governed by PGA Tour rules. If a player pulls out of a normal tour event after playing the third round, they're automatically awarded last place money.

Fair enough Spackler, but last place $$ in a regular tour event is no where near $140K

[Shivas Irons]

I wonder how many people on here complaining about rory blowing off a day of work and still being paid have ever called in to their work "sick" to play golf or soemthing similar?

same thing to me.

...and I wonder how many people on here are paid 170K for four days work. There is a glaring difference.

If Rory really did have a sudden attack of the shin splints that came on a day after he carded an 81, (promptly followed by a nice tidy 76) then he should have exited the tournament like a man. Announce you are pulling out, thank Tiger for hosting a great tournament, and donate your winnings to charity.

[Hacker]

If Rory really did have a sudden attack of the shin splints that came on a day after he carded an 81, (promptly followed by a nice tidy 76) then he should have exited the tournament like a man. Announce you are pulling out, thank Tiger for hosting a great tournament, and donate your winnings to charity.

Well Said Shivas!!

[3Jack]

If Rory really did have a sudden attack of the shin splints that came on a day after he carded an 81, (promptly followed by a nice tidy 76) then he should have exited the tournament like a man. Announce you are pulling out, thank Tiger for hosting a great tournament, and donate your winnings to charity.

How do we know for sure that he didn't do this? Just because the media didn't report it doesn't mean it didn't happen.

[Shivas Irons]

Announce you are pulling out, thank Tiger for hosting a great tournament, and donate your winnings to charity.

How do we know for sure that he didn't do this? Just because the media didn't report it doesn't mean it didn't happen.

To begin with I would find it very hard to believe that players like Couples, Calc, and Tiger would be questioning his actions if he had announced he is pulling out due to injury. If he had donated his take to charity you can be sure his agent would let the media know.
What the media did pick up on though was the fact that he left his courtesy car at the airport and told nobody. A further display of his lack of class much like his actions when he played with Ben Crane. If a kid playing junior golf pulled this stunt he or she would be scolded for being a poor sport. The again, maybe Rory should be playing junior golf since he displays the mentality and emotional control of a five year old.

[3Jack]

To begin with I would find it very hard to believe that players like Couples, Calc, and Tiger would be questioning his actions if he had announced he is pulling out due to injury. If he had donated his take to charity you can be sure his agent would let the media know.
What the media did pick up on though was the fact that he left his courtesy car at the airport and told nobody. A further display of his lack of class much like his actions when he played with Ben Crane. If a kid playing junior golf pulled this stunt he or she would be scolded for being a poor sport. The again, maybe Rory should be playing junior golf since he displays the mentality and emotional control of a five year old.

You may find it hard to believe, but you don't know for a fact. For some reason I don't think we know the whole story here. I'm just giving the guy the benefit of the doubt.

[Kilroy]

As to who he informed and how, who cares?

I don't see how the press would fail to mention if he had donated his share of the purse (even minus his expences). I am sure he would have recieved a lot less critisizm had he done so. If he were to do that now he'd recieve acknowlegement for doing the right thing after the fact.

[3Jack]

As to who he informed and how, who cares?

I don't see how the press would fail to mention if he had donated his share of the purse (even minus his expenses). I am sure he would have recieved a lot less critisizm had he done so. If he were to do that now he'd recieve acknowlegement for doing the right thing after the fact.

The originator of this story certainly seems to care in this instance, but why?

Primarily, they care because of a growing negative preception of Rory - rightly or wrongly.

This perception has been perpetuated by the media - framed by Rory's apparent rocky relationship with fellow players. To cite just two examples, Rory "dissing" the state of Tiger game and Rory 'playing ahead' of Ben Crane and his unapologetic stance thereafter.

Therefore, Rory's allegedly abrupt withdrawl from Tiger's event becomes a immediate headline, even if it so happened that Rory personally delivered the news of his injury to Tiger and apologized to him for having to withdraw. There is a story that of course, would have no legs, because it does nothing to further the Rory as bad-boy theme.

I am not saying that the originator of this story is writing lies. Far from it. What I am saying however is that the originator of this story may have come at this subject with a perception of the subject that was tainted by history.

As for the truth, it probably lies somewhere in between.

[Kilroy]

Rory 'playing ahead' of Ben Crane and his unapologetic stance thereafter.

LOL

I and many others (including some press) thought that Rory's actions in that case were justified after being put on the clock due to Ben Crane's slow play. I thought he made a bold statement that was appreciated by all the proponents of "ready golf".

[Golfbum]

LOL

I and many others (including some press) thought that Rory's actions in that case were justified after being put on the clock due to Ben Crane's slow play. I thought he made a bold statement that was appreciated by all the proponents of "ready golf".

I thought it was great when Rory walked ahead of Ben "THE HUMAN RAIN DELAY" Crane. Finally someone had the guts to stand up for himself after being put on the clock due to his playing partners actions.

Is it the fact that people hate Rory or think Tiger is the greatest thing since sliced bread in a bag?

Come on folks, you know how much the media can blow things out of proportion. I am not saying what Rory did was right. If he was hurting then why bother finishing? That does not make him a villain. He was not the first guy to WD this year.

Should he have donated the prize money? Would you? It is easy for everyone to say "He should have donated the prize money back to Tiger's Foundation" But you are not in his shoes. Maybe he will donate it to another charity of his choice? Maybe not. If he doesn't that is his decision.

I read an interview with Rory and I must say I think the guy is OK. Sure he does things differently than the average cookie cutter clone PGA tour member. Does that make him an idiot? Does that make him a bad guy? OK so he trash talked Tiger then got his butt kicked. Did anyone hear him whining about having his butt kicked all over the course afterwords? Seems to me he took it like a man and that was that.

People hated FAT JACK when he came along and knocked THE KING off his throne. Was Jack a bad person? Not in my eyes. Those two were not the best of friends during Jack's early playing career.

I really find it hard to fathom how someone can "HATE" a person they have never met.
(OK The LEAFS are an exception )

I bet the Woods' and the Sabbatini's secretly get together for BBQ's down there in Florida! Phil, Amy and the kids join them too Mark O'Meara and his wife are there also, along with Stricks, John Cook and Vijay!

[Hacker]

I thought it was great when Rory walked ahead of Ben "THE HUMAN RAIN DELAY" Crane. Finally someone had the guts to stand up for himself after being put on the clock due to his playing partners actions. Rory's actions here showed a blatant disregard of the traditions of the game and were nothing short of insulting to his FC - how you can defend this in any way is totally beyond me



Should he have donated the prize money? YES without a doubt

I read an interview with Rory and I must say I think the guy is OK. Yet above you say "Come on folks, you know how much the media can blow things out of proportion." Which is it??

I responded to some of your comments and questions above in Blue.

Rick - have you ever heard the saying about how it is impossible to defend the defenseless??

I'm sorry, but IMO Rory is defenseless on this one my friend

[Kilroy]

Rory's actions here showed a blatant disregard of the traditions of the game and were nothing short of insulting to his FC

So are you saying Rory should just take the potential penalties assed to him because of Cranes slow play in stride?

Isn't causing another player to be penalized for your actions a blatant disregard of the traditions of the game and were nothing short of insulting to his FC? Of course it is. Crane was being selfish, playing at a snails pace without regard for his FC. Rory answered by making a statement. A loud and clear one!

[spackler]

So are you saying Rory should just take the potential penalties assed to him because of Cranes slow play in stride?

Isn't causing another player to be penalized for your actions a blatant disregard of the traditions of the game and were nothing short of insulting to his FC? Of course it is. Crane was being selfish, playing at a snails pace without regard for his FC. Rory answered by making a statement. A loud and clear one!

I hate slow play as much as anyone else, but I'm a bit unclear on how the rules are enforced. I thought that once a group was on the 'clock', that means the rules officials are timing the players individually and that they have a specified amount of time to make each shot. I didn't think a penalty was enforced on the 'group', just a player with a bad time. So as long as Rory played in time, he wouldn't be penalized? Like I said though, I'm a bit fuzzy on this and may be (probably ) wrong. Also, I wonder if in that instance Rory didn't break 6-3b.

In stroke play, the competitor must remain throughout the round in the group arranged by the Committee unless the Committee authorizes or ratifies a change.
Penalty for Breach of Rule 6-3:
Disqualification.

[Hacker]

So are you saying Rory should just take the potential penalties assed to him because of Cranes slow play in stride?

Isn't causing another player to be penalized for your actions a blatant disregard of the traditions of the game and were nothing short of insulting to his FC? Of course it is. Crane was being selfish, playing at a snails pace without regard for his FC. Rory answered by making a statement. A loud and clear one!

Dan - groups are put on the clock all of the time........I don't ever recall someone reacting in the manner that Rory did - the guy is a classless punk IMO and his continual actions more than support my opinion