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***straightshooter*** · #6 (**permalink**) December 17th, 2007, 10:13 PM

I found this opinion-piece on the web:

Quote:

The tactless South African was dead last, 28 strokes behind Woods after Saturday's third round.
Sabbatini had been planning a trip to Maui for Christmas, anyhow -- so he left word with his agent to tell tourney organizers he had "shin splints," took off for the airport that night in a courtesy car without notifying anyone how to find it, and...
Vanished.
So Sabbatini was a no-show on Sunday, and his fellow pros were steaming.
Among other things, they didn't appreciate the disrespect toward Woods, who has made them all millions of dollars.
"I think I could have toughed it out one more round," Mark Calcavecchia said.
Couples rolled his eyes when told that Rory's agent mentioned the supposed shin splints.
"Of course, he did," Couples told the Associated Press. "And Roger Clemens' agent said he didn't do steroids."
Woods chose not to comment, but everyone on the Tour knows the "Tiger Rule."
Golf's megastar may hold his tongue, but he never, ever forgets a slight.
Tiger once refused to play in an event because two decades earlier, he was denied access to the driving range because of his skin color.
So Sabbatini now has riled Woods beyond all redemption, and by faking an excuse to skip the final round Sunday, he's angered his fellow players, as well.
For the record, Sabbatini received $170,000 in prize money for finishing last.
"He should give (the money) back to the foundation," Couples said.
That's what Tiger did.
For a second straight year, "The Man" donated his entire winner's check of $1.35 million to the Tiger Woods Foundation -- an organization which now has aided over 10 million children.
But hey, maybe Sabbatini needed the cash for a day-early surcharge on the flight to Maui.

I didn't see what the big deal was at first. Withdrawing due to injury? No biggie! But from this it sounds like be may have ticked quite a few colleagues off once again. It will be interesting to find out which path he will take next year.