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Tiger did nothing out of line. He was bang on point with his comments. It was one of it not the most rediculous calling by an official in my lifetime of watching Major championships. There was no need for it. Keep up the good work, Tig.

.. I of course meant 'in my lifetime of watching pga events AND the Major champs'.

Rarely have I read such a cynical stab at someone than this whinning blog. Tiger easily could have said nothing. In case it escaped t your attention, he won the competition by 4 shots. He was exactly correct in his assertion that the referee intervention was pointless and ruined the fight down the straight.

Both Tiger and Paddy agree on the issue, clearly. Only Tiger is transparent with his disapproval. Paddy was more PC.

As for Tigers behaviour on the course and his lack of apology. You ackowledge yourself that it is not any worse than other players on the tour. He has no need to aologise for being human.

You should apologise for such a terrible blog though.

Well done Tiger. Even if he won it is great he said what he said. Officials should have power to rule but not to ruin a spectacle.

I agree entirely with post number 3....terrible, terrible blog.

"So that's OK then? No regrets, no apologies, no fears for the example he sets to every youngster taking up the game. Enough said."

Over-the-top nonsense here and Iain Carter's obvious dislike of Woods continues.

The same youngsters you mention wouldn't even be taking up the game if it wasn't for Woods, they'd play football instead. I don't think anyone can question the example he sets as a dignified winner and sportsperson.

As for Woods feeling the pressure of chasing Jack's 18? What, because he hasn't won a major in his last 3 attempts? Call the police!

Well I think it is a good blog. Put yourself in Paramor's position: if TW and PH have transgressed then that is it. If he did not put them on the clock then he would be accused of favouring TW I am sure. It has to be the same for everyone. If they were behind the group in front then they had nothing to worry about, they could continue to go at their own pace. The rules re time are there and the players should know them. It won't be the first time PH has been accused of slow going. Re TW's behaviour, it is poor, he can decide how to behave, we all can. I messed up today in a comp and have probably missed the cut but I did not shout or throw clubs when I duffed or 3 putted, I just remembered my recently deceased dear mother and suddenly perspective intervenes, TW should try it.

Wow, what a bitter blog, why should Tiger apologise for his on course demeanor? So he has swore on the course? He's only human after all. In case you have forgotten this is a guy coming back from a pretty serious knee injury, he has endured a pretty horrific year, so he is bound to be a bit frustrated. How about a bit of slack?

I'm a big fan of Tiger's but he should follow his own philosophy. Paramor was following the rules and so Tiger it is what it is.

Tiger Woods has come out of this situatuion with an enhanced reputation -in my opinion. The same unfortunately cannot be said of John Paramor (the Official involved).Let's hope the time has NOT arrived when golf officials "influence" the game the way referees can "influence" soccer matches.

I started to play golf because I liked the etiquette etc. There is NO place for continued spitting etc on golf courses.As good as Woods is, he is not above the game.Also, as Number one, he surly owes the youngsters a good example.

Carter you need to get the chip off your shoulder, and some of the rest of you. All golfers have bouts of bad temper, it just means they are competetive, and Tiger is able to control his more than most. Personally, I believe John Parramor showed complete disregard of the situation over which he was refereeing. Two players neck and neck going down the 16th in the final round of a big tournament in the final pairing - get a grip, they are going to be nervous and therefore of course are going to take more time over their shots. This is the case in most of the larger tournaments, are you going to penalise all of them? I think Tiger deserves a large amount of praise for speaking out. Having won the tournament he could have just shut up and counted his winnings but he felt an injustice had taken place against Padraig and spoke out for his fellow competitor, and people still accuse him of being un-sportsmanlike?

The great thing about Tiger Woods' comment is that he was complaining about the effect the referee had on his opponent - not about how it had affected him. How many footballers, cricketers etc would complain that the ref had spolied things for the opposition. Good on you Tiger, more power to your elbow (or knee). Ignore the twerp who wrote the blog.

IF there was a game ahead, AND Tiger and Paddy were waiting for the game ahead, THEN Tiger and Paddy should NOT have been put on the clock.
Furthermore, 3 holes to go? how ill-judged by the referee.

the author of this would do well to LISTEN to what tiger and "former leading tour player" says- you might just learn something. these fellas do have the experience us commentators often don't...there is no controversy- the official got this one wrong. human error is part of sport and leading european officials are certainly not immune...

Tiger Woods was seen throwing a golf club and spitting during the Open. People generally agreed that it set a bad example to young people AND that it was out of character for Tiger to show his frustrations openly. We all had our say and it has not been mentioned since.
I don`t think there was any need to revisit the subject and Ian, quite rightly, has been criticised for it.
I`m not Tigers biggest fan but there was no need to scrape over the ashes of a long dead fire.
Tiger must also take credit for speaking out on the "clock" incident, surely players should be warned about slow play well in advance of any sanction.

tiger has always spit and cursed and thrown clubs. this prob will not change as it hasn't in, what?? what he did do though was close himself off completely other than the obligatory interviews after getting burned early in his career by being himself in the presence of people he didn't know and of course didn't realize were paying attention. how many years has he been out there now?? dunno, but he's virtually the same except for getting so much physically bigger...

I've followed Tiger since he burst on the scene in ´96 and I am a fan of his. I work in the golf industry and in many ways owe my job to him and all he has done for golf. In the past he has been a great ambassador for the sport but I feel that something has changed.

He doesn´t charm the press anymore and comes across as being arrogant without apologising for it. On this point I agree with Ian. It doesn´t say anywhere in the Tour Rulebook "don't apply sanctions if there are only two people left in the tournament and the only have 3 holes to play"

I agree the timing was unfortunate but as professionals they must deal with distractions all the time and Harrington recognised that the problem was his for not handling it well.

Perhaps Tiger's new attitude is the reason he is not winning majors. 3 majors isn't many, I agree, but not even to contend (T6´s + MC)is very out of character...and he's not in a slump.

Of course he´ll probably prove me wrong this week!

The only reason why you see all the spit and swear by Tiger is that the camera is always on him.

For god sake we all spit, show me any person who is without fault and I will show you where God is.

This blog is not worth reading

Ian, ignore all the critisism above mate. yes paramor got it wrong, yes tiger was courtious, yes it affected paddy more, but just imagine had it affected tiger not paddy.. phew, tiger would be a million miles away from hazeltine licking his wounded paws, probably spouting off to all and sundry about how hard done to he is!! in the history books the greatest golfers usually are the greatest of people too, nicklaus, palmer, player, watson, seve, etc etc, all legends and all true gentleman. tiger does not fit this bill and when he beats nicklaus, which he will, he will never beat nicklaus the person. and if mister football above feels tiger has done soooo much for the game, have a look back in history and look up a mr arnold palmer, without this man golf would still be in the dark ages. and to iain, i salute you for being anti-tiger or should i say pro-other golfers!! i am sick to the teeth of reading about tiger, so good work sir

I'm not much of a Woods fan, as I feel he is something of a bland, corporate yes-man - and of course continues to receive an amount of coverage out of all proportion to his recent golfing achivements. Particularly by comparison with Harrington's.

However his forthrightness on this issue shows that he has a keen sense of honour, for which he should surely be applauded?

So I quite fail to understand the criticism he is receiving in this blog, when he is clearly IN THE RIGHT.

Apart from anything else, criticising Woods for his firebrand outspokenness is a bit like criticising Wayne Rooney for his excessive intellectualism.

People should get a grip. Mr carter sounds like someone who only just came to the game of golf recently. Fact is. Nicklaus threw clubs, Player threw clubs, Hogan was surly, Jimenez , sergio, Poulter, Monty swears. Worst case of club throwing I've ever seen was ernie els almost kiling his caddy in S.A, it didn't make any headlines because it's not Tiger woods. The problem is the cameras always on woods, so we scrutinise him more.It doesn't make it ok for anyone of them, but fact is fact, in a competitive environment it comes out. Parents, be a role model for your kids and they'll turn out how you want. Stop blaming Tiger woods

I have been a long-time lurker on the ´óÏó´«Ã½ blogs. Interested and informed by the content. Rarely have I been so annoyed by reading one so as to feel the need to comment myself, where others will usually echo my opinion at some point anyway.
However, here I feel that I just have to add my comments to this debate.
In doing so, would say that I completely agree with comment no.12 in the sentiment being conveyed. This comment sums up my feelings completely.

Ian.... I have read your blogs over the last few years with great interest and felt more involved in the build up and on-goings behind the scenes at various events I have been looking forward to - so I thank you for that.

HOWEVER, it is very evident that you clearly have a massive dislike for Tiger.
He of course, will not be bothered by the comments made by one journalist, but if the subject of anything that Tiger Woods does riles you so much, you should avoid reporting on him. Leave comments like you have mentioned here about his on-course behaviour to others who can look at these things in fair context, instead of using this medium to get in another dig.

For the record, (not that my opinion matters much), I agree with no.12 to say that I feel Tiger was commenting on the slow play penalty because of the effect it obviously had on his playing partner and perhaps felt a little for him. Tiger would have preferred the straight fight for the win, I am sure.
And also, as for behaviour on the course. Surely, we have all at some point reacted in a similar manner in our own worlds whilst playing this incredibly frustrating game? Only difference being, we don't get caught on camera doing so!!

Ian.... lay off Tiger.

A very harsh piece.

Look Iain, I don't like Woods very much either, but I always try to abide by the principle of 'credit where it is due.'

First and foremost, Woods didn't need to say anything about Paramor' ruling.

Looking back with hindsight, it played a huge part in deciding the winner at Firestone. By drawing attention to it Tiger has actually downgraded his achievement of winning another WGC.

And he was right. It spoilt an amazing battle between these two. To see someone stand up to Tiger was enthralling. Who knows what would've happened had Paramor used common sense and realised that the enforcement of slow play is there to ease congestion of those behind you.

When you are in the last group, playing in a highly prestigious event, coming to the end of your round, and your pairing contains the only players in contention to win, the last thing you'd want is some self-important fat ass upsetting the balance of the contest in any way whatsoever.

For the first time in a very long time, I am going into a major hoping Woods will do well, and what the hell, win!

Tiger Woods is golf and the viewership reflects this when he isn't playing. As the final pairing with a clear advantage on the field they should have been allowed take as long as they wanted. They finished 3 minutes over the time they were alloted which is hardly enough to warrant a warning and I'm sure a large portion of that 3 minutes was used in Harrington hitting his 8 shots on 16 after the warning.

The fact that Tiger won after this fiasco doesn't dilute his victory as one comment suggests. With a shot like the one he played at 16 a victory was on the cards anyway, warning or no warning. He was right to speak up and not bury his head in the sand as most golfers do on tour these days.

I think the fact that you criticised Tiger Woods' impact on youngster's taking up the game is disgraceful and completely unprofessional - re: "So that's OK then? No regrets, no apologies, no fears for the example he sets to every youngster taking up the game. Enough said". He is possibly the greatest sportsman ever to have lived and in a time where over-paid sportsmen around the world are behaving terribly, Tiger Woods has continually shown how hard work, focus and pure drive and passion creates success. This should be an example enough to those taking up the game.

I think you should apologise yourself. enough said.

No. 22, im happy you added such a thrilling insight into 'Great' golfers, Monty? Jiminez? Poulter?, hardly 3 of the all time greats!!!

And im sorry No.25, Tiger Woods IS golf? I for one actually enjoyed him being out for 6 months and him missing the cut at the Open. Take this years Open, there was more coverage of Tiger playing badly than coverage of the people playing well and who deserved to be on television. Golf would live without Tiger, Tiger wouldnt be here if it wasnt for golf!!

Every single article in which Iain Carter mentions Tiger Woods he has to include at least one criticism of the man. If it's not about his occasional bad temper on the course, it's his lack of personality or his unengaging responses to questions. If Tiger Woods discovered a cure for cancer, I'm sure Iain would say "Congratulations to Tiger for another amazing achievement, but you know I wish he would tell us a few funny stories once in a while."

The fact is most of these great golfers we now hold dearly to our hearts, the likes of Nicklaus, Palmer, hogan, player etc were less engaging and friendly in their ultra competitive heydays, as soon as their skills start declining and they start leaving the stage for the new breed, they become more friendly to the public. (see N Faldo). I'm not saying this applies to all players/greats, but most. I still believe that media coverage and exposure on one player today is why the likes of Iain Carter can post dross like this. Find a genuine story or don't bother wasting our licence fee.

I've read this blog again, and I'm even more annoyed than I was the first time. "So that's OK then? No regrets, no apologies, no fears for the example he sets to every youngster taking up the game." This is quite frankly pathetic journalism and sounds like it comes from someone with a genuine dislike for a man who could turn out to be the greatest sportsman of all time.

Have you any idea how many millions of dollars Tiger has raised for good caused and his own foundation for children? Have you any idea how much Tiger has done for golf throughout the world?

But back to the debate - can you imagine if Paul Casey or Lee Westwood had been the one sticky up for Paddy? Iain Carter would've had nothing but praise and admiration for them. But because it's Tiger, we get a headline of "Bad-tempered Woods Riled By Rules" and an article full of cheap little shots. Pathetic.

rubbish, tiger-bashing. did he not shake your hand or something?

he is at the top of his game. you aren't.

DUGC_Number1, 'i for one actually enjoyed him (TW) being out for 6 months'. Why? You talk about Tiger getting coverage even when he's playing badly, people want to see that as much as him playing the type of brilliant golf that has never been played by anyone else, ever. It's a nonsense statement and i think it says a lot about you that you would prefer to watch a competitive event without the best player in the world. Golf would certainly still be here without Tiger but it would be all the poorer for it. Your first comment suggests that Woods is a bad loser, when has he ever given cause for that?

I admit that i'm a big Tiger fan as i have grown up with him being the best that there is, ever has been and potentially ever will be but he has never given reason for any golf fan to dislike him.

As for the Blog, it often tends to be people who are bad at things who choose to dislike/badmouth the people who are brilliant at things.

this was Tiger (subtly) saying Harrington can't cope with pressure ... interesting

Lots of issues...Ian, fairplay for answering overzealous criticism

Agree with 33. Sagamix. If the roles had been reversed Tiger would still have won. I think that Woods sees Harrington as a genuine threat in the Majors and is making a big deal of his mental frailty over this issue.

Doesn't mean Tiger's not a nice guy, that´s just competition.

I have slammed my clubs and broken quite a few, have almost always apologised. Tiger's right when he says it just comes out, you try and control it but it's not easy....and it's better out than in, sometimes.

Golf is a self governing sport...I mean each player is responsable to know and apply the rules. Give the judges a break, they are always the bearer of bad news and it's not easy either.

Pace of play is a major issue in Golf, in many places it now takes more than 5 hours for 18 holes. Pros have a responsibility to the public to set the example.

The person who said that slow play rules were set up to avoid holding people up is wrong. What happens if you have a slow group and then an even slower group behind...they are not holding them up but they are still slow. The officials set the accepted time of play for each hole depending on what they see in the qualifier and the practice rounds.

Every player gets the same amount of time once they get to their ball. 40 seconds..try it, it's not that easy either.

Oh please, Tiger this tiger that, you all want some excuse to have a go at Tiger. I have even read on these pages some of you hope Tiger plays badly so that some one else gets a chance. I will like to make it clear Tiger is well LOVED in AMERICA and throughout the world, he has done wonders golf in America and his foundations in other parts of the world.If Tiger turns up revenue goes up viewing figures goes through the roof,Tell another sports person in the modern world that has such following.I will say it again Tiger is well Loved, we know why there is the character assassination here on these pages.So leave it out.He's a winner...he's American.

Sheesh, so he cusses & chucks his clubs! That's still hardly John McEnroe behaviour. And at least it's a change from seeing him sail flawlessly through every tournament. Personally, I haven't seen enough of it.

As a matter of fact... C'mon Padraig!

Tiger's swearing, club throwing and expectorating are quite rightly criticised. It's symptomatic of a slide in standards generally, not just in golf, but in society. "It is what it is" is a wholly unacceptable response. These megastars have a duty to behave immaculately at all times. Anything less represents a contribution to the insidious reduction in standards of behaviour that has led to a spectacular reversal of the concept of always showing respect to others.
While of course Tiger Woods is not the sole cause of a slipping society, it is unquestionably the case that had he condemned his own ill mannered and rude behaviour and vowed publicly to improve his behavioural method of operating, the effect on young (and not so young) people around the world who either consciously or subconsciously view him as a role model would have been significant.
Immense talent, wealth and above all, fame, bring with thwm responsibilties whether Tiger likes it or not.

"These megastars have a duty to behave immaculately at all times."

So say we who are NOT megastars!

They are megastars because, besides their talent (and each one's own way of managing it), they manage to sidestep the fussiness of fans and followers who believe they owe us something more still.

No human being is beyond a word or a gesture in anger when our aim falters, and more especially at the level at which the likes of Tiger play. And the "young" around the world should not be taken for fools either - putting on a pretence of exquisite behaviour rather than allowing them to appreciate that no-one's perfect is lacking respect for the young themselves.

It is what it is, and priorities are priorities, and I hope the likes of Tiger will not be sacrificing his concentration to smile & wink at the kids in front of their tellies if his next shot is less than perfect.

The pro golfers are far too slow with Padraig being the worst offender and Tiger not too far behind him. It's rich for Tiger to complain about slow play when he should give himself a good look in the mirror. At Tigers next press conference he will telling all who will listen that it is ok to spit live on TV and to throws clubs (Turnberry).

At 39.
The point is not that megastars are always going to be more than human, it is that they should acknowledge their shortcomings rather than, in effect, justifying poor behaviour - "It is what it is". It is this de facto justification which is the poor example. There is no falsehood in saying to the world that one's behaviour has been defective when it shouldn't have been and encouraging suggestible fans always to strive for the best, rather than leaving them with a statement that directs that poor behaviour is somehow excusable just because it inevitably happens.
I happen to believe that megastars do owe us more still; it is a function of social responsibility.

What a pathetic blog. I for one really dont care about sportsman spitting, acting out when in the middle of competition. If he was out fighting papparazi then I may understand your passive aggressive undertones.

Whassup?
Iain Carter writes a mildly controversial blog and gets pilloried for it because he touches the untouchable.
Tiger deserves to get niggled at from time to time, and there's an excellent article ribbing him on sports.yahoo.com.
What Iain could have said, but didn't, is that Tiger is as apt to use gamesmanship as the next person, and his inconsistent speed of play is an example. Typically he plays quickly when playing well, slows down to a crawl or worse when things go awry. Which is what happened last Sunday and caused he and Padraig to be put on the clock.
Perhaps he was outspoken about the portly Paramor because Padraig privately called him on it. Then, of course, Padraig started playing too quickly and transferred the pressure from Tiger on to himself.

You can say what you like about Tiger, out-of-this-world golfer, extraordinary competitor - but the Press (almost) everywhere is sick and tired of the contrived calculation of evething he says, crafted carefully by IMG and NIKE. Quite refreshing when he breaks out of that mould.

Thanks, kwiniasakagolfer. Just when I was supposing that the world of genuine morality should apply to TW, you remind me how cynical life really is. If your theory stands up, then why would such a calculating person ever do "the right thing"?