The Open Championship - 2009

[Clever_Iggy]

The Tiger article is really tough to argue with. Tiger needs to keep his edge on the course, but club smashing and strings of F-bombs seems so... amateur.

[Bagor]

Originally Posted by Clever_Iggy

The Tiger article is really tough to argue with. Tiger needs to keep his edge on the course, but club smashing and strings of F-bombs seems so... amateur.

I don't get that.

On one part of this board the general concensus is that to get Iginla into his game he needs to get mad yet here it's argued that Woods by getting himself into the same intense, angry frame of mind (which has worked for him) is amateur?

I recognise that golf isn't hockey but in the mind of a professional (winning) athlete why is throwing a fit considered amateur if the end result (in both cases) leads to a higher level of performance?

Can we say controlled aggression/anger?

[Clever_Iggy]

Originally Posted by Bagor

I don't get that.

On one part of this board the general concensus is that to get Iginla into his game he needs to get mad yet here it's argued that Woods by getting himself into the same intense, angry frame of mind (which has worked for him) is amateur?

I recognise that golf isn't hockey but in the mind of a professional (winning) athlete why is throwing a fit considered amateur if the end result (in both cases) leads to a higher level of performance?

Can we say controlled aggression/anger?

That's a pretty tough comparison. Like you said, completely different sports and if you read the article, Reilly is saying that that's not acceptable in golf. Iginla getting riled up in hockey is a whole different kettle of fish than Tiger smashing clubs, going on verbal tirades, etc...

What Tiger does is amateur because you'd expect to see that behavior at the local public course from some hack golfer. Not a professional in a sport where the players police themselves and etiquette is a huge deal.

I like Tiger and I like the passion that he has for winning/golf/etc... I like that he owns up to mistakes and is mad at himself when he makes a mistake (he really has incredible expectations for himself). I think he can have all of that without the smashing or yelling.

[GirlySports]

Originally Posted by Bagor

I don't get that.

On one part of this board the general concensus is that to get Iginla into his game he needs to get mad yet here it's argued that Woods by getting himself into the same intense, angry frame of mind (which has worked for him) is amateur?

I recognise that golf isn't hockey but in the mind of a professional (winning) athlete why is throwing a fit considered amateur if the end result (in both cases) leads to a higher level of performance?

Can we say controlled aggression/anger?

Iginla doesn't throw a fit, fighting and getting your team fired up is part of hockey.

A fit would be if Iginla missed on a penalty shot and slammed his stick over the boards or glass breaking it in two.

[HOOT]

Originally Posted by Clever_Iggy

The Tiger article is really tough to argue with. Tiger needs to keep his edge on the course, but club smashing and strings of F-bombs seems so... amateur.

Do you play golf or watch a lot of it?

Tiger is not the only player who acts like this however he is the one on camera 24hrs a day so it gets seen more than others. If you watch a tournament Tiger will be live for 100% of his shots when other players are replayed from moments ago so they can weed out the bad shots and just show you the within 10 feet approaches, perfect drives and 50 foot putts that are made.

Tiger has been doing this his whole career because he expects every shot to be exactly how he sees it before the swing. It has worked for his 14 majors and 92 pro wins so why change that now?

[GirlySports]

Originally Posted by HOOT

Do you play golf or watch a lot of it?

Tiger is not the only player who acts like this however he is the one on camera 24hrs a day so it gets seen more than others. If you watch a tournament Tiger will be live for 100% of his shots when other players are replayed from moments ago so they can weed out the bad shots and just show you the within 10 feet approaches, perfect drives and 50 foot putts that are made.

Tiger has been doing this his whole career because he expects every shot to be exactly how he sees it before the swing. It has worked for his 14 majors and 92 pro wins so why change that now?

I somewhat agree with you but then why would an article have to be written about it. The BBC made a big stink about it too that the big bad american had no manners. Rick Reilly didn't watch it on tv, he watched it in person and it was so bad he had to point out the bad sportsmanship.

[Bagor]

Originally Posted by GirlySports

Iginla doesn't throw a fit, fighting and getting your team fired up is part of hockey.

Yes he does.

Or... ok then, no-one ever gets angry in hockey.

Originally Posted by GirlySports

A fit would be if Iginla missed on a penalty shot and slammed his stick over the boards or glass breaking it in two.

No.

You're correlating hockey with golf where frustration is based on a single swing of an instrument.

[GirlySports]

Originally Posted by Bagor

Yes he does.

Or... ok then, no-one ever gets angry in hockey.



No.

You're correlating hockey with golf where frustration is based on a single swing of an instrument.

True. You correlated hockey and golf first

But it still remains. Everyone was faltering in the weekend at Turnberry. Don't you think Waston was pissed? Westwood was really pissed for bogeying 3 of the last 4 holes and choking away his dream. I didn't see one slammed club from anyone.

[Dion]

Originally Posted by GirlySports

Everyone was faltering in the weekend at Turnberry. Don't you think Waston was pissed? Westwood was really pissed for bogeying 3 of the last 4 holes and choking away his dream. I didn't see one slammed club from anyone.

Too me it comes down to personality. Some people are quite and reserved when it comes to missing shots while others can be quite vocal. While It doesn't excuse Woods behaviour it helps to explain why he reacts the way he does.

[Bagor]

Originally Posted by GirlySports

But it still remains. Everyone was faltering in the weekend at Turnberry. Don't you think Waston was pissed? Westwood was really pissed for bogeying 3 of the last 4 holes and choking away his dream. I didn't see one slammed club from anyone.

It's official.

Watson and Westwood are great golfers because they didn't slam their clubs.

[habernac]

Originally Posted by Bagor

It's official.

Watson and Westwood are great golfers because they didn't slam their clubs.

I'm a big fan of Tiger's, but I have to agree with the Reilly article. You compare Iginla getting mad, etc to Woods taking it out on his clubs. The only problem is that in hockey, agression is most definitely accepted as part of the game. Golf, not so much.

[Bobblehead]

Originally Posted by HOOT

Do you play golf or watch a lot of it?

Tiger is not the only player who acts like this however he is the one on camera 24hrs a day so it gets seen more than others. If you watch a tournament Tiger will be live for 100% of his shots when other players are replayed from moments ago so they can weed out the bad shots and just show you the within 10 feet approaches, perfect drives and 50 foot putts that are made.

Tiger has been doing this his whole career because he expects every shot to be exactly how he sees it before the swing. It has worked for his 14 majors and 92 pro wins so why change that now?

Did you read the article? It addresses that EXACT point:

Originally Posted by REILLY

I know what you're saying. We see more Tiger tantrums because TV shows every single shot he hits. And I'm telling you: You're wrong. He is one of the few on Tour who do it.

And Tiger has rebuilt his swing at least ca couple of times already. He is far and away the best player. This is just another part of his game he needs to rebuild.

[HOOT]

Originally Posted by Bobblehead

Did you read the article? It addresses that EXACT point:


And Tiger has rebuilt his swing at least ca couple of times already. He is far and away the best player. This is just another part of his game he needs to rebuild.

No I didn't read the article I was just replying back to the posters comments and I didn't think I needed to read the article to do that.

Also rebuilding your swing is a 100X easier than changing your personality.

[Bobblehead]

Sorry if that came of a bit harsh, but when reading the article that part jumped out at me because that was the excuse being given for Tiger - that lots of players do it, you just see Tiger since there is so much coverage of him.

For a pro-golfer I would think changing your swing would be one of the scariest things ever. But just because Tiger has "always been that way" doesn't give him a free pass. People grow up and this is one area remaining where Tiger needs to grow up.

And I'm sure all the guys on the tour are just as competitive as Tiger. You don't make the PGA unless you have the competitive drive to get there. Tiger is the best at focusing his drive, I think he is good enough that if he really wanted to he can also curb his tantrums.

This is a horrible comparison, but as Avery can be a great hockey player but his ass-hattery overshadows his skill, Tiger is probably the ultimate golfer but his tantrums seem to be becoming as big a story as his skill.

No one is asking Tiger not to be angry or upset when he makes a poor shot. Just cut out the outburst.

[Clever_Iggy]

Originally Posted by HOOT

No I didn't read the article I was just replying back to the posters comments and I didn't think I needed to read the article to do that.

You should have read the article because Reilly states that Tiger is one of the few that act this way. I'm not saying he shouldn't show emotion, but he could curb it a little to avoid long strings of F-bombs and throwing/slamming his club. And, like it or not, he's held to a higher standard in a sport that holds all of it's players to a higher standard of etiquette and professionalism.

[edn88]

This thread is getting too intense for a golf thread...

here are ten surprising facts about the 2009 Open Champion

http://www.pgatour.com/2009/r/07/22/...p10/index.html

[HOOT]

3. My street name is: 50-Cink.

Awesome!