Tiger tossing clubs

Kevinmarkham

Guys, a bit of help required:
Does anyone know if any of the greats (Palmer, Nicklaus, Player, Watson...) threw clubs around and swore as majestically as Tiger did at Turnberry? I can't remember that far back and I can't find anything on the Internet.

Thanks
K

kagni

Good article about Tiger's embarrassing temper tantrums here...
http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/columns/story?id=4347419

Osgoodisgood

Kevinmarkham wrote: »

Guys, a bit of help required:
Does anyone know if any of the greats (Palmer, Nicklaus, Player, Watson...) threw clubs around and swore as majestically as Tiger did at Turnberry? I can't remember that far back and I can't find anything on the Internet.

Thanks
K

I guess it's hard to say for sure isn't it? They probably had their moments and they sure didn't have the 24/7 coverage that Woods has. That said, I can't recall any of them having hissy fits to rival Tiger's Turnberry outbursts.

I didn't see Palmer at his best but I saw the others and my (possibly rose tinted) memories are that they were very respectful of the spectators and their fellow pros. I had the distinct pleasure of caddying in Nicklaus's group one day and I can assure you he was a gentleman. Very quiet and focused on his game but extremely polite. I should add that this was in the early 80s when he still expected to play well every time.

I found it a little disconcerting this year to witness the sort of tantrum from the best player in the world that would earn a club weekender a reputation as a guy to avoid. I wonder if Tiger cares? I hope he does.

Adiaga 2

Going back a bit but Bobby Jones did. He even hit a spectator(a lady too!) at least once with a club he threw in anger. He also stormed off the course after 11 holes(?) during his first Open at St. Andrews. Apparently he learned to control his anger later in his career though. (This was all garnered from Mark Frost's book Grand Slam btw)

It is disappointing to see Tiger at this, especially at this stage of his career. It shows a selfishness and lack of respect that you don't expect from one of the game's greatest.

ant043

What is wrong with showing a bit of emotion. Tiger Woods sets the bar higher than any other golfer that has ever played. He's not a machine. What difference does it make if he throws a club in frustration now and then. If it wasn't for Tiger Woods then golf wouldn't be half the sport it is today. I know i wouldn't be playing it.

-Chris-

But read the article - the point is made pretty well; Tiger throwing hissy fits sets a bad example for all those who look up to him.
He should be more professional than that.

Osgoodisgood

ant043 wrote: »

What is wrong with showing a bit of emotion. Tiger Woods sets the bar higher than any other golfer that has ever played. He's not a machine. What difference does it make if he throws a club in frustration now and then. If it wasn't for Tiger Woods then golf wouldn't be half the sport it is today. I know i wouldn't be playing it.

Nothing at all wrong with showing emotion. I don't think anyone is suggesting that Woods should be less animated on the course, just better behaved. What I do sense is that many people are becoming wary that the sport's most public figurehead is behaving in a way that most golfers would not like to see repeated at their club. I would also imagine that the sponsors who fund professional golf might shift a little uncomfortably in their seats when Woods (and his equally verbose caddy) lets fly with another tirade directed at whichever individual he has decided is most to blame for a less than perfect shot.

Tiger Woods has been good for golf. Golf has been even better for Tiger Woods. He would do well to reflect on his good fortune and open up his mind to the possibility that his legacy might be somewhat more Schumacher than Sampras if he cannot rise above petulant displays of temper.

Morrisseeee

I have to agree that Tiger (throwing tantrums) is 'not' a good thing, it would seperate him from that famous group ie. the likes of Palmer, Nicklaus, Watson et al.

Kevinmarkham

Osgoodisgood is right on track: Here's a quote from someone else, regarded as the very best in their sport - ever:

"One or two years ago, I didn't know who I was on court and I used to swear a lot. But now I've learned how to cope and can therefore win 10 matches in a row. I want to be remembered as a good player rather than an idiot on court." Roger Federer.

ant043

Roger Federer loses the rag too. Only recently he broke his racket on court. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v9X48FqmoJI

fullstop

ant043 wrote: »

Roger Federer loses the rag too. Only recently he broke his racket on court. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v9X48FqmoJI

Listen to the commentary on the clip. "That's the first time I've ever seen Roger Federer do something like that".

cson

Poulter is 10 times worse imo. As are lots of others. It's just Tiger happens to be on playercam 24/7 so anything he does gets caught on camera. Not condoning it though.

Adiaga 2

Seve was prone to it a lot too. Not sure about club-throwing but definitely swear words and giving hell to his caddies. Commentators mostly put it down to 'latin temperment' and he never got much stick. But Seve also had/has so much charisma that more than offset his temper tantrums.