Tiger Disqualified?
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This one unlucky shot might have cost him as much as 4 strokes. If it wouldn't have hit the pin it might have led to a birdy instead of a bogy and he wouldn't have gotten the 2 shot penalty. That would have left him at 9 under for the masters in the end ...
Kevin Shields
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He would've become a idiot if he ad withdrawn.
Erik_K
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I have to agree with most of what you wrote. The fact that penalties can be added in well after the fact (sometimes over a day after these "egregious" infractions occur) seems rather archaic to me. Maybe this sport also too many complicated rules to begin with. Each hole has rule officials but no one thought to speak up when Drop-Gate took place. To me it looked like he dropped fairly close to where he should have.
As others have said, if not for the press conference would this have even been an issue? Now we are going to scrutinize a player's words and use that as reason to retroactively enforce a penalty?
Erik
Hi Kevin,
If Tiger woods had withdrawn he would have become Bobby Jones at the 1925 US Open or Lou Gehrig on July 4, 1939. By putting self interest second he would have transcended his sport. Tiger Woods is possibly the greatest golfer ever and that is probably all he will ever be.
I will say this, I do agree that they need to simplify the rules. For the life of me, I don't know why you can't ground a club anywhere, shouldn't make a difference, silly rule. Also, why so many options for taking drops, come up with one damn rule and make it stick, for pace of play, let's just say two club lengths from where you entered no matter what, I don't care.
As for the rules officials, my understanding is there was a rules official there, however, they usually won't get involved unless the player asks for assistance. At the end of the day it's on the player not the official.
Tiger didn't need an official, because he thought he knew the rule, he didn't. Blame is squarely on Tiger and his caddy.
Going to be interesting next time we have a screw up, to see if they also give that person the benefit of the doubt and don't dq them. Damn't, I didn't know you couldn't roll the ball, just give me two strokes...
As for the rules officials, my understanding is there was a rules official there, however, they usually won't get involved unless the player asks for assistance. At the end of the day it's on the player not the official.
Tiger didn't need an official, because he thought he knew the rule, he didn't. Blame is squarely on Tiger and his caddy.
Going to be interesting next time we have a screw up, to see if they also give that person the benefit of the doubt and don't dq them. Damn't, I didn't know you couldn't roll the ball, just give me two strokes...
If golf only worked that way. Come on now.
I remember "Charlie 3 Sticks" having the same thing happen on the 18th at Torrey Pines South - I think he was in contention at the time but can't remember that for sure.
Regardless of the "terrible" break (and it was a bad break), Tiger has had countless "great" breaks in his career. For all of the really off line tee shots he has hit, he most of the times comes out with some sort of play towards the green (agreed it takes great talent to pull off some of those shots). Not much talent required to chip it our sideways when stymied up against a tree, but Tiger does not seem to get that kind of "bad" break as often as he gets a "good" one that allows some type of shot.
He has also had some great fortune at the most opportune time - how about the chip he holed a few years back on # 16 at Augusta? True, he hit a great shot with great imagination, but he could stand there with a bucket of balls, probably hit 95% with 2 or 3 feet without ever one falling in the hole - all great shots but great shots do not always fall in. Same for the shot he holed last year (#16 I believe again) at the Memorial.
Just my $.02 worth - Bruce
Regardless of the "terrible" break (and it was a bad break), Tiger has had countless "great" breaks in his career. For all of the really off line tee shots he has hit, he most of the times comes out with some sort of play towards the green (agreed it takes great talent to pull off some of those shots). Not much talent required to chip it our sideways when stymied up against a tree, but Tiger does not seem to get that kind of "bad" break as often as he gets a "good" one that allows some type of shot.
He has also had some great fortune at the most opportune time - how about the chip he holed a few years back on # 16 at Augusta? True, he hit a great shot with great imagination, but he could stand there with a bucket of balls, probably hit 95% with 2 or 3 feet without ever one falling in the hole - all great shots but great shots do not always fall in. Same for the shot he holed last year (#16 I believe again) at the Memorial.
Just my $.02 worth - Bruce
Don't understand all the debate going on about disqualification and Tiger withdrawing for sake of honor.
Tiger did not realize he made an illegal drop otherwise he would not have boasted about dropping 2 yards back and then taking 2 yards off the shot to land the ball short of the pin.He obviously thought he could drop as far back on the line of sight.Even Feherty who was commentating said the same so Feherty didn't know the rule either and he's a former touring pro.
Second,the law was changed in 2011 regarding this kind of situation.The penalty correctly was no disqualification in accordance with the rules.
Third,if you look at the video replay,the drop was more like two feet away rather than 2 yards so I think Tiger exaggerated a bit when he claimed two yards.
Tiger got a real big piece of bad luck here but I do agree he's had more than his share of good fortune in the past so it all evens out.
Tiger did not realize he made an illegal drop otherwise he would not have boasted about dropping 2 yards back and then taking 2 yards off the shot to land the ball short of the pin.He obviously thought he could drop as far back on the line of sight.Even Feherty who was commentating said the same so Feherty didn't know the rule either and he's a former touring pro.
Second,the law was changed in 2011 regarding this kind of situation.The penalty correctly was no disqualification in accordance with the rules.
Third,if you look at the video replay,the drop was more like two feet away rather than 2 yards so I think Tiger exaggerated a bit when he claimed two yards.
Tiger got a real big piece of bad luck here but I do agree he's had more than his share of good fortune in the past so it all evens out.
GeoffDickson
New
NO doubt in my mind that Tiger deserved a 2 shot penalty. Although only a small distance, it was a clear breach.
NO doubt in my mind that the Committee should not have DQ'd him.
NO doubt in my mind that the Committee should have discussed it with Tiger before he signed his card.
NO doubt in my mind that Tiger should not have DQ'd himself. It would have been an unnecessary sacrifice at the alter of golf etiquette/sportsmanship.
NO doubt in my mind that the Committee should not have DQ'd him.
NO doubt in my mind that the Committee should have discussed it with Tiger before he signed his card.
NO doubt in my mind that Tiger should not have DQ'd himself. It would have been an unnecessary sacrifice at the alter of golf etiquette/sportsmanship.
And add to the 1st statement, that he should have known the drop rule.
tilthatday
New
I attended a very strict Catholic school in Brian's home town. The Jesuits were a pretty harsh lot and there were no excuses for any infraction, no matter how slight. BUT, it stopped there. I remember being told "Don't try to be more Catholic than the church." If we (the school) say it's okay, it's okay. It's our decision, not yours.
Augusta said: no DQ. That ends it. Don't try to be more official than the officials. The Rules Committee is the final word, not the contestant. Play without the arrogance of trying to be bigger than the game and more correct than the Rules Committee. As Brian said earlier, it was all down to them.
If Tiger had disqualified himself it would have been presumptious and vain. Showboating is still showboating no matter what form it takes.
just my view.
Augusta said: no DQ. That ends it. Don't try to be more official than the officials. The Rules Committee is the final word, not the contestant. Play without the arrogance of trying to be bigger than the game and more correct than the Rules Committee. As Brian said earlier, it was all down to them.
If Tiger had disqualified himself it would have been presumptious and vain. Showboating is still showboating no matter what form it takes.
just my view.
Jared Willerson
Super Moderator
Wasn't the stake yellow? I thought you could go back as far as you want? What am I missing?
Kevin Shields
Super Moderator
Only if you go from the point of entry and keep that point and the flag in line. If you don't choose that option (which he didn't), you replay the shot from as near as possible the original spot
At least Tiger copped it with dignity. A lot of other blokes would be insinuating they were treated unfairly and sulking or whinging up a storm. The debacle pretty much cost him the masters. And everyone in the last 3 pairings knows he would have beat them pretty easily had he not hit that pin.
I know our newsbroadcasts downunder were implying he cheated on purpose and then that he did not recieve the proper penalty. It was pretty poorly reported.
I know our newsbroadcasts downunder were implying he cheated on purpose and then that he did not recieve the proper penalty. It was pretty poorly reported.
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