Tom Watson on Tiger Woods.

stumpypeeps

Tom Watson has hit out at Tiger Woods claiming the world number one needs to "clean up his act" on the course, as well as coming clean about the true extent of his extra-marital affairs.

Eight-time major winner Watson was speaking ahead of a rare European Tour outing at this week's Dubai Desert Classic.

The 60-year-old insisted that Woods would have to "show some humility" to the public as and when he did make his return to competitive golf, but went on to add there was plenty to he could do to improve his behaviour whilst competing.

Watson claimed Woods did not share the same standing as many of the game's other great names because of his sometimes surly demeanour on the course.

"I feel that he has not carried the same stature as the other great players that have come along like Jack (Nicklaus), Byron Nelson, Ben Hogan in the sense that there was (bad) language and club-throwing on the golf course," Watson stated.

"You can grant that to somebody, a young person, that has not been out there for a while, but I think he needs to clean up his act there and show the respect for the game that the people before him have shown."

Woods is currently on a self-imposed indefinite break from the game as he bids to try and save his marriage following the explosive revelations that broke about his private life towards the end of last year.

Explanation

The American has not made a public appearance since the crash outside his Florida home that triggered the media storm on November 27, but Watson believes he should attempt to publically explain his situation before returning to golf competition.

"It's going to be interesting to see how he handles his return to public life," the five-time Open champion continued.

"He messed up. He knows he messed up. The world knows he messed up. And he has to take ownership of that.

"He must get his personal life in order. I think that is what he is trying to do.

"And when he comes back he has to show some humility to the public in the sense that if I were him, it wouldn't be at a golf tournament where I come out in public first.

"I would come out and I would do an interview with somebody and say, you know what, I screwed up. And I admit it. And I am going to change. I am trying to change.

"I want my wife and family back - I have to earn her trust back."

sneem-man

I've always disliked the amount of times he can be seen spitting, during a round...

ant043

sneem-man wrote: »

I've always disliked the amount of times he can be seen spitting, during a round...

The camera is always pointed at the guy. I'm sure alot of other players do it aswell.

Daithio9

sneem-man wrote: »

I've always disliked the amount of times he can be seen spitting, during a round...

Yea lets kick a man when he's down.... and you've never spat yourself whilst out on the course.

Osgoodisgood

ant043 wrote: »

The camera is always pointed at the guy. I'm sure alot of other players do it aswell.

Here we go again.

Lots of cameras. Lots of poor on course behaviour from TW.
Most golfers do not spit all the time. Most footballers do.

stumpypeeps

Theres been a lot of talk about the "spirit of the game". Well I believed professionalism has diminished that spirit somewhat. We see it with the wedge controversy at the moment. And likewise we see it with the on course antics of Tiger.

When Tom Watson suggests that Tiger doesn't carry the same stature as a Hogan, Nicklaus or Nelson I must admit I agree. His professional achievements are there to be appreciated and he's done so much for the game financially and commercially. However, he hasn't done much for the integrity of the game and its spirit. I think he owes golf a drastic change of attitude and behaviour.

stockdam

I agree with Watson that Tiger is behind the other greats in his attitude. However he is what he is and that can be also seen in his attitude to his marriage.

Personally I think he's got enough money out of golf and maybe it's time for him to hang up his clubs.

ant043

stockdam wrote: »

I agree with Watson that Tiger is behind the other greats in his attitude. However he is what he is and that can be also seen in his attitude to his marriage.

Personally I think he's got enough money out of golf and maybe it's time for him to hang up his clubs.

not going to happen. The man is going to come back in April before masters and dominate again. Are you serious about thinking he should give up golf ? The man is a pure legend. The greatest of all time possibly and you think he should quit golf when he's possibly in the prime years of his career. We might never see another golfer like him again. Get a grip.

Atlantic1

I have to say that the thing I admire most about Tiger Woods is how gracious he is when he doesn't par a hole. He always acknowledges the sympathetic applause of the crowd by tipping his hat after picking the ball out of the hole. In huge contrast to a cranky Scot who is easily distracted by the fluttering of butterflies' wings in adjacent meadows and who never won a major...............

stumpypeeps

ant043 wrote: »

not going to happen. The man is going to come back in April before masters and dominate again. Are you serious about thinking he should give up golf ? The man is a pure legend. The greatest of all time possibly and you think he should quit golf when he's possibly in the prime years of his career. Get a grip.

I hope he comes back and of course he will. I have great admiration for him but I agree with Watson.

He needs to come back with a better demeanor. A bit more humility. He needs to highlight all the great things about golf. And forget about his old habits.

The_Kew_Tour

stumpypeeps wrote: »

I hope he comes back and of course he will. I have great admiration for him but I agree with Watson.

He needs to come back with a better demeanor. A bit more humility. He needs to highlight all the great things about golf. And forget about his old habits.

Pretty much sums up how I fell too on the matter

As a player I love Woods who cant? The man has made Golf a cool sport where kids from all walk of life rich but know to middleclass and lower. He made the sport more reachable and has done more good then bad.

But now he needs to show some respect to game which has give him so much. I agree with Watson Tiger needs to satnd up as a man and Golfer and play his part in becoming a success again.

He made a very stupid mistake but he cant change the past. However he can change the future.

Kevinmarkham

stumpypeeps wrote: »

Theres been a lot of talk about the "spirit of the game". Well I believed professionalism has diminished that spirit somewhat. We see it with the wedge controversy at the moment. And likewise we see it with the on course antics of Tiger.

When Tom Watson suggests that Tiger doesn't carry the same stature as a Hogan, Nicklaus or Nelson I must admit I agree. His professional achievements are there to be appreciated and he's done so much for the game financially and commercially. However, he hasn't done much for the integrity of the game and its spirit. I think he owes golf a drastic change of attitude and behaviour.

Beautifully put!

L.O.F.T

ant043 wrote: »

not going to happen. The man is going to come back in April before masters and dominate again.
Get a grip.

Tiger Woods has not played golf since November. Until he resumes practicing and playing in tournaments this year on the Tour prior to the Masters or the Open or the US Open we will not see him dominate anything but the pages of the worlds press. From all accounts his family life is in turmoil and regardless of his feelings for his wife his interaction and time with his kids will be his number one priority. To suggest he will return in April for the Masters and dominate is premature and guess work.

Dr.Silly

L.O.F.T wrote: »

Tiger Woods has not played golf since November. Until he resumes practicing and playing in tournaments this year on the Tour prior to the Masters or the Open or the US Open we will not see him dominate anything but the pages of the worlds press. From all accounts his family life is in turmoil and regardless of his feelings for his wife his interaction and time with his kids will be his number one priority. To suggest he will return in April for the Masters and dominate is premature and guess work.

I thought he didn't play for 8 months with a knee injury, came back, and again pretty much dominated the game ?

PhilipMarlowe

http://www.tailofthetiger.com/index.html

PhilipMarlowe

If he comes back with more smiles and less steely determination will he be able to be as good though?

L.O.F.T

Dr.Silly wrote: »

I thought he didn't play for 8 months with a knee injury, came back, and again pretty much dominated the game ?

Your spot on, he didn’t play for a period of 9-10 months when he had surgery on his knee. He had time to heal, recoup, practice and eventually play and win. The Masters starts on the week beginning 5th of April. He has not played since November. Its 8 weeks to one of the most difficult set ups in golf at Augusta. I just can’t see him playing golf in front of the world again in 8 weeks at one of the worlds most difficult courses with all that has gone on in his personal and public life

Osgoodisgood

Licksy wrote: »

If he comes back with more smiles and less steely determination will he be able to be as good though?

Why should he be any less determined? The equation, a-hole=great player is flawed. a-hole=a-hole or great player=great player is more like it.
The smiles will be there, I'm sure his remaining sponsors will be clear about their requirements in that department.

Woodgate

ant043 wrote: »

Get a grip.

Golf Pride or Lamkin???;)

Speak Now

Dr.Silly wrote: »

I thought he didn't play for 8 months with a knee injury, came back, and again pretty much dominated the game ?

Dominate is a bit strong when he didn't win a mojor.

f22

I agree with Watson's sentiments, there is no doubt he is a great player (both on and off the field ) and the game is much better for him.

However I don't think he shows much humility or graciousness on the course at all. Zero eye contact, head down, spitting, bad language, club throwing etc. are just a few of the negatives that have lessened his appeal and marketability in recent times, excluding his off-course antics. The odd tipping of the hat doesn't equate to much tin my view.

When (hopefully) he returns he could learn a few lessons from others (Mickleson, Couples, Harrington to name a few) on how to treat the public and how to engage with them more than with his golf game.

I think he would win everyone over more easily and smooth this transgressions over a little more easily. Leave the petulance to the likes of Garcia.

Dr.Silly

Jerry Seinfeld wrote: »

Dominate is a bit strong when he didn't win a mojor.

Even still,
6 events played, 4 wins and 1 second is pretty dominating to me

stockdam

ant043 wrote: »

not going to happen. The man is going to come back in April before masters and dominate again. Are you serious about thinking he should give up golf ? The man is a pure legend. The greatest of all time possibly and you think he should quit golf when he's possibly in the prime years of his career. We might never see another golfer like him again. Get a grip.

Get a grip of what?

There's no sign of him coming back before the Masters.

It's up to him whether he gives up golf or not but to be honest I couldn't care less if we never see him play again. Yes he may be the greatest technically but the greatest of all time.......not until he conducts himself better.

Personally I'd rather follow somebody who I can relate to better even if he is not as good technically. Woods appears to have lost the ability to enjoy the game.......that is all it is - a highly paid game.

f22

stockdam wrote: »

the greatest of all time.......not until he conducts himself better.

Interesting you mention that Stockdam, I had an interesting conversation with a Pro last week. He mentioned that if you asked most pro's who the best player of all time was, that many of them would say Ben Hogan.

Everything from ability, ball striking, to ethics, to steely determination. To this day books like Ben Hogan, The Man Behind the Mystique (Martin, 2002) and the more recent The Secret of Hogan's Swing (Bertrand and Bowler, 2006) remain bibles to many.

BunkerMentality

stockdam wrote: »

Woods appears to have lost the ability to enjoy the game.......that is all it is - a highly paid game.

It's funny you should say that because I was just reading this the other day. Jason Sobel of ESPN writing about Tiger Woods, wondering if he even enjoys the game anymore or if he just enjoys the competition side of it

http://sports.espn.go.com/golf/columns/story?columnist=sobel_jason&id=4854167

The parallell between Woods and Agassi is quite interesting I think.

Speak Now

Dr.Silly wrote: »

Even still,
6 events played, 4 wins and 1 second is pretty dominating to me

Yeah but that's Cherry picking a 6 tournament streak in the middle of the season He was back 3 months when that started.

I agree though he can come back faster than anyone else.
If he wins the masters this year it would be phenomenal :eek:

For the record his full record on PGA tour last year was

18 Starts
6 wins
2 runner ups
15 top 10's :eek:

Show's what a machine he is when we consider this a poor year for majors

Masters T6
U.S Open T6
The Open Cut
U.S.P.G.A 2nd

Improving on 86th last year in driving accuarcy will be the key to whether he dominates on his return.
From memory i had thought putting left him down at key times but from the stats he was still ranked 22 however when you look closer it's the 15-25 feet putts that deserted him, 158th in rankings.

http://www.pgatour.com/players/r/?/00/87/93/stats

durkadurka

stockdam wrote: »

I agree with Watson that Tiger is behind the other greats in his attitude. However he is what he is and that can be also seen in his attitude to his marriage.

Personally I think he's got enough money out of golf and maybe it's time for him to hang up his clubs.

Come off it! Its not for money he dies it, he's determined to be the best ever. He's an unbelievable player.

I think he did get too arrogant a nd too big for his boots and thought he was above the rules the mere mortals have to follow, and he's been cut down to size now.

I want him back playing because he's the best there is. Golf is definitely not the same when hes not playing.

stockdam

durkadurka wrote: »

Come off it! Its not for money he dies it, he's determined to be the best ever. He's an unbelievable player.

I think he did get too arrogant a nd too big for his boots and thought he was above the rules the mere mortals have to follow, and he's been cut down to size now.

I want him back playing because he's the best there is. Golf is definitely not the same when hes not playing.

Don't get me wrong.......I think he is an incredibly gifted player and the best by a long shot of the golfers today. But to me he's often a bit too much like Faldo who for a short period was the best.

I've been to tournaments where Woods has been playing and although I followed him for a couple of holes, I preferred following other "lesser" players.

Woods needs to do more to gain my following. I respect his talent but although I don't dislike him, I don't warm to him as much as several other players. I would much prefer to see a guy like David Duval winning because of his history and if Woods was never to play again then others may get a bit more success.

The gap may be filled by the odd Korean, Chinese, Irish guy who will lift the sport in their countries rather than one person dominating everything including TV air-time.

The game is much bigger than Woods and will go on without him.