At the Australian Masters on Saturday, Tiger had a . . . well, temper tantrum on the 13th tee box.
Via: PGA of Australia
Throughout his career, Tiger has had a history of showing his emotions, which are often unpleasant, on the course.
Woods played down an incident on the 13th tee where his driver ended up in the gallery after a wayward drive.
"I was spinning the ball quite a bit with the driver today and I didn't quite have it right," he said. "On 13 it was my mistake there, I got hot after a bad tee shot and let go of the club."
Throughout his career, Tiger has had a history of showing his emotions, which are often unpleasant, on the course.
Obviously, it would be inappropriate to excuse Tiger's actions, but they should at least be presented within context.
There is not something afoul in Tiger Woods-land. Tiger Woods is receiving unprecedented stardom from golf; he's positioning himself as one of the quintessential global icons of our time. Not only did he recently establish himself as the world's first athlete billionaire, not only will he likely eclipse all essential golf records within the next few years, not only is he the best golfer in the world and seemingly the most dominant athlete today, but he's one of the most influential, visible, and recognizable figures in the world.
"One day, when Tiger was just a kid, he was throwing his clubs around in a fuming fit when his dad said something like "Tiger, golf is supposed to be fun." And Tiger said, "Daddy, I want to win. That's how I have fun.""
Tiger does obviously need to be aware of his behavior because he is such an influential figure. But, ultimately, it is Tiger's temperament, his tightly-wound personality, and his unquestionable driving temperament that has made him the greatest ever. Tiger seems to expect more from himself than his peers; he openly states that, when he arrives on the first tee on Thursdays, he expects, not believes, not hopes, but EXPECTS to win.
I hope in the future that Tiger will curb his temper. As someone who has been unprecedentedly influenced by Tiger Woods in his golf and as someone who has witnessed (and, at times, participated in) the immature behavior, cattiness, and volatility that is junior golf, Tiger does need to accept his platform as golf's leading role-model.
However, I'm always willing to give the man a break as he keeps winning, keeps serving as a sports paradigm both on and off the course, and keeps doing this . . .
Play peacefully, not violently . . .
-Michael
There is not something afoul in Tiger Woods-land. Tiger Woods is receiving unprecedented stardom from golf; he's positioning himself as one of the quintessential global icons of our time. Not only did he recently establish himself as the world's first athlete billionaire, not only will he likely eclipse all essential golf records within the next few years, not only is he the best golfer in the world and seemingly the most dominant athlete today, but he's one of the most influential, visible, and recognizable figures in the world.
"One day, when Tiger was just a kid, he was throwing his clubs around in a fuming fit when his dad said something like "Tiger, golf is supposed to be fun." And Tiger said, "Daddy, I want to win. That's how I have fun.""
Tiger does obviously need to be aware of his behavior because he is such an influential figure. But, ultimately, it is Tiger's temperament, his tightly-wound personality, and his unquestionable driving temperament that has made him the greatest ever. Tiger seems to expect more from himself than his peers; he openly states that, when he arrives on the first tee on Thursdays, he expects, not believes, not hopes, but EXPECTS to win.
I hope in the future that Tiger will curb his temper. As someone who has been unprecedentedly influenced by Tiger Woods in his golf and as someone who has witnessed (and, at times, participated in) the immature behavior, cattiness, and volatility that is junior golf, Tiger does need to accept his platform as golf's leading role-model.
However, I'm always willing to give the man a break as he keeps winning, keeps serving as a sports paradigm both on and off the course, and keeps doing this . . .
Play peacefully, not violently . . .
-Michael
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