Etiquette at the pro level

[Rough Stuff]

Give me someone like Couples or Els any day.

Just wanted to respond to this too. I agree. He does have a bad attitude. You have to wonder though if that doesn't come with being put on a pedastal. Couples? I've heard him * ("If I continue to score poorly, I'm going to give up golf")...try practicing, Freddy.

I remember watching a match where a fan accidentally kicked Lee Trevino's ball and felt really, really bad. When Lee Trevino got up, he laughed amiably and said "Don't worry about it. Its only golf, bud, its only golf."

I miss that attitude.

[Andru]

Because I hate his attitude when he is not playing well. I'm surprised after 7 years on tour he hasn't grown up in this respect. Don't get me wrong, his talent is unbelievable, but when he starts to unravel, I can't stand to watch him. Give me someone like Couples or Els any day.

I don't think you're being fair to Tiger at all.

First: Els or Couples have galleries 1/4 the size of Tiger Woods.

Second: I know can't see it on television. He has a camera and 10,000 fans around him every second he's NOT in the club house. He's under a microscope from Monday to Sunday constantly. You put a camera on anyone like that and they're bound to say or do something they'll regret. I've seen Freddy Whine after a bad shot. Ernie is great I like him as well but he's not under the same scrutiny. You can't compare what he has to endure to Tiger.

Third: Considering everything He's a professional and I am amazed how he stays so calm with so many eye balls on him all the time.

[Colby]

How can you not be a fan of Tiger? Not trying to be jerky just curious. As much as he dominates, I find it hard not to pull for him. Maybe it's because he was the first golfer I ever Identified with. As with many The 97 Masters was the first golf tournament I had ever watched on television from beginning to end.

I've seen Tiger live twice. Last year at the Skins Game in California, a nothing tournament during the silly season, and this year at the Buick Classic where I marshalled and spent four days as part of the beefed up escort Tiger requires.

I respect his game, there's no argument here. What I don't like is his attitude. Now Jeffc might be right. He didn't do well in either tournament, he did make the cut at the Buick, so his pissy attitude may have been that. After the Skins Game was finished, I saw him walk by dozens of kids looking for autographs, he didn't even acknowledge them. I overheard one of the marshalls there say that he had signed his one autograph for the day. At the Buick, I was close to him from putting green to driving range and all eighteen holes for all four days. People followed him in droves, especially Sunday when they knew their chances for an autograph were getting slimmer. We had to form a wall around him to get between the putting green and the driving range and vice versa. When the tournament was rained out on the Saturday, Tiger didn't use the evac van, he walked in, so did we. In all that time, I saw Tiger sign maybe 8-10 hats, a couple a day. He was very aloof all the time, almost like an invisible wall has been erected between him and the general populace. The persona that is shown during his commercials is not what I have seen. Maybe away from the course he is more relaxed.

Tiger is in a tough place. Big expectations from everyone including himself. Even when he plays his b-game for a season, he outpaces the field. When he doesn't win a major, he's slumping. Maybe he was just performing at a super high level? Peaked early and this is the general state of his game? It's still better than anyone elses.

I like more personality. I had a brief chance to talk to Jim Furyk, and it was after him win at the US Open. A really nice guy. I've seen Phil Mickelson be dragged away from signing autographs so he could get to the media tent. I like it when talent doesn't lead to pretensiousness and an aura of superiority. I lived in Vancouver when Pavel Bure asked for a trade because everyone recognized him on the street and he had no privacy. Poor boy.

I will root for humble talent any day over a prima donna.

My 0.02

[Rough Stuff]

Your description of Tiger is as he appears on TV, but I'll agree, Andru, we'll never know how hard it is to be Tiger Woods and have people on your ass all the time. It would be nice if he had a SLIGHTLY better attitude, for the kids at least. He's turned it into a business.

[Colby]

Your description of Tiger is as he appears on TV, but I'll agree, Andru, we'll never know how hard it is to be Tiger Woods and have people on your ass all the time. It would be nice if he had a SLIGHTLY better attitude, for the kids at least. He's turned it into a business.

With a better attitude, Tiger could be an awesome spokesman for golf, not that he does a bad job though. I realize that some autograph resellers use kids to benefit themselves, but alot of these kids idolizes Tiger and he could bend a little.

[Andru]

Since we're dropping names I'll continue the trend, I spent 7 days at the PGA Championship everyday from sun up to sun down and I witnessed upclose some very interesting things.

I spoke to VJ, and bunch of the European guys while they waited on the tee during the practice round and they were very happy they don't have to go through what Tiger does.

Thomas Bjorn said it best. I'm paraphrasing, but he said it must feel like being an "animal at a zoo" with people watching your every move.

Pretentiosness is your distant speculation of Tiger's reasons. I'm in no way pretending to know his reasons, I'll give him the benefit of the doubt. I'll at least have some sympathy for the Reality television show that is his life.

Just a note. At the PGA Tiger had an armed police officer as part of his group. Evey time he stepped on the course. Now that sucks!

Tiger is bigger than golf. If TIger shows up the ratings jump 2-3 points. He draws more eye balls to the screen and more fans to the gate than any other golfer. He doesn't have to do anymore. I just wish he'd play more events. 14 is a little light.

Check out this article

http://www.thegolfchannel.com/core.a...9&select=11142

[Colby]

Pretentiosness is your distant speculation of Tiger's reasons. I'm in no way pretending to know his reasons, I'll give him the benefit of the doubt. I'll at least have some sympathy for the Reality television show that is his life.

Just a note. At the PGA Tiger had an armed police officer as part of his group. Evey time he stepped on the course. Now that sucks!

Tiger is bigger than golf. If TIger shows up the ratings jump 2-3 points. He draws more eye balls to the screen and more fans to the gate than any other golfer. He doesn't have to do anymore. I just wish he'd play more events. 14 is a little light.

Check out this article

http://www.thegolfchannel.com/core.a...9&select=11142

I never said it was prententiousness, if you were taking about me, Tiger just isolates himself for whatever reason he has, and he does that all the time he's at the course. I was saying that if he made a bit more of an effort when he wasn't actually playing, he could do wonders for the game. And yes, almost every tournament that Tiger is not involved in has almost turned into a B-class tournament with less attendance and less prize money.

Tiger is the only guy out there with two PGA security guys co-ordinating his movement, a few local policemen, a couple of local security guys, and a half a dozen marshalls escorting him around the course every day. He's under pressure like nobody may ever understand again. On every shot at the tee, someone is yelling "Tiger, you da man!" on every putt they are yelling for it to go in the hole.

He's a phenomenon that at times is amazing to watch because of his skill and ingenuity. I respect him for that, I don't have to be a fan though, he's got enough of those.

[Andru]

I'm trying desparately to get you on this band wagon. There's still room you know :move Don't wait. before you know it he'll be on the Champion(Left singular intentionally) Tour. And the only thing left will be his video tape legacy.

Cheers

[Colby]

I'm trying desparately to get you on this band wagon. There's still room you know :move Don't wait. before you know it he'll be on the Champion(Left singular intentionally) Tour. And the only thing left will be his video tape legacy.

Cheers

Hahahaha.

Try all you want. There's a lot of people to cheer for.

[Kilroy]

Try all you want. There's a lot of people to cheer for.

Mike Weir springs to mind.

[Andru]

Mike Weir springs to mind.

Mike Weir is a given, Just like the Leafs.

OH OH dem is fightin' Words!

[NoBack]

Andru

We werre just talking about the Leafs this morning while playing a round. Saying how it's that time of year again when the leafs fall. You know making it hard to find golf balls.......

Wait a minute, were you talking hockey ????

Go Sens Go!

[Andru]

Steve

I believe the leafs have made it very easy for the sens to find golf balls in the spring.

Ok I know the habs destroyed the leafs on Saturday. It was the first game of the year. That's one of many excuses to come this year.