The American Spectator

andrew| 7.16.10 @ 5:46PM

Why should Tiger go out of his way to make Watson feel good. Watson had nothing but derogatory remarks when Tiger was taking time off and was trying to get his life back together. Tom Watson is not the "good" guy you are trying to paint him. Stop painting Tom in a good light while painting Tiger in a bad light. His problems off the golf course have nothing to do with his game of golf. Millions of fans would disagree with you about Tom Watson - let him get on with his life.

JDavis| 7.17.10 @ 9:15AM

Woods should have tried the Southern subtle sarcasm of exaggerated politeness.

Bless his little heart.

Alec| 7.17.10 @ 11:26AM

ha ha

PCC| 7.16.10 @ 6:57PM

I won't knock Woods for failing to shine the shoes of a man who publicly criticized him.

Watson is no saint. Respect is a two-way street.

Mthpeace| 7.16.10 @ 9:01PM

I'm afraid Tiger Woods is who he is. There is no positive correlation between the virtues that constitute good character and tremendous athletic ability. If Mr. Woods had injured his back twelve years ago and wrecked his golf swing, we would never have heard of him in any positive fashion.

David| 7.16.10 @ 9:09PM

Tiger actually let Watson finish his round today by marking his ball on the green on 18 and waving them on to hit their drives so Watson wouldn't have to come back tomorrow to play 1 hole. Get your facts straight dude.

Jack Savage| 7.16.10 @ 9:28PM

David - Exactly right. I am no fan of Tiger, but the simple fact remains that his group showed Watson's group a courtesy today without really needing to.

Bill| 7.17.10 @ 3:46AM

Quin your clueless...Tiger may be a bad role model but he showed REAL class letting Tom Watson "play through" today...david & jack are right....When's the last time you saw that in a pro event? Never. Classy move Tiger

Quin| 7.17.10 @ 6:57AM

The "play through" gesture wasn't a gesture of respect for Watson, it was what any group would be expected to do if it were near dark and players knew the horn was about to be sounded. By marking, they let the other group hit their tee shots, which allows them to finis the hole after the horn soudns if they choose to. It was a courtesy they would have extended to ANY group, not just Watson.

K P Winterer| 7.17.10 @ 7:01AM

I agree that Tom was right on in his criticism of Tiger. . . he certainly had lots of company agreeing with them. I, for one, can no longer support Tiger as I once did and find him personally rather pathetic. He swings like a dream but class? He has none. BTW, 'Quin, your clueless' is certainly a sign of our advanced education system. Will grammar ever be added back to our schools?

ElHarro| 7.17.10 @ 7:15AM

Tom Watson whined about the lack of respect from Tiger??? Awww. An 8 time major winner was rebuffed by the shiney new Masters champ in 1997? No chance for Tom to bask and act like a mentor? Awww.

Tom has always been a moralizing scold whose personal life is not flawless. Whose is?

nevermind| 7.17.10 @ 7:34AM

As smart and talented as he is, Tiger has obviously shown he can also be very stupid. I see other posts from people making excuses even dissing Tom Watson. The proper thing to do was give Tom Watson some props. A few kind words. You know...take the high road.

I hope Jack Nicklaus's record of 18 major titles does NOT get broken by Tiger. I used to root for him to do it. However, that has changed. It's my choice, just like Tiger chooses to not say anything nice or show respect for Tom Watson, regardless of what Tom has or has not said about Tiger. Sometimes the truth hurts.

Rick H.| 7.17.10 @ 8:19AM

I cannot stand Tiger Woods, even before he showed what he really is, but this is kind of nitpicky.

Yo Landa| 7.17.10 @ 8:32AM

Pardon me if I decline to worship Tom Watson, or any sports figure. He has hit a small ball around in a luxurious setting for a number of years. Big deal. Tiger is a complete loser and I will never be shocked by his lack of grace.

Rogue Wave| 7.17.10 @ 8:32AM

Eldredge is rapidly becoming just another golfer who lost his touch and no longer one whose talent at hitting the ball and increasingly rare smile over-shadows his oppressive arrogance.

C S Lewis| 7.17.10 @ 8:39AM

Quin... your article is not true and your response makes no sense.
It's just in your mind that Tiger marked his ball as any other player would do in the same circumstance.
Tiger has not said anything about Tom and any sins in his life so you are just projecting.
I believe in praying for people to overcome and become what they should be. We all sin.
So it's not a good idea to grade people on how many sins they have committed.
You've got to take that beam out of your eye. My brain never lets me forget any sin I've committed from my earliest age so I can't pass judgment. I know they're forgiven by Christ at the Cross - but we live with them.
It's time to get over judging because it tends to make one feel smug.
And for all those who want to align Tiger with Obama (I suppose because he is black) that is just stupid and there is no justification for it.

IXLR8| 7.17.10 @ 10:57AM

It is only a game. It is not real life.

russel| 7.17.10 @ 11:00AM

I think that Quin might have been offering that golf has always been a gentleman's game . The golfers from the old school all agreed that Woods doesn't adhere to this unspoken aspect . He's an embarrassment . One doesn't bring a basketball to a chess game .

CLOB| 7.17.10 @ 12:36PM

Tiger Woods is no gentleman! He is an arrogant, self centered, poor imitation of a man! He was glorified by his fans and media and he proved them wrong by showing his true colors! Tiger does not deserve to break Jack Nicklaus' record! Tiger has his opportunnity and he misused it in a very big way! Tiger's tarnished name will be always linked to his sex scandal !!!

andrew| 7.17.10 @ 4:20PM

CLOB ,nice to see you continuing your negative Tiger rant. As usual you are obsessing with him again and you really need to get on with your life.
It is time to move on . By the way - I am a fan of his and do not call me any of your childish names you normally use.

CLOB| 7.18.10 @ 9:57AM

The problem with all Tiger’s die hard lunatic fans like you is that you are deaf, blind and dumb to accept the UGLY TRUTH about Tiger who is nothing but a very troubled, morally corrupted man with serious emotional and character issues. Tiger will continue to be a prisoner of his despicable and repugnant behavior for a long, long time!!!

Ken (Old Texican)| 7.17.10 @ 2:31PM

Quin,
It breaks my heart that Tiger turned out to be merely another cad.

Now, in my mind he is just another gofer, (intended).

On the other hand, his wife may be just another gold-digger....and boy did she hit the jackpot.

Quin| 7.17.10 @ 5:52PM

Just for the record, I actually defended Tiger, sort of, when the media started going nuts on him after his scandalous behavior came out. I wrote, here at the Spectator, that the media was too silent before the scandal about Tiger's other bad behavior, ON COURSE, which is what matters, but that they were too prying about his private life, which of course is tawdry but also is nobody's business. So I'm just being consistent in writing that graciousness on and around the course should be a requirement for all good golfers. Part of grace is hanging around to pay homage to a great former champion when the former champ is (probably) playing his last-ever competitive round (not counting senior events) at the home of golf. It would have been even more significant considering the bad blood between Watson and Tiger: What better way for Tiger to show he has turned over a new leaf than for him to turn the other cheek to Watson's criticisms and pay homage to a great career that included setting a great example on the course, as Watson did for 35 years. To the comment that I need to look at the mote in my own eye because we all sin, etc., you miss my point. I am not criticizing Tiger's private life. I am criticizing his public behavior in a game that is built on character. Defending the honor of the game of golf is always a valid endeavor.

PCC| 7.17.10 @ 9:31PM

Dear Quin,

I think you're right to say that Woods missed an opportunity, but I don't blame him for not bowing to a fellow golfer who missed his own opportunity to say, 'none of my business'.

Oldefarte| 7.18.10 @ 1:23PM

Oh, concerning the unrelated Vitter issue, I just discovered the following [Newsmax] information [re: Vitter's ex-aide who threatened his/aide's life with a knife]:

".....Vitter's office has refused to address questions about Furer. But a retired Marine general, James E. Livingston, is defending the senator and Furer.
In a letter to ABC News, later released to the media, Livingston said Furer was a veteran of Operation Desert Storm who had seen horrific wartime action, including the deaths of comrades.
"When faced with Brent's troubles, Senator Vitter could have chosen political expediency and allowed Brent to flounder on his own in a time of need. Instead, he tried to allow Brent the best opportunity to seek help and get better while never downplaying the severity of the charges — of which assault was dismissed," Livingston wrote....."

Oldefarte| 7.18.10 @ 1:27PM

Correction: the life threat involved the aide/Furer threatening his/aide's girlfriend!!!!!

crob 644| 7.19.10 @ 9:55AM

Tiger is not an alumnus of Stanford, he dropped out. Beyond that, all the Saints are dead.

solo| 7.19.10 @ 11:11AM

Quin....I have to agree with you on Tiger's general bad behavior on the course. He's not much with the fans, either. He is aloof and a bit self-centered, also.
He supporters would point out that this is because he is so "focused on the prize". I'm not sure that I buy that.

You may remember the event shortly following the tragic death of Paine Stewart. Every one of the participants joined in a symbolic "send-off" by launching tee shots into the water as sort of a "21-gun salute" While they were doing this, Tiger remained on the practice green working on his putting stroke. Classless! Totally classless!

That having been said, however, I'm not sure that your criticism of Tiger's lack of grace is targeted at the correct spot.

Had he approached Watson at the Bridge, it would have been viewed as "stealing the spotlight" during Tom's moment.

What Tiger should have done was wait at the 18th Green for Tom to finish out, remove his hat, shake Watson's hand and congratulate Tom Watson for his contribution to the great game of golf at its birthplace, St Andrews. It would have been a moment for the ages.

Of course...Tiger didn't do that either!