Opinion & Analysis
2013: The Year of the Tiger?
The PGA Tour has announced its latest honor for Tiger Woods: Player of the Year. Tiger’s record this year certainly looks good enough on paper, yet something seems off with this.
Tiger won five times on the PGA Tour in 2013 including esteemed wins like two World Championships as well as the unofficial “Fifth Major,” the Players Championship. Add those wins up and Tiger finished the year at No. 1, so there shouldn’t be any debate about this, right? If that’s the case, then why does it feel like he didn’t totally deserve this honor?
Earlier this week when I scoured the list of finalists for the award, I swear that I skimmed right over Tiger not even factoring him. That was strange in itself. I was more enamored with the likes of Adam Scott or Matt Kuchar with a brief glance at FedEx Cup champ Henrik Stenson. My gut told me that Scott would get it based on his wins at the Masters, the Barclays, and his overall body of work. It just felt like his year.
I also was looking closely at Kuchar as it just seemed like he was in contention in nearly every tournament he played in. His year ended with wins at the Accenture Match Play Championship and the Memorial while finishing the year at No. 3 on the Tour money list.
So, this got me thinking: Why did I gloss over Tiger figuring he was out of consideration while I thought that those other guys, whose years were not as good as Tiger’s, were more deserving of being Player of the Year? When I dug deep, two words came to mind: injuries and (gasp) cheating. Well, cheating is a strong word so let’s just say that Tiger was looser with his rules interpretations this year than a foursome of beer-swilling burglar alarm salesmen in a Security Convention scramble.
As for injuries, I have this image of Tiger where I feel like he spent the better part of the year wincing in pain at nearly every event he played. I seem to recall seeing him holding his back, squeezing his arm, holding his neck or limping around the course week after week.
This is not to downplay injuries and their role in golf. Heck, we all know how small and big injuries can wreak havoc with anyone’s game, pro or amateur. It’s just that my cynical side seemed to think that Tiger would come up lame the worse he was performing. Then, he would inevitably have a miracle cure and storm back in subsequent weeks. Now, I’m not calling the legitimacy of these injuries into question. It’s just a perception that I have when I look back at this past “year that was.”
Another thing that I look back on when I think of Tiger 2013 is rules: breaking rules, getting away with breaking rules, and and then not getting away breaking rules. The notable rules infractions that Tiger tangled with this past year, in order of oldest to most recent, reads like a police blotter:
Tiger Rule Infraction 1: Abu Dhabi Doo
Setting: Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship (European Tour)
What Did Tiger Do: Tiger found his ball imbedded in vines in a bunker. He apparently didn’t like the lie so he lifted his ball and placed it in a more favorable position saying it was “imbedded.”
What Happened?: You aren’t allowed to do that in golf. In golf, you cannot improve your lie in a hazard so Tiger was assessed a two-stroke penalty following his round — but before he signed his card. Tiger did not call this infraction on himself. It had to be pointed out to him.
Tiger’s Rule Infraction 2: It Happened One April Day — The Masters
Setting: The second round of the Masters at No. 15.
What Did Tiger Do?: Tiger hit his approach wedge so flush and crisp that he flushed the pin when his ball (very) unluckily caromed off the flag and straight into the lake guarding the green. Instead of taking his drop from the place where he has previously played (or anywhere in front of that location between the flag and his originally spot), Tiger decided that he preferred to hit from a distance about two or three yards farther back. Tiger played a shot, ended up taking triple bogey on the hole, finished the round, signed his card and left for the evening.
What Happened?: In golf, you can’t do that. That kind of drop is against the rules. In this case, Tiger’s illegal drop was discovered AFTER Tiger left the course. Instead of being disqualified for signing an incorrect scorecard, for which many famous players have been DQ’ed, the Masters Rule Committee made an arbitrary decision where they assessed Tiger a two-stroke penalty and let him keep playing into the weekend. Many felt this was preferential treatment. Many also thought the right thing for Tiger to do was withdraw because of his rules infraction. But, Tiger decided that he was above the rules and stayed in to a fourth-place finish, which certainly helped him earn Player of the Year honors.
Tiger’s Rule Infraction 3: The Sergio Affair
Setting: The 2013 Players Championship, No. 15 — Tiger’s Tee Shot
What Did Tiger Do?: While battling both on the course and off the course with Sergio Garcia, where Tiger would ultimately prevail in both battles, Tiger snap-hooked a crucial drive on No. 15. To the television viewer, the ball never crossed land from every available angle including the MetLife blimp. Yet, Tiger determined that his ball had inexplicably hooked some 200 yards up the fairway and he took what was clearly an “iffy” drop. To further exacerbate the issue, Tiger seemed to cajole his star-struck playing partner, Casey Wittenberg, into backing him with the story. Tiger dropped the ball in a far more favorable position closer to the hole, lying two, giving him a manageable 3 wood into the green as opposed to re-teeing lying two on the tee. He went on to par the hole.
What Happened?: Tiger would go on to win the Players Championship, which was his biggest win of the year — and probably biggest reason for winning this honor of PGA Player of the Year.
Tiger’s Rule Infraction 4: Freelancer captures fumble
Setting: During the second round of the BMW Championship, a freelance videographer for the Tour caught Tiger’s ball moving slightly with Tiger not calling a penalty on himself.
What Did Tiger Do?: Tiger was grooming the ground around his ball prior to his shot, moved a twig out of the way that was a little too close for comfort, and then his ball “oscillated” ever so slightly. Tiger took his shot and never said a word about his ball moving prior to his shot.
What Happened?: In golf, you can’t do that. A golfer is not allowed to move his ball in play, whether intentionally or unintentionally, prior to taking a shot (there are some exception to this like “lift, clean, and place” but you get the idea). A freelance videographer capturing the tournament caught the ball movement, called it in to his boss who called the Tour and Tiger was penalized two-strokes after the round — but before he signed his card. In this case, Tiger blamed the “Digital Age” saying that he gets undue attention compared to other golfers. What?! In other words, it’s OK to cheat as long as you don’t caught?! That’s how I read his reaction.
Each of these incidents taken individually is significant in a game built upon honor and integrity. These four incidents all happened before our eyes, involving the No. 1 golfer in the world, and probably the world’s most recognizable athlete. Tiger is in a position where he needs to be better than all of the other players on Tour not just in skill but in integrity, as well. By standing up and taking responsibility for his transgressions, Tiger can join all of the other greats players in PGA history. But, he seems to subscribe to more of a “win-at-all-costs” mentality.
Tiger’s mentality is the same one which has fueled all-time sporting greats like Michael Jordan and Kobe Bryant, which is great for a game like basketball. But golf is different. Golf is a gut check. It’s a game against yourself and the course; not necessarily your competitors. It’s a game built on rules, some fair and many unfair. But, those rules are the same for all who play.
In my heart, I am convinced that the historical greats of the game including the very person for whom this award is named, Jack Nicklaus, would have willingly called those penalties on themselves. I have no evidence of this. It’s just a sense I have. And, no matter how painful it would have been, I believe they would have withdrawn from the Masters had they unwittingly signed an incorrect scorecard because that’s the rules. But, Tiger took a different path to victory.
Did he cheat for sure on his way to winning this award? I wouldn’t go that far. But, he did take a decided turn into a grey area where doubt has been cast regarding both his honesty and integrity. It may have just been four separate incidents; a huge set of coincidences all centered around one individual. No one knows for sure.
In the end, my hat’s off to Tiger for winning the award. But, I would have liked to see him earn this award with that rare combination of unbelievable skill and unquestioned integrity. My biggest problem with his win is that I leave this year with questions.
Opinion & Analysis
Brandel Chamblee PGA Championship Q&A: Rose’s huge McLaren risk, distracted LIV pros and why Aronimink suits the bombers
PGA Championship week is here, and Brandel Chamblee did not hold back in our latest discussion ahead of the season’s second major.
In our 2026 PGA Championship Q&A, golf’s leading analyst made the case that PIF pulling LIV’s funding has left its players competing in a state of confusion, called Justin Rose’s mid-season equipment switch a huge risk at 45, and explained why Aronimink will be a bombers’ delight this week.
Check out the full Q&A below.
Gianni: With the PIF confirming that they’re pulling funding from LIV at the end of the season, what impact do you expect that to have on the LIV players competing at the PGA Championship?
Brandel: I would imagine that they have all been thrown into a state of confusion, and will be distracted, not knowing where they are going to play next year and not knowing exactly their road back to either the DP World Tour or the PGA Tour. Or in Rahm’s case, being tied to a sinking ship for the next few years, likely playing for pennies on the dollar in events that no one cares about or watches.
I doubt this would put him in the best frame of mind to compete at his highest level. Keeping in mind, however, that majors are the only time that LIV disciples get to play in events that matter, so never disregard the motivation they have to prove to the world they are still relevant.
Gianni: Justin Rose switched to McLaren Golf equipment mid-season while playing some of the best golf of his career. What do you make of the change?
Brandel: I don’t really know what to make of Rose switching equipment. It seems a huge risk on his part, even though it is likely, in my opinion, that the clubs he’s playing are similar, if not the exact grinds, to what he was playing previously, with a McLaren stamp on them.
Having said that, at best, it is a distraction when he seemed to be as dialed in with his game as any 45-year-old could be and trending in the majors to perhaps do something that would definitely put him in the Hall of Fame. At worst, given the possibility that these clubs aren’t just duplicates of his old set stamped with McLaren on them, he’s made an equipment change that would take time, and 45-year-old athletes don’t have the time to do such things.
Gianni: Aronimink has only hosted a handful of professional events since it hosted the 1962 PGA Championship. What kind of test does it present, and does a course with less recent major championship history tend to level the playing field?
Brandel: Even though Aronimink has only hosted a handful of meaningful professional events, it has been fairly discerning in who can win there. When Keegan Bradley won the BMW Championship on the Donald Ross masterpiece in 2018, he was the 2nd best iron player on tour coming into that week. When Nick Watney won the AT&T at Aronimink in 2011, he was 2nd in strokes gained total coming into the week.
In 2020, Aronimink hosted the KPMG Championship, and Sei Young Kim won. On the LPGA that year, she was first in greens in regulation, putts per green in regulation, and scoring average on the way to being the LPGA player of the year. And then there is the 1962 PGA Championship won by Gary Player, who eventually became just one of a few players to win the career grand slam on the way to winning 9 majors. It is a formidable test, and if it’s not softened by rain, it will bring out the best in the upper echelons of the game.
Gianni: Is there a specific hole at Aronimink that you think will do the most to decide the winner?
Brandel: The hardest hole at Aronimink in each of the three tour events that have been played there since 2010 has been the long par-3 8th hole, with the par-4 10th being the second hardest, so most of the carnage will happen around the turn, but with the par-5 16th offering opportunities for bold plays and the tough closing holes at 17 and 18, the finish is likely to be frenetic.
Gianni: The PGA Championship has always sat in the shadow of the other majors. What does the ideal PGA Championship look like in your eyes, and what would it take for it to carve out its own identity?
Brandel: The PGA Championship, to whatever degree it suffers from the comparison to the other three majors, is still counted just as much when adding them up at the end of one’s career. Almost 1/3 of Nicklaus’ major wins were the five PGA Championships he won. Walter Hagen won 11 majors, five of which were PGA Championships.
Tiger Woods twice in his career won back-to-back PGA Championships, and those four majors count just as much as the other 11 he won. The PGA may not have the prestige of the other three, but it carries the same weight. Having said that, I preferred the identity that it had as the last major of the year.
Gianni: You nailed your Masters picks. Rory won, Scottie finished solo second, and Morikawa surged to a tie for seventh. Who are your top 3 picks for the PGA Championship and why?
Brandel: I am not a huge fan of majors played on golf courses that have been shorn of most of the trees, although I understand some of the agronomic reasons for doing so and of course the ease with which it allows members to play after errant drives. However, at the highest level, it all but eliminates any strategy off the tee and turns professional golf into an even bigger slugfest. That means that it will likely be a bomber’s delight this week, but fortunately, Scottie Scheffler is long enough to play that game and straight enough to play it better than anyone else.
The major championships give us very few surprises anymore, going back to the beginning of 2012, so the last 57 majors played, the average world rank of the winners has been better than 15th in the world. So look at the highest ranked and longest drivers who are on form coming into the PGA Championship who also have great short games as the surrounds at Aronimink are very challenging. That’s Scottie Scheffler by a mile and then McIlroy and Cameron Young with a far bigger nod towards DeChambeau than I gave him at the Masters.
In this episode of the Club Junkie Podcast, we dive into one of the most interesting flatstick releases of the year with a full review of the new TaylorMade SYSTM 2 putters. After spending time on the greens, I break down what makes this design stand out, where it performs, and why it has me completely torn between loving it and fighting it. If you are into feel, alignment, and consistency, this is one you will want to hear about.
We also take a look at some of the putters in play on the PGA Tour last week. From familiar favorites to a few surprising setups, there is always something to learn from what the best players in the world are rolling with under pressure.
To wrap things up, I walk through the process of building a set of JP Golf Prime irons paired with Baddazz Gold Series shafts. From component selection to performance goals, this is a deep dive into what goes into creating a unique custom set and why this combo has been so intriguing.
This year my 50th birthday. Gosh, where has the time gone?
As a teenager in rural Missouri, some of my junior high and high school years felt interminable. Graduation seemed light years away. But the older I get, the faster life seems to fly by.
I’m also increasingly aware of my mortality. My dad died recently. Earlier this year, a friend and fellow PGA of America professional and I were texting about our next catch-up. The next message I received was news of his unexpected passing at 48. Shortly after, a woman I dated in college succumbed to cancer at 51.
Certainly, one can share perspective at any age. Seniors help freshmen, veterans guide rookies. But reaching this milestone feels like as good a time as any to do one of those “what would I tell my younger self?” articles.
I’ve had a uniquely varied career in golf. I started as a 27-year-old, average-length-hitting, 14-handicap computer engineer and somehow managed to turn pro before running out of money, constantly bootstrapping my way forward. I’ve won qualifiers and set venue records in the World Long Drive Championships, finished fifth at the Speedgolf World Championships, coached all skill levels as a PGA of America professional, built industry-leading swing speed training programs for Swing Man Golf, helped advance the single-length iron market with Sterling Irons®, caddied on the PGA TOUR and PGA TOUR Champions, and played about 300 courses across 32 countries.
It’s been a ride, and I’ve gone both deep and wide.
So while I can consult and advise from a lot of angles, let me keep it to a few things I’d tell the average golfer who wants to improve.
1. Think About What You Want
Everyone has their own reason for picking up a golf club.
Oddly, as a professional athlete, I’m not internally driven by competition. That can be challenging, as the industry currently prioritizes and incentivizes competition over the love of the game.
For me, I love walking and being outdoors. Nature helps balance my energy. I prefer courses that are integrated into the natural beauty of their surroundings. I’m comfortable practicing alone. I’m a deep thinker, and I genuinely enjoy investigating the game, using data and intuition to unearth unique, often innovative insights. I’m fortunate to be strong and athletic, so I appreciate the chance to engage with my abilities. Traveling feels adventurous. I could go on.
You don’t have to overthink it like I do. For you, it might be as simple as hitting balls to escape work, hanging out with friends, and playing loosely with the rules and the score.
The point is to give yourself permission to play for your own reasons, and let that be enough.
But if improvement is your goal, thinking about your destination—and when you want to get there—is important, because it dictates the steps you need to take. When I set out to go from a 14-handicap to the PGA TOUR as quickly as possible, the steps I needed were very different from those of a working golfer trying to break 90 in six months. That’s also different from someone who just wants a few peaceful hours outside each week, away from work or family.
None of these goals are better than the others, but each requires a different plan that you can work backward from.
2. There Are Lots of Things That Can Work
One of the challenges of golf is that, although there are rules for playing, there aren’t clear, industry-wide standards for how to best play the game. There’s a lot of gray area.
You might hear a top coach or trainer insist that a certain move is the best way to swing or train. Then you dig a bit deeper and, much to your confusion and frustration, another respected coach or trainer says something completely different. I don’t think anyone is trying to confuse you—at least I hope not. It’s just where the industry is right now.
You have to be careful with advice from tournament pros, too. They might be great at scoring, but they’re also human and sometimes just as susceptible as amateurs to believing things that don’t really move the needle. Tour players might describe what they feel, but that’s not always what they’re actually doing when assessed with technology.
I recently ran a test on my YouTube channel (which connects to my GolfWRX article “How to use your hands in the golf swing for power and accuracy”), and, interestingly, two of the most commonly taught hand actions produced the worst results in the test.
Coaches can certainly help. If you find someone you connect with to help navigate, that’s great. But there are many ways to get the ball in the hole. In the current landscape, you may need to seek multiple opinions, think critically, and use your own intuition to discern what seems true and whose advice resonates with you.
I’d recommend seeking someone who is open-minded and always learning, because things constantly change. Absolutes like “correct” or “proper” should raise a red flag. AI can be useful, but it tends to confidently repeat popular advice, so proceed with caution.
3. Get Custom Fit
If you’re serious about becoming a better player, getting custom fit is hugely important. There’s no sense fighting your equipment if you don’t have to. Most better players get fit these days and, if they don’t, they’re usually skilled enough to work around clubs that aren’t ideal.
If you plan to play for a long time, it’s worth spending a little more upfront to get something that truly fits you and your game, rather than continually buying and discarding equipment.
Equipment rules haven’t really changed significantly since the early 2000s. To stay in business, manufacturers keep pushing those limits. If you pull a bunch of clubs and balls off the rack and test them, you’ll find differences. I’ve tested two new drivers and seen a 30-yard total distance gap. Usually, the issue isn’t bad equipment; it’s that the combination of components simply isn’t the best fit.
It’s like wearing a new pair of floppy clown shoes. Sure, they’re shoes—but you won’t sprint your best in them compared to track shoes that fit perfectly.
Be wary of what’s called custom fitting, too. Sometimes the term is used as a marketing strategy rather than an actual fitting. In some retail settings, fitters may be incentivized to steer you toward higher-priced components. That doesn’t automatically mean it’s not the best fit, but you should be aware of potential biases.
I learned a version of this lesson outside of golf. Years ago, I bought a tennis racquet at a big box store from a seemingly knowledgeable employee who thought it would suit me best. The racquet gave me tennis elbow, and I spent months recovering with rest and acupuncture. The next season, I invested more time and money to find what actually fit me, and I walked away with something amazing that I still play with years later.
So if you’re going to get fit, be smart about it.
Find someone you believe has deep knowledge—possibly with certifications, but not necessarily. Make sure there’s a wide inventory across many brands. Check recent reviews for the individual fitter if possible. Make sure you trust that the fitter has your best interests at heart. If they’re wearing a hat or shirt with a specific brand’s logo, proceed with caution. Unless you specifically want a certain brand or look, be wary of upsells, especially if two options perform nearly the same.
Also, while golf is called a sport of integrity, there’s a thread of manipulation in the industry. I once drafted an equipment article for an industry magazine, structured just like one of their previous popular stories, with matching word count and great photos. The assistant editor loved it; it was useful to readers and required little work on his part. But the editor-in-chief nixed the story. When I asked why, I was told it was because I wasn’t an advertiser. It turned out the article I’d modeled mine after was a paid ad cleverly disguised as editorial content.
I really dislike games, clickbait, and fear-based manipulation. I hope this changes, but golfers deserve to know it exists.
4. Distance and Strategy Matter
There’s a real relationship between how far you hit the ball and your scoring average, even at the PGA TOUR level.
I experienced this early in my pro career. I started as a power hitter, swinging in the high 120s and breaking 200 mph ball speed with a stock driver.
Back then, some instructors advised swinging at 80%, so I tried slowing down for more accuracy. That worked fine on shorter, tighter courses. But on longer setups, I was coming into greens with too much club, and par 5s stopped being
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Hunt
Oct 3, 2013 at 12:43 am
I think the article was a nice summation of some of the controversy in Tiger’s year. It was an Opinion piece and brought up another look at the Player of the Year’s year. No where did the writer ever state anything about infidelity or even anything in Tiger’s past. I don’t even see how this was brought up? Tiger didn’t have to pressure Wittenberg to say anything. It’s just like what you would do with your playing partner, you would say, “Yeah, around there is good”. I can’t see too many playing partners telling Tiger to march back 200 yards when they didn’t have that good of an idea where it went in either.
I thought it was an entertaining article and not just a WRX fluff piece where every pro is great and every piece of equipment is the next coming. Nice to see the something without the FanBoy slant.
Hans
Oct 3, 2013 at 11:28 pm
I find it hard to believe that you say you area Tiger fan and the write a piece with so many innuendos that Tiger is a liar and a cheat. Your use of quotes around the words oscillated, imbedded, etc indicate that you don’t believe him. In Abu dhabi he called his playing partner over before he did anything. Looking at the phot in the article, I’d be hard pressed to call that area a bunker. At the Players he again was assisted by a planning partner to determine the area to drop. At the Masters the committee was as much to blame as anyone. They has a chance to talk to Tiger before he signed his card. They could have determined his intent with the drop and assessed a penalty before his card was signed. In regard to the video of the ball movement, the video was taken from a side view. Tiger was above the ball while moving the stick and any movement could have been viewed as the ball oscillating. There are numerous instances of players being assessed penalties from TV call ins. Tiger is not alone in this matter. He’s just scrutinized more closely than any other golfer in history.
Your piece is more of a character assassination than anything else. His peers voted him player of year, that’s all that should matter.
Fred
Oct 4, 2013 at 3:01 pm
I would say that about sums it up. Well put, Hans.
JP
Oct 2, 2013 at 7:03 pm
It amazes me that if it was any other golfer nothing would have been said about any of the supposed violations. BTW, what Tiger does in his private life is private. You don’t see any other professional athlete getting slammed for his private life. It takes two to break up a marriage. She wasn’t peaches and cream either. Don’t you have anything better to write about than this.
TWshoot67
Oct 2, 2013 at 4:52 pm
The problem is when you stick up for the worlds #1 golfer, you automatically become a Tiger lover or fan boy. The haters come out of the woodwork just as much or more so than the Tiger backers when a story is written pertaining to Tigers accomplishments or lack there of. Seems no one story can just be about the facts of this golf seasons play by all players on PGA tour. Because if a story was truly written that way there would be no discussion and no story about this years POY winner. Case in point if it were any other player with 5 wins and any other player with 2 wins no one would have said a word about the player with 5 wins winning POY. So for those who jump in trying to make a point about someone else actually having a better season then Tiger Woods, It’s purely driven by hatred for the man. Especially obvious when their following sentence says how their opinion of Tiger Woods is unbiased no hatred here! That they are purely making these statements based on facts, and the play of each and every player. These stories written that try and make a case for any other player than Tiger winning POY this year lets your true colors shine through quite clearly. It’s just like todays GC bull crap headline story about bringing up Tiger/Phil pairing for President Cup. It’s all about ratings and no real sustenance! If you wanted to write about Tigers rule infractions then write a story about the rules and how they’re handled. That’s a good story and even the people who really like Tiger and are objective they would have to concede to the fact that some these drops by Tiger were rule breakers. But to write a story about Tiger not deserving POY this year is not even a real story, it’s just gossip. Seriously, just take Tiger out of the equation. Ask yourself Mr. OP, would you have written this same story about any other player with 5 wins and the next best player having 2 for the year? if your being honest, there would be NO POY story, there would have been just a congratulatory story for this years winner, that’s it! Let’s be real.
Fred
Oct 2, 2013 at 4:12 pm
It’s interesting – Tiger was accessed a two-shot penalty based on a judgment by PGA officials that his ball moved, which the rules say gave him an “advantage,” toward his next shot. Meanwhile, the USGA has ruled that players who use a belly putter have, in part, an “advantage” over those who use a standard-sized putter, which is why it will become illegal to use in the next four years. So, this means that for the next four years, Adam Scott will be allowed to use a putter the USGA says gives him an advantage over other players, and do so without penalty. Maybe I’m stretching it a bit, here, but, somehow, it seems like a contradiction in defining the term “advantage.” Just a thought.
FredJ
Sep 30, 2013 at 11:13 pm
The drop @ the PLAYERS was not a bully move by Tiger as you insinuated. Johnny Miller is the one who a said it was a bad drop. Tiger asked his playing partner where he(the playing partner) thought the ball went out. The playing partner told Tiger where it looked like it went out to him, and that’s where he dropped from. Didn’t know that the folders could stop the tournament to while they were playing and take a look @ what the MetLife blimp showed?
Chris Hibler
Sep 30, 2013 at 10:03 pm
As the writer of this opinion piece, I feel compelled to make a few mentions: despite many of the assumptions by the article’s readers, I am huge fan of Tiger’s, do not “hate” him, and also a huge fan of all aspects of golf. With that said, no one can say that the four instances I cited in the piece are anything other than questionable at the very least and all are examples of rules infractions that had to be called on Tiger instead of him calling those infractions on himself.
Tiger is a huge part of golf and arguably the greatest golfer in the history of the sport. I suppose that is why, fairly or unfairly, I expect so much from him.
Two corrections that were pointed out by readers:: Tiger did take a double-bogey on the 14th hole at the Player’s Championship (the “iffy drop” hole) and not a par. Also, tiger’s “oscillating ball” was caught by a video editor and not a viewer. However, that incident is raising the level of awareness regarding viewers calling in rules infractions from home.
Paul
Oct 2, 2013 at 4:09 pm
Another thing you are missing about Tiger’s so called pressure to Casey Wittenburg in the Players is laughable. There are many accounts from the people who were actually there that said Tiger was looking much further back and it was Casey and his caddie who said they believed it to be further up. This article is a practice in loose memories of what actually happened.
Also, the Masters drop would have been legitimate if it had flown into the water. The only reason it was determined that he could not is because it actually hit the green and rolled back into the water. Also, to state that he thought he was above the rules is rather attacking. The rules through the committee and the ruling body were that he should continue play. Tell me why he should then disobey their ruling and DQ himself, who else would have? I doubt any player.
The problem with this article isn’t that people think you are a hater. If you weren’t so overly quick to place words and thoughts into the head of someone you do not know and somewhat re-write history in your own mind, then you would have any problems here. That was the problem I had, not that you didn’t think Tiger was deserving, that you were over-dramatising the things that took place. Also, to say that he was looser than beer drinking salesman is lowly.
Poorly written, even for an opinion piece. (I’m not used to this on GolfWRX, dissappointing)
Yamaha Freak
Sep 30, 2013 at 10:00 pm
+1mil to all comments above :)))
David
Sep 30, 2013 at 8:37 pm
You know Chris, the problem you face when you write anything about Tiger that isn’t an out-an-out exercise in adoration, that the Tiger-ettes will coming running to his rescue, with or without any knowledge.
I don’t dislike Tiger, but I’m not fan either. There are several players on tour that I like better, both as people and players, but I’ll concede that when Tiger is/was healthy, on his game and pretty much had the rest of the tour mesmorized, he was the best player and made some of the greatest golf shots I’ve ever seen.
Personally, I hope he doesn’t break Jack’s record of majors won. As a matter of fact, I also hope that Rory or Phil or anybody else doesn’t break it either. I look at those 18 wins like Ruth’s 60 homers. Great numbers!
As to the rules issues, I was at Augusta. Tiger hit one of those great shots and got absolutely screwed, but that’s the rub of the green. His playing of the next shot was wrong, totally wrong, but not a wrong as Augusta National not disqualifying him. Personally, I’m glad they didn’t because it may (absolutely would) have clouded a beautiful finish, playoff and win by Adam Scott and Australia.
I don’t think that Tiger cheats or cheated, but he needs to hold himself to the very highest standards and always ASK FIRST. He knew enough about the rules to enlist the gallery to move a boulder (about the size of one of the Buicks he was driving), so he would have a clear shot at the Phoenix Open, so he has a copy of the rule book!
TWshoot67
Sep 30, 2013 at 7:14 pm
I would just like to know why don’t all these writers that obviously hate Tiger Woods write about someone they like, maybe then their articles would have some validity?
Winston Urwiller
Sep 30, 2013 at 2:10 pm
This is the dumbest article ever. Also, tiger made bogey on that hole at the players, not a par.
Chris Hibler
Sep 30, 2013 at 9:48 pm
He actually made double-bogey on the 14th following his “iffy” drop. I stand corrected. Thanks for catching it and posting your opinion.
-Chris
DPavs
Sep 30, 2013 at 12:48 pm
Actually you are wrong. Tiger missed one cut this year at the Abu Dhabi. He missed 2 cuts in 2012. So while he has only missed the cut 10 times in his career 3 of those have come in the last 2 years.
Will
Sep 30, 2013 at 1:37 pm
The article is about PGA Tour player of the year…so if we look at his stats from this season on the PGA Tour he missed NO cuts…Abu Dhabi last time I check wasn’t on the PGA Tour rotation.
Here is the link for reference:
http://www.pgatour.com/players/player.08793.tiger-woods.html
Will
Sep 30, 2013 at 11:16 am
Tiger’s 5 wins this year speak for themselves…Have you ever looked at this guy’s winning percentage…it’s off the charts and far and away the best in golf history over his career…So while you continue to nitpick and criticizes a golfer that in a single season won as much as Tom Lehman won in a career just realize that Tiger got to where he is because he just wins…Oh, did you happen to see how many cuts Tiger missed this season…NONE!! So you probably need to check yourself.
DPavs
Sep 30, 2013 at 8:16 am
Have to love the resounding love Tiger gets from his fans no matter what he does.
To be real though let’s sum it up though. It is hard to dispute that he has engaged in conduct that brings his ethics into question both on and off the course. If it walks like a duck and talks like a duck, it’s probably not a swan.
chowchow
Oct 2, 2013 at 3:40 pm
He learned it all from Tow Watson. Watson wrote the book for PGA players on how to cheat on your wife. Anyone want to dispute Watson’s adulteress sins with another Champions Tour Players wife? Why no outrage for the moralist?
C
Sep 30, 2013 at 1:46 am
Tiger was hands down the best player this season, not sure how anyone can say otherwise. The writer of this article is obviously not a fan of tiger, focusing on the negatives instead of the positive. It’s sad that so many people have turned against tiger because of his issues off the course. We all have made mistakes, but luckily our every move isnt followed by the media. Yes, i know it comes with the territory and he screwed up very bad. It doesnt change the fact that he made golf what it is today. Out of curiosity, would all of you still bash on tiger if he never cheated on his wife? My guess is no.
Matt
Sep 29, 2013 at 7:59 pm
I don’t even see why this is a debate. The people who vote are the one’s who know best the players, period!
Cris
Sep 29, 2013 at 1:50 am
You should not say “why does it feels like he doesn’t deserve…” YOU feel like he doesn’t deserve it. This is your personal opinion and a very bitter one at that.
Brendan
Sep 29, 2013 at 1:13 am
Charlie Rymer said something along the lines of “If you don’t think Tiger should be player of the year, then you either have a personal dislike for him, or you are comparing him to his earlier years, and not the other players this year”, and I think that there is on better way to say it.
TWshoot67
Sep 30, 2013 at 7:05 pm
SPOT ON! The only people who keep arguing about Tiger getting POY are haters and Jack lovers. They try and twist everything against a guy who’s won 5 times and try to figure a way of giving it to anyone but Tiger. Laughable! Tigers 5 win season is better the 90% of PGA golfers whole careers.
shannon
Sep 29, 2013 at 12:44 am
How many times did Jack’s ball oscillate or Arnies? We dont know because there was not near the coverage off your coveted greats as their it’s of Tiger. You seem to have a problem with Tiger and if it’s because of cheating on his wife then shame on you. I know guys like Arnie Watson and numerous other greats of yesteryear are happy that didn’t play in this era because you know they were sewing their oats and yes im sure they had their share off infidelities, they just hid it more easily. He throws clubs and swears well what about stenson snapping his driver and destroying a locker room? I. guess he’s just a fiery swede his temper is overlooked. the guy won 5 times and was voted player of the year by his peers. As a writer you should only hope to be as good at your profession as Tiger is at his. To be honest sir you have alot more work to do on your craft to be half the writer that Tiger is a golfer.
Michael
Sep 28, 2013 at 3:19 pm
I wonder how many times other players ball’s “oscillated” but since no one was watching them, they have never been caught. But you’re entitled to your own opinion. Granted I think it’s a horrible one.
Forsbrand
Sep 28, 2013 at 3:38 pm
Player of the year? You’re kidding me! Stenson? Especially if he goes on and wins The Race to Dubai! The way woods is swinging, Jack’s record is safe.
Steve
Sep 28, 2013 at 10:50 pm
How many times did he win this year?
Forsbrand
Sep 29, 2013 at 4:50 pm
jack has retired mate, he hasn’t won anything this year:)
Steve
Sep 28, 2013 at 1:05 pm
Didn’t a free lance camera man catch the ball “moving”? Not a viewer? Either way, Tiger was far and away the best player in golf this year. And why would it matter if he was healthy all year? That’s ridiculous. 5 wins is 5 wins.
Ethan
Sep 28, 2013 at 12:12 pm
Despite all that. I guarantee others sometimes have iffy judgement. The difference being that they’re not tiger. Every swing he takes is taped and announced, which is why in that situation I’d rather be a no name pro that nobody knows. Really, so many others do little stuff like that and never get caught because the camera doesn’t care about them. And I can’t honestly say that I think Tiger was trying to cheat. He knows better because he also knows that a million eyes are on him ALWAYS and knows he won’t get away with it. It’s happened to me where in the middle of a tournament and you’re in position to win the adrenaline is pumping and i totally forget two things: 1) you can ask someone for help on a rule, and 2) that there are people out there that live just to call you on every little infraction in the rules to get a leg up on you or drag you down because they don’t like you.Tiger earned player of the year. Though I tip my hat to phil, scott, and kuchar.
Kyle
Sep 28, 2013 at 11:56 am
Cheating is a strong word and the fact you used it along with loose rules like beer drinking foursomes made me skip the rest of the article. He was player of the year, hands down. 5 wins is 5 wins. No one was even close to taking player of the year from him. 2 wins isn’t even close, obviously.