Opinion & Analysis
Whose side are you on? Tiger? Jenkins?
By now you probably know the story — Dan Jenkins and Golf Digest faked an interview with Tiger Woods and Golf Digest staged photos with a Tiger lookalike.
Tiger Woods was not happy, and let the public know via Derek Jeter’s new Players’ Tribune website. You can read Jenkins’ original story at the bottom of this link. Despite some vicious feedback on Twitter and social media, Jenkins stood his ground.
My next column for Tiger: defining parody and satire. I thought I let him off easy: http://t.co/E7e9imSKwO
— Dan Jenkins (@danjenkinsgd) November 18, 2014
Lindsey Vonn, Woods’ girlfriend, shared her feelings on the matter. She sided with her boyfriend and supported his decision to confront Jenkins and Golf Digest.
“It was like a fabricated interview, like what [Jenkins] thinks Tiger would say,” Vonn said.
Stellar observation.
Predictably, Jenkins’ story and Tiger’s response has been a very polarizing issue. People, golf fans, journalism ethics specialists, haters, apologists, social observers and conspiracy theorists have been voicing their opinions. We’ve combined the most popular responses into a poll.
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As the editor-in-chief of this website and an observer of the GolfWRX forums and other online golf equipment discourse for over a decade, I’m pretty well attuned to the grunts and grumbles of a significant portion of the golf equipment purchasing spectrum. And before you accuse me of lording above all in some digital ivory tower, I’d like to offer that I worked at golf courses (public and private) for years prior to picking up my pen, so I’m well-versed in the non-degenerate golf equipment consumers out there. I touched (green)grass (retail)!
Complaints about the ills of and related to the OEMs usually follow some version of: Product cycles are too short for real innovation, tour equipment isn’t the same as retail (which is largely not true, by the way), too much is invested in marketing and not enough in R&D, top staffer X hasn’t even put the new driver in play, so it’s obviously not superior to the previous generation, prices are too high, and on and on.
Without digging into the merits of any of these claims, which I believe are mostly red herrings, I’d like to bring into view of our rangefinder what I believe to be the two primary difficulties golf equipment companies face.
One: As Terry Koehler, back when he was the CEO of Ben Hogan, told me at the time of the Ft Worth irons launch, if you can’t regularly hit the golf ball in a coin-sized area in the middle of the face, there’s not a ton that iron technology can do for you. Now, this is less true now with respect to irons than when he said it, and is less and less true by degrees as the clubs get larger (utilities, fairways, hybrids, drivers), but there remains a great deal of golf equipment truth in that statement. Think about it — which is to say, in TL;DR fashion, get lessons from a qualified instructor who will teach you about the fundamentals of repeatable impact and how the golf swing works, not just offer band-aid fixes. If you can’t repeatably deliver the golf club to the golf ball in something resembling the manner it was designed for, how can you expect to be getting the most out of the club — put another way, the maximum value from your investment?
Similarly, game improvement equipment can only improve your game if you game it. In other words, get fit for the clubs you ought to be playing rather than filling the bag with the ones you wish you could hit or used to be able to hit. Of course, don’t do this if you don’t care about performance and just want to hit a forged blade while playing off an 18 handicap. That’s absolutely fine. There were plenty of members in clubs back in the day playing Hogan Apex or Mizuno MP-32 irons who had no business doing so from a ballstriking standpoint, but they enjoyed their look, feel, and complementary qualities to their Gatsby hats and cashmere sweaters. Do what brings you a measure of joy in this maddening game.
Now, the second issue. This is not a plea for non-conforming equipment; rather, it is a statement of fact. USGA/R&A limits on every facet of golf equipment are detrimental to golf equipment manufacturers. Sure, you know this, but do you think about it as it applies to almost every element of equipment? A 500cc driver would be inherently more forgiving than a 460cc, as one with a COR measurement in excess of 0.83. 50-inch shafts. Box grooves. And on and on.
Would fewer regulations be objectively bad for the game? Would this erode its soul? Fortunately, that’s beside the point of this exercise, which is merely to point out the facts. The fact, in this case, is that equipment restrictions and regulations are the slaughterbench of an abundance of innovation in the golf equipment space. Is this for the best? Well, now I’ve asked the question twice and might as well give a partial response, I guess my answer to that would be, “It depends on what type of golf you’re playing and who you’re playing it with.”
For my part, I don’t mind embarrassing myself with vintage blades and persimmons chasing after the quasi-spiritual elevation of a well-struck shot, but that’s just me. Plenty of folks don’t give a damn if their grooves are conforming. Plenty of folks think the folks in Liberty Corner ought to add a prison to the museum for such offences. And those are just a few of the considerations for the amateur game — which doesn’t get inside the gallery ropes of the pro game…
Different strokes in the game of golf, in my humble opinion.
Anyway, I believe equipment company engineers are genuinely trying to build better equipment year over year. The marketing departments are trying to find ways to make this equipment appeal to the broadest segment of the golf market possible. All of this against (1) the backdrop of — at least for now — firm product cycles. And golfers who, with their ~15 average handicap (men), for the most part, are not striping the golf ball like Tiger in his prime and seem to have less and less time year over year to practice and improve. (2) Regulations that massively restrict what they’re able to do…
That’s the landscape as I see it and the real headwinds for golf equipment companies. No doubt, there’s more I haven’t considered, but I think the previous is a better — and better faith — point of departure when formulating any serious commentary on the golf equipment world than some of the more cynical and conspiratorial takes I hear.
Agree? Disagree? Think I’m worthy of an Adam Hadwin-esque security guard tackle? Let me know in the comments.
@golfoncbs The infamous Adam Hadwin tackle ? #golf #fyp #canada #pgatour #adamhadwin ? Ghibli-style nostalgic waltz – MaSssuguMusic
Episode #16 brings us Cliff McKinney. Cliff is the founder of Old Charlie Golf Club, a new club, and concept, to be built in the Florida panhandle. The model is quite interesting and aims to make great, private golf more affordable. We hope you enjoy the show!
Last week, I came across a reel from BBC Sport on Instagram featuring Scottie Scheffler speaking to the media ahead of The Open at Royal Portrush. In it, he shared that he often wonders what the point is of wanting to win tournaments so badly — especially when he knows, deep down, that it doesn’t lead to a truly fulfilling life.
View this post on Instagram
“Is it great to be able to win tournaments and to accomplish the things I have in the game of golf? Yeah, it brings tears to my eyes just to think about it because I’ve literally worked my entire life to be good at this sport,” Scheffler said. “To have that kind of sense of accomplishment, I think, is a pretty cool feeling. To get to live out your dreams is very special, but at the end of the day, I’m not out here to inspire the next generation of golfers. I’m not out here to inspire someone to be the best player in the world, because what’s the point?”
Ironically — or perhaps perfectly — he went on to win the claret jug.
That question — what’s the point of winning? — cuts straight to the heart of the human journey.
As someone who’s spent over two decades in the trenches of professional golf, and in deep study of the mental, emotional, and spiritual dimensions of the game, I see Scottie’s inner conflict as a sign of soul evolution in motion.
I came to golf late. I wasn’t a junior standout or college All-American. At 27, I left a steady corporate job to see if I could be on the PGA Tour starting as a 14-handicap, average-length hitter. Over the years, my journey has been defined less by trophies and more by the relentless effort to navigate the deeply inequitable and gated system of professional golf — an effort that ultimately turned inward and helped me evolve as both a golfer and a person.
One perspective that helped me make sense of this inner dissonance around competition and our culture’s tendency to overvalue winning is the idea of soul evolution.
The University of Virginia’s Division of Perceptual Studies has done extensive research on reincarnation, and Netflix’s Surviving Death (Episode 6) explores the topic, too. Whether you take it literally or metaphorically, the idea that we’re on a long arc of growth — from beginner to sage elder — offers a profound perspective.
If you accept the premise literally, then terms like “young soul” and “old soul” start to hold meaning. However, even if we set the word “soul” aside, it’s easy to see that different levels of life experience produce different worldviews.
Newer souls — or people in earlier stages of their development — may be curious and kind but still lack discernment or depth. There is a naivety, and they don’t yet question as deeply, tending to see things in black and white, partly because certainty feels safer than confronting the unknown.
As we gain more experience, we begin to experiment. We test limits. We chase extreme external goals — sometimes at the expense of health, relationships, or inner peace — still operating from hunger, ambition, and the fragility of the ego.
It’s a necessary stage, but often a turbulent and unfulfilling one.
David Duval fell off the map after reaching World No. 1. Bubba Watson had his own “Is this it?” moment with his caddie, Ted Scott, after winning the Masters.
In Aaron Rodgers: Enigma, reflecting on his 2011 Super Bowl win, Rodgers said:
“Now I’ve accomplished the only thing that I really, really wanted to do in my life. Now what? I was like, ‘Did I aim at the wrong thing? Did I spend too much time thinking about stuff that ultimately doesn’t give you true happiness?’”
Jim Carrey once said, “I think everybody should get rich and famous and do everything they ever dreamed of so they can see that it’s not the answer.”
Eventually, though, something shifts.
We begin to see in shades of gray. Winning, dominating, accumulating—these pursuits lose their shine. The rewards feel more fleeting. Living in a constant state of fight-or-flight makes us feel alive, yes, but not happy and joyful.
Compassion begins to replace ambition. Love, presence, and gratitude become more fulfilling than status, profits, or trophies. We crave balance over burnout. Collaboration over competition. Meaning over metrics.
Interestingly, if we zoom out, we can apply this same model to nations and cultures. Countries, like people, have a collective “soul stage” made up of the individuals within them.
Take the United States, for example. I’d place it as a mid-level soul: highly competitive and deeply driven, but still learning emotional maturity. Still uncomfortable with nuance. Still believing that more is always better. Despite its global wins, the U.S. currently ranks just 23rd in happiness (as of 2025). You might liken it to a gifted teenager—bold, eager, and ambitious, but angsty and still figuring out how to live well and in balance. As much as a parent wants to protect their child, sometimes the child has to make their own mistakes to truly grow.
So when Scottie Scheffler wonders what the point of winning is, I don’t see someone losing strength.
I see someone evolving.
He’s beginning to look beyond the leaderboard. Beyond metrics of success that carry a lower vibration. And yet, in a poetic twist, Scheffler did go on to win The Open. But that only reinforces the point: even at the pinnacle, the question remains. And if more of us in the golf and sports world — and in U.S. culture at large — started asking similar questions, we might discover that the more meaningful trophy isn’t about accumulating or beating others at all costs.
It’s about awakening and evolving to something more than winning could ever promise.
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tom
Jan 12, 2015 at 11:03 am
if you want funny get a good look at jenkins freaking pic and that stupid combover —-for that alone he should be let go.
JEFF
Jan 9, 2015 at 12:42 pm
Again, this is what is making golf stupid….. and who cares~?
BOBBY D
Dec 10, 2014 at 1:36 pm
ELDRICK,THE CHEATER DOESN’T NEED ANY PRESS GOOD OR BAD…WIN AGAIN THEN WILL TALK…GOOD ON YA,DAN JENKINS !!!
ChipNRun
Dec 9, 2014 at 11:41 pm
Am I allowed not to care?
tariq
Dec 7, 2014 at 9:20 pm
who cares?
Jem
Dec 6, 2014 at 1:35 pm
One of the elements of good satire is that it contains an element of truth. Satire simply exaggerates and pokes fun at actual events. Jenkins didn’t make up any of the issues he discusses about Woods in his article. He merely satirized them. Tiger is known for firing people. He is notorious as a poor tipper. He is infamous for being self-centered. And his written response to Jenkins helps prove an old saying my daddy told me, “If you throw a rock in a pack of dogs, the one you hit is gonna howl.”
Nately18
Dec 3, 2014 at 2:21 pm
Have never liked Jenkins’ writing much–tiresome stuff, straining to be funny. The fake interview article is a good example.
J daly
Nov 30, 2014 at 8:06 am
It should be robelli. Judging by your response, you’re probably one of those players instead playing behind.
Robeli
Nov 26, 2014 at 12:08 pm
True.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/golf/tigerwoods/11240083/Tiger-Woodss-reaction-to-fake-interview-was-pathetic-and-the-self-pitying-cries-of-an-arrogant-ignorant-billionaire.html
H
Nov 26, 2014 at 8:59 pm
Honest!
H
Nov 26, 2014 at 9:05 pm
And objective!
Stan
Nov 25, 2014 at 10:37 pm
Is it still satire if it’s not funny? Hey Jenkin’s there’s no shame in asking me for writing help. I used to hate Tiger but am now rooting for him as long as it doesn’t come at Phil’s expense.
That’s kind of fudged up on Golf Digest’s part considering Tiger used to be a contributor.
Tim
Nov 25, 2014 at 2:29 am
Have a little laugh, everybody and cheer yourselves up
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g74DiyzadXI
Swingblade
Nov 24, 2014 at 1:09 pm
It doesn’t really matter who this so called “article” was targeting. Whether it was aimed at Tiger, or Phil, or any other professional, no one in the golfing community should be subjected to such offensive and libelous writings. Cloaking such mean spirited low class vengeful behavior in the misleading guise of supposedly humorous writing fools no one and this again has no place in the golfing community and certainly no place in Golf Digest. It is simply hateful and vengeful refuse. The author and the editor who allowed this piece of trash writing to be published need to be terminated. Period. No exception. I will terminate my renewal process with Golf Digest and cease buying issues at newstands until Golf Digest cleans house and apologizes. I suggest everyone who respects the game of golf do the same. And, no, I am not a Tiger fan in any way. I’m a golf fan who believes this should be a classy sport.
Hypo
Nov 24, 2014 at 9:44 pm
You’ve obviously never watched Saturday Night Live on NBC. If you have, and laughed at any of the jokes and parodies aimed at the famous people such as Presidents, then you’re a HYPOCRITE.
Jafar
Nov 25, 2014 at 2:39 pm
Those roles are played by professional actors and comedians. Their profession is to make fun of people in good taste, and they do an excellent job at it.
The job of a golf writer is to chronicle the sport and its impact on society. Last time I checked Dan Jenkins was not a comedian or an actor, nor is Golf Digest published by Comedy Central.
The only thing funny is how stupid people like yourself suggest this is somehow similar to a comedy routine. Your argument falls short when you can’t find another fake interview in any other sports magazine.
Comedians are paid to be funny. Journalists take classes for ethics for a reason.
People like you who can’t even sign their own name…throwing stones and then hiding your hand, now that’s hypocritical.
H
Nov 26, 2014 at 9:01 pm
Writing is writing, just as you did here, and the same goes for this article. And you’re just spouting opinion, just like everybody else. And satire is also just an opinion, done aritistically. Not a big deal.
Jem
Dec 6, 2014 at 1:21 pm
Have you ever read any of Dan Jenkins’ novels? 90% of what he writes is comedic satire on golf. This was not meant to be a piece of golf journalism, and clearly labeled as a “fake” interview. It is totally in character for Jenkins.
J daly
Nov 23, 2014 at 12:03 pm
Jenkins is a loser. Probably can’t even break 100 or even pick up a club.
Robeli
Nov 23, 2014 at 4:52 pm
Didn’t know that was the minimum requirement to be a golf writer.
rkristopher
Nov 24, 2014 at 11:19 am
Well, he did play college golf at TCU.
Barack
Dec 6, 2014 at 2:30 pm
Oh, shocking, he’s a white Texan Christian. No wonder he’s not a racist.
Cyd
Dec 29, 2014 at 8:45 pm
Playing the race card. I don’t think that word means what you think it means!
Redhawks
Nov 22, 2014 at 12:12 am
Since when is it okay for a so called “journalist” to fabricate in a public magazine in order to embarrass a very public figure, and then when he’s called out, plays it off as satire, “just joking Tiger”. Very irresponsible and plain stupid. Guess what Jenkins? If Tiger proves that he’s damaged or suffered loss because of your “interview”, you and the Enquirer, er’ GD, pays.
Robeli
Nov 21, 2014 at 11:22 pm
Dear Tiger,
People who live in glass houses shouldn’t throw stones.
Jeff
Nov 21, 2014 at 9:40 pm
Maybe Dan Jenkins was a Hall of Fame writer last week. There are far more Tiger fans in his world than Dan Jenkins fans. In a year when fans missed him on the course I really don’t understand the point of the article.
There is not an argument to be made that Dan Jenkins didn’t expect to make a buck at Tigers expense here. As a fan who misses seeing Tiger play, I feel defensive. I respect the mans contribution to the coverage of the game. Dan Jenkins is a Hall of fame writer. I’m 30, play golf, watch golf and read about golf, almost all because of amazing things Tiger did from 1999-2006. There’s tons beyond Tiger that I love. But my introduction to the wonders of the game came admiring the athletic ability of one guy. TIGER WOODS. It’s gonna take a lot for me to not really like the guy. I read the Haney book because I got it free. Fans are loyal, and the tiger hater’s this article panders to are in my mind the worst thing about this great game. So yeah, the article actually made me mad, and cancel Golf Digest. Paulina on the cover was fine but really Golf Digest? Trying to cut down the best player ever for his tipping? Whatever. GOLFWeek here I come. Europeans are so much more polite anyway.
Mark
Nov 21, 2014 at 12:36 pm
Dan Jenkins is a dinosaur that should have been put out to pasture years ago. One of the old breed, like Henry Longhurst who don’t think anyone outside the country club clique are worthy of playing our great game.
Cheeta
Nov 21, 2014 at 9:40 pm
Eldrick should have been put to pasture when he didn’t admit to using PED when he was connected to the one chemist with whom he should have never been connected!
Pat M
Nov 22, 2014 at 7:01 pm
Tiger is pretty much a dinosaur now. How many injuries before he writes off 2015 early in the year. Another year where he probably will not be able to play due to injuries. I hope I am wrong but the guy is a hypochondriac.
rymail00
Nov 23, 2014 at 7:16 pm
+100,000
Tiger is such a baby! What a hypochondriac!! Seriously….”oh poor Tiger, winning the US Open with a broken leg and torn knee ligaments” seriously I can’t even believe he actually decided to get surgery what p_ssy. And a pinched nerve/slipped disc…SMFH….unless you lose a limb, or your a quadriplegic your ass better be teeing up EVERY WEEK.
I pray Tiger reads this and knows how disappointed the golfing world is him with for not playing playing with broken bones and torn ligaments. This is golf god dang it. Man up!!!!
(Obvious sarcasm I hope).
Barack
Dec 6, 2014 at 2:32 pm
Nothing illegal about blood spinning to speed recovery.
Jem
Dec 6, 2014 at 1:26 pm
Funny that bigotry against old people is still acceptable. Whether against race, creed, or sexual preference, bigotry is still bigotry.
Take
Nov 21, 2014 at 9:57 am
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HYOB6lXyg-A
Take
Nov 21, 2014 at 9:57 am
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AMm9PtUo4kA
Take
Nov 21, 2014 at 9:56 am
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jQlEqz_QR0U
Take
Nov 21, 2014 at 9:55 am
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y0RIa1TE2Tg
Take
Nov 21, 2014 at 9:54 am
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BF_tmINuo1E
Take
Nov 21, 2014 at 9:53 am
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fGfVB9kA5QQ
Take
Nov 21, 2014 at 9:52 am
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1dzy_DbAFeo
Take
Nov 21, 2014 at 9:51 am
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5BVXiHh95Tc
Take
Nov 21, 2014 at 9:50 am
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eBrIV_L80vg
Robeli
Nov 21, 2014 at 11:39 am
So Will Ferrell can make fun of Tiger, but not Jenkins?
Take
Nov 21, 2014 at 9:48 am
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BlAWhTRvVUc
Take
Nov 21, 2014 at 9:44 am
The Real Tiger Woods Apology
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qpue5lHjEQ0
Robeli
Nov 21, 2014 at 11:02 am
So more than 2m people watched this satire, but Tiger or none of his followers objected to the same level as for Jenkins piece? What takes?
choppersmakemelaugh
Nov 21, 2014 at 9:01 am
I love all this talk about the Dan Jenkins article!
Two things are happening right now.
1)The WRX’ers out there aren’t bashing the new TM product like they normally do
2)People may actually realize this is not your fathers game anymore and golf is changing just like society. (Sad but true)
Pat M
Nov 22, 2014 at 7:02 pm
Golf is changing and Tiger is old news and always injured. Golf moves on to the Rory era.
J daly
Nov 23, 2014 at 12:04 pm
Shut your mouth
TigerWho
Nov 23, 2014 at 10:11 pm
Go Rory. Tiger is old news. I heard he just started taking lessons from Perry Como.
tg
Nov 21, 2014 at 5:16 am
Has Tiger got nothing better to do with his time then react to stuff written about him? He has stuff written about him pretty much daily – some good, some not so good? You would have thought that after 20 years in the spotlight he would have learnt to grow thick skin and worry less about lazy journalism like this.
Tiger’s reaction illustrates just how insecure he feels right now. He’s no longer top dog and he doesn’t like it and is lashing out. A few years ago he wouldn’t give a damn about this sort of stuff.
ND Hickman
Nov 21, 2014 at 6:09 am
How would you feel if someone was profiting from a mock interview (that was basically used as a character assassination) on you?
Rich
Nov 22, 2014 at 7:00 am
Character assassination? I think Tiger did that all by himself, starting when he decided to cheat on his wife by sleeping with every woman that he could get his grubby hands on.
ND Hickman
Nov 24, 2014 at 6:38 am
And that’s a valid excuse to make up an interview?
Robeli
Nov 21, 2014 at 11:10 pm
You nailed it.
Billy
Nov 22, 2014 at 2:53 am
Damn lamest article I ever saw…..
Joker
Nov 21, 2014 at 2:20 am
Wow. Amazing. I can’t believe so many people are taking the Jenkins thing so personally. Crossed the line? How would it have been, had it been on The Enquirer or some other supermarket shelf tabloid bullish_t magazine doing a parody. How about Mad magazine, with all them parody cartoons. So why would it be so serious when Jenkins did the same? Man, can’t you take a joke, people?
dapadre
Nov 21, 2014 at 7:56 am
So let me get this right we are comparing the Enquirer, MADD mag to GD and Jenkins? I think that was the issue, at least for me that Im buying GD to read GOLF articles not nonsense.
josh
Nov 21, 2014 at 12:27 pm
^^^ yup
Done with Digest
Nov 21, 2014 at 8:56 pm
^^ yup. Me too. I always hoped they could just stick to golf. I do t give a f*** about Dan Jenkins opinions. I have my own. I used to read GD to hear them report about golf. Golf, that’s it. I never asked about the personal lives, just what’s in the bag. What Score did they post.
Rich
Nov 22, 2014 at 7:03 am
So why are you here then?. This website only covers scores and clubs, NOT!
Shack
Nov 20, 2014 at 8:52 pm
I think DeMarco nailed it on the morning drive. Say what you want about his golf game and what he does on course. What he wants to do or say off of it, its none of our business if Tiger chooses it to be.
Someone is just salty that one of the worlds best to play the game doesn’t want to talk to you.
Good luck getting that interview in the future, by the way. Kill more bees with honey than vinegar.
B Coast
Nov 20, 2014 at 8:25 pm
Jenkins might as well be writing for the national enquirer! What a stupid article!!! (this coming from a non tiger fan) What if someone wrote “how so and so (fake) raped me”. If the pres of the PGA can get fired for calling IJP a “lil girl” then there has to something done when a writer slams his subject with things he thinks that person would say. Really though, he was out to make tiger look like an ass.
Its not about freedom of speech, otherwise the president of the PGA wouldn’t have been fired!
So stupid and yes I think something should happen to him and the editor of golf digest that approved it.
gvogel
Nov 20, 2014 at 8:12 pm
Ever since the totally scripted, manufactured press conference after the fire hydrant, with Momma in the front row, Tiger has been open season for sports writers. Let’s face it, tiger has allowed his life to be shaped by PR people, Steiny and the rest of the entourage.
Who else on tour has security guards to walk him from the practice tee to the first tee? Tiger doesn’t take a pee without security guards.
I suspect that if Tiger had consented to interviews with someone, anyone, a non-interested third party, then Jenkins would have left the subject alone.
Jenkins has been around long enough and covered enough golf tournaments to have won the respect of most of the great major champions. The fact that tiger has erected a wall to keep out all journalists, not just Jenkins, makes him fodder for parody.
Well done, Dan.
Josh
Nov 20, 2014 at 8:25 pm
That kind of sounds like extortion…do an interview with me or else! Definitely strong terms, but still very immature for such a suggestedly prolific journalist.
Josh
Nov 21, 2014 at 12:18 pm
Tasted a bit saltier than your mother did.
I’m not knocking anything because it’s PC or not…just knocking a badly written article posted in the wrong forum for it. If this was an article on the onion…written by professional satirists cool. If Jon Stewart talked about it…great. If will Farrell scripted it…par for the course.
But here is an author trying to get his 15 seconds in the spotlight in our Twitter drama society thinking he can ruffle feathers under the guise of satire because he couldn’t make the real interview happen.
He was called out because the article didn’t come across as funny or a joke. By your logic…we can and should shame people publicly if they don’t answer our demands of interviewing by whom and when we ask.
That being said…are you even aware of how many interviews or press events..or other media led events tiger has been a part of in the past 3 months….6 months…1year? Or do yo just get panties in a bunch when you can’t skewer someone for cheating on their wife?
And justifying this whole thing because tiger is pretentious? This is golf dude….a seasoned sport made elitist because of the prevention! That would be like calling you out for being an idiot because your name is Bubba…it comes with the territory.
Robeli
Nov 21, 2014 at 2:15 pm
So you say Jenkins or GD had no right to do satire?
And you are the judge to what is funny or not?
Josh
Nov 21, 2014 at 7:55 pm
Robeli , I’m not the judge of anything…in this case, tiger woods is. Digest tried to make a joke at his expense and he didn’t think it was funny. That’s really all that should matter. Is your need for a laugh more important than his feelings? I hate to sound overly sensitive…but that’s what this comes down to. Would I be pissed if this article was about me…I don’t know…would you?? In this case though, it doesn’t matter what we think because tiger has already spoken on the topic and voiced his distaste. if Jenkins was a man, he’d respond with what he thinks I’m a more in depth way than a tweet.
Jeff
Nov 21, 2014 at 9:21 pm
I’m with Josh. 100 percent. And he’s not and I’m not saying Dan Jenkins committed some great sin or terrible thing, it was just stupid. For what? Ok Dan, Tigers a mean, bitter guy. It’s irrelevant. it’s not original. Stale, not even funny.
My personal thoughts were, “hey, why not just tear into Ken Griffey, Jr. and John Elway, bash all the athletes Ive most loved to watch in my life then ask me to choose who’s side I’m on between my childhood hero’s and some hack writer, gee”
Now I’m not saying I admire Tiger in every aspect of his life, but I’m one that doesn’t care about his business, just the sports. I’ll never read the article, because I’m a Tiger Woods fan, and his opinion was clear, don’t read it unless you need to to make a decision about it. I’m perfectly clear where I stand. I’m gonna watch golf digest burn to the ground if they rally around Dan Jenkins, and I’m not gonna feel bad, because they really should know better.
Robeli
Nov 21, 2014 at 11:08 pm
J & J, at the end of each joke, is somebody. Does the person deserve it? Maybe, maybe not. However, if Tiger was a good tipper, if he had won a major in the last 6 years, it he didn’t called Sergio a ‘cry baby’, if he didn’t screw around and was faithful to his wife, …….etc., THEN Tiger had some ground to stand on by saying Jenkins was attacking his character. But Jenkins didn’t lie about anything – he just made fun about it. And nothing is wrong about that. Jenkins said it with a ‘tongue in the cheek’. So Tiger, if you not like people making fun about your bad stuff, then think next time, and act like a MAN.
golfpros1
Nov 20, 2014 at 7:37 pm
Funny… yes. Appropriate… no.
Golf Digest appears to be lowering itself for readership or something. The covers, the articles, it’s like TMZ these days.
Tony Lynam
Nov 20, 2014 at 9:47 pm
Couldn’t agree with you more. I did not renew my subscription because their new direction trying to attract hipsters and not golfers.
Ronald Montesano
Nov 20, 2014 at 7:12 pm
Not a fan of taking a run at Vonn, writers. No one asks me to model or sing, so we shouldn’t anticipate introspection from her take.
Pat
Nov 20, 2014 at 6:57 pm
Of course most of the posters here are Tiger slurpers so they would side with him. I’m on Jenkin’s side. Tiger needs to lighten up and get a sense of humor. This proves time and again and he’s a robotic a-hole both on the off the course. Honestly, if some writer wrote up a fake interview about me poking fun, I would just laugh it off. I actually had a good laugh reading his column. Some of you people need to lighten up and not take things so seriously. I’ve gone through more turmoil and physical pain than most, so what it’s taught me is to enjoy life, brush off the little stuff and roll with the punches. It’s OK to laugh at yourself people.
Rich
Nov 20, 2014 at 7:13 pm
The problem for one T.Woods is that everyone else is laughing at him too. Well, I know I was…………..
Josh
Nov 20, 2014 at 7:15 pm
This is the problem though…tiger’s brand is him. So any bashing is slanderous. You’re referring to letting it roll off your back as someone who doesn’t have millions to make or loose based solely on the public perception of you. think of the position he’s in…having a horrible year, and probably realizes how possible it is that he will never play as well as he has in the past…and here is some guy writing an article rehashing all of the worst things about you in golf’s preeminent magazine. One you used to contribute to none the less!
Rich
Nov 20, 2014 at 7:23 pm
I’m no lawyer but I’m pretty sure slanderous has to be baseless or untrue. I’m pretty sure the only person who believes the content to be inaccurate is Woods himself. Whether it’s below the belt is up for debate but not the accuracy of the content. Other posters have said it. If there was no response from Woods, then there would be no more discussion. Instead, the Jenkins “interview” is getting much more mileage than it would have. It’s his own fault again that there is so much discussion over this piece from Jenkins.
Josh
Nov 20, 2014 at 7:46 pm
tiger’s people mentioned this as slanderous in the letter…but of course they think all of the negative comments would be baseless! How much of this whole response by woods is really just a misfire by his PR team anyways??
Rich
Nov 21, 2014 at 5:52 am
The whole thing I’d say. Knee jerk reaction with the emphasis on jerk.
Brad B
Nov 21, 2014 at 7:49 pm
One would have to be an idiot not to recognize it wasn’t a real interview, a fool to believe those “answers” were “accurate,” and wholly unfamiliar with golf writers not to know that the article is consistent with Jenkins’ “style.”
It didn’t strike me as all that funny. As far as Tiger is concerned – – – foolishness by a public figure invites mockery.
Robeli
Nov 21, 2014 at 3:01 pm
If Tiger’s brand and image is so important to him, then maybe it would have been better for him to have given Jenkins that interview many years ago. But, then again, clearly Tiger hasn’t got the brains to have figured that out. Also, if you want your brand to be squeaky clean, then try to live a model and squeaky clean life. Just saying.
Ken
Nov 20, 2014 at 7:18 pm
Pat, isn’t easy to laugh it off when it’ isn’t about you?
RWC
Nov 21, 2014 at 12:52 am
If someone supports Tiger or one party or one point of view, then they are called “Slurpers?” Since you support Dan, you’re just as much of a Slurper that you accuse other people of. Expand your mind…
Ken
Nov 20, 2014 at 6:55 pm
How dumb of Golf Digest! Tiger took golf to another level. I’m guessing that translated into increased circulation. What do they do? Let a very lame article satirizing the golden goose go to print. Plain dumb. Bye bye GD.
Kyle
Nov 20, 2014 at 6:31 pm
Tiger’s no doubt. Jenkins is an old, bitter POS.
Forsbrand
Nov 21, 2014 at 2:23 am
Tiger who? The main problem is journalists are unable to write about wins or great rounds by woods so write about other stuff instead. Who cares, it’s all about Rory these days. Tiger is so yesterday!
Tom Duckworth
Nov 20, 2014 at 5:55 pm
Let’s talk about golf. I guess if your a hack sports writer and want to make a name for yourself attack or make fun of Tiger Woods.
Paul
Nov 20, 2014 at 9:37 pm
One thing Dan Jenkins is not is a hack sports writer. Hall of Fame writing career.
Robert Johnson
Nov 20, 2014 at 5:49 pm
Dan Jenkins should go by writers advice, that’s write what you know. So he’s a blank page..
Jeff
Nov 20, 2014 at 5:40 pm
I think Dan Jenkins is maybe more arrogant than Tiger. This is clearly a case of a bitter writer who did not get an interview with Tiger that he felt he was entitled to. Golf Digest should not fire him but he should be reprimanded and either Jenkins or the magazine should apologize. I don’t often stick up for Tiger I think for the most part he is not very friendly or accommodating to the fans, without those fans no matter how good he is he would not have the fame and future he has. But, Jenkins proved that he may be even worse than what he portrays Tiger as. I think Mr, Jenkins needs to take a hard look in the mirror he may see Tigers face looking back at him. I guess arrogance knows arrogance!!!!!
Rich B
Nov 20, 2014 at 5:17 pm
If there were numerous previous interviews between the two and some sort of respect, then this would be an article taken in jest. The fact that there is no previous association is the problem. So it doesn’t really make sense to do.
dabadass
Nov 20, 2014 at 4:35 pm
I love these miserable old farts who hate Tiger, especially one who used to write for Play Boy. I’m sick of these “holier than thou” self-righteous attitudes coming from both sides. This is nothing but an angry old codger taking cheap shots at people to keep his career going.
So my opinion… Tiger kind of made his own bed so should expect some cheap shots. Dan Jenkins should just retire. And finally the guys who should take offense to this are the innocent bystanders Jenkins calls irrelevant because they finished second to Tiger. If I were Colin Montgomery I would just send Dan a copy of my bank statement.
Zooch
Nov 20, 2014 at 6:49 pm
well said.
Robeli
Nov 20, 2014 at 4:34 pm
What Jenkins did, is no different than what Jon Stewart and Stephen Colbert do every weeknight on Comedy Central.
Jeff
Nov 28, 2014 at 4:30 pm
Except they have an established audience that expects that of them. They are satirists.
Dan Jenkins’ audience expects to hear about things that are true, about golf.
J Jonah Jonzone
Nov 20, 2014 at 3:55 pm
Waste of writing here…do we really have nothing better to talk about?
Talk about how his rehab going? Or the RSI TP review? Nike Vapor Official Woods review? Anything but this crap…
Rich
Nov 20, 2014 at 7:10 pm
+1, except TW rehab. Couldn’t care less
Jeff
Nov 28, 2014 at 4:31 pm
Read a long way into the comments for a guy who couldn’t care less.
Shortgame85
Nov 20, 2014 at 3:38 pm
I suggest those who may think Jenkins’ article is in poor taste should read Jonathon Swift, specifically “A Modest Proposal,” in which Swift skewers “..the ineptitude of Ireland’s politicians, the tyranny of the English and the squalor and degradation in which he sees many Irish living.” Jenkins’ article is satire. Woods is a public figure and, as such, is subject to the scrutiny of all kinds of writers, including those who don’t like him. He happens to be well paid for the position in which he finds himself.
mo
Nov 20, 2014 at 3:29 pm
FAKE LETTER BY DJ
Dear Tiger
Thank you so much for making me a household name. I’m going to sell more books than ever and get more press exposure whenever I write. Thanks so much for making me even more legendary. 😉
Your bud
D. Jenko
Jafar
Nov 20, 2014 at 4:06 pm
Tiger’s Response:
Dan,
No problem, I have all the money and fame in the world because I actually did something with my life. I understand you rode the coattails of my historic colleagues and that at the end of your life you have nothing to really show for it.
Nick
Nov 20, 2014 at 4:51 pm
He wrote (the best golf) movie of all time and a couple fantastic books. Like him or not (I thought his article was lazy and clumsy), he’s seen more golf in his lifetime than every person on this website combined.
Jafar
Nov 21, 2014 at 10:09 am
Which is kind why it’s disappointing to have him set this precedent.
If he’s the top sportswriter in the world, then why not act like one.
He should have done this on Pardon the Interruption when they use faces to act like another person.
If anything, now would be a good time for both of them to squash the whole thing and do a real interview.
Drew R.
Nov 20, 2014 at 3:11 pm
A fair amount of people have shared drinks with jenkins and have some dirt on him. Imagine what a jerk Tiger would look like if he clowned Jenkins on Jeter’s site? Satire shouldn’t be so low brow.
steve
Nov 20, 2014 at 3:09 pm
not allowed an opinion on GOLFWRX
Dbuck47
Nov 20, 2014 at 3:05 pm
In some courts of equity, two parties will come before the court seeking a resolution of a dispute. In some cases, the court will have no findings and leave the parties as they found them. I think such a resolution is appropriate for these two parties.
enrique
Nov 20, 2014 at 3:01 pm
GolfWRX inciting an argument…and then punishing members who get too hot.
Josh
Nov 20, 2014 at 2:57 pm
Made the mistake of looking at Jenkins Twitter feed…talk about a cranky old man…he apparently talks smack about everything he either sees. Calling Patrick reed a pro wrestler dressed for sailing? That would make for a good satire though…
Rich
Nov 20, 2014 at 2:37 pm
Two articles in a few days a about the same thing? Can’t we just move on please?
ca1879
Nov 20, 2014 at 2:31 pm
Jenkins got his nose out of joint because TW wouldn’t treat him like golf royalty and he’s been playing the cranky old man revenge game ever since. TW’s not my favorite character in the world and is partly to blame for this nonsense, but Jenkins is being a jerk. The real villains here are the editors at GD. Hard to believe people still read the golf tabloid.
Josh
Nov 20, 2014 at 2:45 pm
Exactly…the editors didn’t do their job of ensuring good topic and good writing.
Jose Jimenez
Nov 20, 2014 at 2:19 pm
Let me see, people are defending a billionaire who had his “feelings” hurt, the article made fun of actual events, but now people are up in arms about it,,,,,, wonder how many people has Tiger defended? NONE,,,,, in his world it’s all about Tiger,,,,, put you big boy pants on Tiger! Bet Golf Digest LOVES this!
Josh
Nov 20, 2014 at 7:08 pm
We are going to have to bar you from golfwrx and erase any mention of your posts for that statement.
Correct me if I’m wrong, but I think the uproar here is not tiger making a big deal of the article (in your words being a lil girl), but moreso how low the article quality is…and how weird it is that a serious golf magazine would bash someone who is pretty unrelevant right now instead of covering relevant topics…
josh
Nov 21, 2014 at 12:46 pm
Sorry…my facist threat as you call it, was a nod to people’s overreaction of the Lil Girl’s comment. I siding with you there…I do think PC overreaction has gone way overboard in our “Twitter/Facebook/everything gets blown out of proportion for 10 seconds…then everyone forgets about it” society.
Also, I don’t think, nor do I have the authority to ban you from GolfWRX. Again…just a nod to the President of PGA getting erased from the history books for the same comment you made…a decision I don’t really agree with.
Ironic though…how you didn’t “get” my comment’s comedy and then told ME to get a sense of humor? (and called me a bunch of names to drive home the point that you are a little person, unable to communicate in the real world, so you’ve taken to blowing up on posters in a golf forum…real tough, bruh)
…I simply think that Jenkins should stick with what he’s good at, and hone his satire in forums less potent than Golf Digest. I don’t think he should be fired…or called out by the PC police…just should take some writing lessons if he plans to make a foray into comedy.
God Bless you Bubba 😉
Josh
Nov 20, 2014 at 1:55 pm
I wish the onion wrote the woods article because I’m sure they could have given this topic a funny satirical treatment. Jenkins just submitted a poorly written article and the publisher didn’t do their job of editing or asking for better….
TR1PTIK
Nov 20, 2014 at 1:39 pm
I didn’t find it overly funny, but there was plenty acceptable punch lines and a few that went below the belt. At the end of the day, Jenkins should have been a little more careful with some of it, and Tiger should have just left well enough alone. No one really cared until Tiger voiced his opinion.
Robeli
Nov 20, 2014 at 1:30 pm
Integrity. Woods lost his in 2010, and now Jenkins lost his. Both will never get it back again. Period.
Jafar
Nov 20, 2014 at 1:36 pm
I forgot Tiger Woods is the Pope and not a rich sports athlete…
Dave S
Nov 20, 2014 at 1:36 pm
With that logic as our guide, we should just lock up everyone who’s ever committed a crime and throw away the key… no redemption possible. Come on.
Robeli
Nov 20, 2014 at 9:58 pm
Hmmmm…. but it’s OK to bash Jenkins, correct? Sounds like double standard.
golfiend
Nov 20, 2014 at 1:38 pm
It may be that neither had any all along.
josh
Nov 20, 2014 at 1:59 pm
this is a false comparison…tiger hits a golf ball for a living, integrity is not needed unless found guilty on the course of something(just ask millionare alex rodriguez) and only then it’s a small fine or a DQ.
Jenkins is a journalist…integrity is actually part of the job description.
Dave S
Nov 20, 2014 at 3:57 pm
This ^^
Robeli
Nov 21, 2014 at 11:16 pm
No integrity needed in golf, only journalism? Go read the Rules of Golf, section 1, under “The Spirit of the Game”. You may be surprised what you find there.
Josh
Nov 22, 2014 at 9:36 am
indidnt say that…I said this article claims tiger is a horrible person “off the clock” which really doesn’t matter to his success in the golf world…obviously unless he looses integrity on the course, which he’d be penalized for.
Jenkins chose to loose his integrity while working. His integrity AS A JOURNALISTS is in question here. The backlash from readers and tiger himself is fair penalty for that.
golfiend
Nov 20, 2014 at 1:19 pm
Tiger is fair game and not someone I would like to know personally. But what Jenkins did was not journalism, and if one would consider it as some type of journalistic writing, it was rather amateurish on a level of a junior high school.
farmer
Nov 20, 2014 at 1:16 pm
Not Jenkin’s best work, but big deal. If Tiger ignores it, it’s forgotten already. He should look at some of the Onion stuff.
Jafar
Nov 20, 2014 at 1:22 pm
If you let one person say something, they everyone will start saying it too.
For instance, let’s call you stupid and see if you don’t respond.
It’s no big deal, it’s just a comment on GolfWRX…
Carlos Danger
Nov 20, 2014 at 2:36 pm
Would you have ignored it if someone wrote that about you? Say, a co worker who you are notoriously not a fan of who was familiar with all of your most sensitive issues going on in your personal life wrote a funny little memo in the same format as this article, and then distributed it around the office…would you just ignore it?
Or, would you stand up for yourself and be a man (or woman) and let it be known that it is not acceptable to do that to you?
I know what I would do. And its not ignore it. Im with Tiger on this, whether I like him or not is not the issue…its about sticking up for yourself and more importantly having the right to stand up for yourself without others telling you to just bend over and take it.
J.R.
Nov 20, 2014 at 1:08 pm
Loved it.Tiger is D-Bag….
Dave S
Nov 20, 2014 at 1:39 pm
My (fake) Interview with J.R.
Me: So how do you feel about people calling you an ugly moron? Have you just accepted that your a stupid person, devoid of all intelligence?
J.R.: English is esy, Math are hard.
C.P.
Nov 20, 2014 at 2:37 pm
My fake interview with Dave S.
Me: Dave do you know the difference between your and you’re? Or have you just accepted that you’re a stupid person, devoid of all intelligence?
Josh
Nov 20, 2014 at 2:59 pm
My fake interview with C.P.
Me: does your monogram stand for Cocky Person, or have you just accepted that you are a stupid person devoid of any intelligence?
C.P.
Nov 20, 2014 at 3:34 pm
Actually Josh i’m very intelligent.
Dave S
Nov 20, 2014 at 3:55 pm
Well that escalated quickly! I guess C.P. didn’t like Josh making a negative statement about his intelligence, even though Josh doesn’t know C.P., and it was obviously baseless. Weird how that works, huh?! Thank you for making my point. Can’t blame TW for getting pissed.
Also C.P., are you aware that you’re supposed to capitalize the “I” in “I’m” even in the middle of a sentence? I guess we’ll just have to take your word on how intelligent you are. LOL.
jc
Nov 20, 2014 at 5:05 pm
This post is 1000% shows what’s wrong with the world today. This is golfwrx people not the grammar police, and if I’ve spelled or incorrectly structured my sentences C.P. save the 5 seconds of you life it will take to try and bash me.
EJR2
Nov 20, 2014 at 1:00 pm
Like it or not, Tiger is a public figure that has made a fortune being in the public eye. Having unflattering articles written about you, whether funny or not, is part of the package of being a celebrity. Its our society. You want to make money off the public you have to deal with this type of activity. Toughen up Tiger, if you didn’t want this type of life you could have been a range pro and avoided it.
Carlos Danger
Nov 20, 2014 at 2:38 pm
True, but are you saying that standing up for yourself is not allowed? Who cares how ignorant, evil, etc…you think Tiger is. It does not matter how funny, right, wrong, etc…you think the article was.
Its Tigers right to stand up for himself. Why would anyone have a problem with a guy for sticking up for himself, regardless of who he is?
dabadass
Nov 20, 2014 at 4:47 pm
Baba Booey!
Ed Resnick
Nov 22, 2014 at 10:28 am
So did he really stand up for himself or just b$&ch that the article was unfair? Id Dan’s satire was based on lies or falsehoods then Tiger could have refuted instead of whine. And as many people have pointed out by “standing up” for himself all he did was give this story enormous legs. So why did Tiger respond, it wasn’t to stand up for himself, it was his ego.
wendell
Nov 20, 2014 at 12:48 pm
This is a perfect example of why I cancelled my Golf Digest subscription. This “make believe” story Jenkins wrote sounds almost as bad as putting Dustin’s old lady on the cover. “Sounds” is the key word in my statement because I wont waste my time reading such crap.
Jafar
Nov 20, 2014 at 12:36 pm
On the side of what.
Some writer still trying to find significance in his own life, or the worlds best golfer ever?