in my eyes rory was not wrong for the way things went down.. i thought they had been warned and put on the clock more than once for slow play that being the fact, rory had all the right in the world for doing what he did on 17 if nothing else it showed the officials who was the reason for the ruling........how many times have all you golfers out there been stuck behind a slow group and your game goes to **** because of it.. and with that being said i think the pga needs to look at the rules and revamp them and not penalize one man in the group for what the other man does.. rock on rory............
Last edited by ForgedRbest : June 13th, 2005 at 10:29 PM.
Reason: inappropriate language
In Crane's defense, he did state in that post-round interview that he was aware of his slow play problem and that he was working on getting it solved...Regardless, I think Sab, was outta line and acted very childish! That would be like me getting on the shoulder and passing every slow driver on the road...I think it was terribly unnecessary...
I think the slow driver comparison is a good one. Someone driving at 15 mph below the limit is frustrating , but overtaking them on a blind bend makes you the problem. Similarly, slow players are a pain , but driving into them or abusing them makes you the idiot on the course.
I was wondering why Sabbatini only started rushing ahead on the 17th hole? if he went most of the round without having a problem why did he suddenly go mental towards the end? surely he could have just kept playing and sorted the problem out afterwards? Faldo and Azinger said it could have been due to a bogey at 15 or 16, but if that is the case then Sabbatini was just being petty. Credit to Crane though, he didn't let it get to him, and as Faldo said, it's up to the individual whether he gets upset or not about it.
I think the slow driver comparison is a good one. Someone driving at 15 mph below the limit is frustrating , but overtaking them on a blind bend makes you the problem. Similarly, slow players are a pain , but driving into them or abusing them makes you the idiot on the course.
Lefty - as a car enthusiast myself, I think this is the BEST analogy I've ever seen on this subject. Thanks for the excellent post.
Well Rory was way out of line and a complete jerk to do what he did on 17. Crane was honest and forthright in fessing up to the slow play being his fault. Sab should be fined ii not suspended. All that said I'd rather play a round with Rory than Crane in a heartbeat. Crane would drive me nuts, too.
I think the slow driver comparison is a good one. Someone driving at 15 mph below the limit is frustrating , but overtaking them on a blind bend makes you the problem. Similarly, slow players are a pain , but driving into them or abusing them makes you the idiot on the course.
Well, while I'm not defending Rory's actions, the slow driving analogy is fatally flawed IMO... excuse the pun. Doing what was suggested on the road is life-threatening, what Sabbatini did was simply rude.
At it's core golf is a game of etiquette and sportsmanship, these elements of civility should never be stripped from the game. While I dislike slow play intensely, I detest Rory Sabatini's behavior even more. Ben Crane's slow play is annoying, but Rory Sabbatini's actions are unacceptable.
Anyone who believes that the world belongs to them and everyone else should just get out of the way has no business on a golf course. Rory Sabatini is a punk who behaved precisely as one might expect a punk to behave. He is a hero to all those who think it's okay to hit into the group ahead if they deem their pace slow, shout back and forth to one another during their entire round (what, there are other people playing? 2 bad!) and leave raking bunkers, replacing divots and fixing ball marks to other, lesser golfers.
Even though they didn't like the way he blew off Crane, all the guys in the booth were saying what a good guy Rory is. He plays fast, and has a bit of a temper but is a decent dude.
Etiquette and sportsmanship comprise the core fundamentals of golf, without them, the game would be so much less. While I dislike slow play intensely, I detest Rory Sabatini's behavior even more. Ben Crane's slow play is annoying, but Rory Sabbatini's actions are unacceptable.
Anyone who believes that the world belongs to them and everyone else should just get out of the way has no business on a golf course. Rory Sabatini is a punk who behaved precisely as one might expect a punk to behave. He is a hero to all those who think it's okay to hit into the group ahead if they deem their pace slow, shout back and forth to one another during their entire round (what, there are other people playing? 2 bad!) and leave raking bunkers, replacing divots and fixing ball marks to other, lesser golfers.
I agree with everything you've said here cageydog... I'd still rather play with Rory than Ben, though I in no way support his actions.
I agree with everything you've said here cageydog... I'd still rather play with Rory than Ben, though I in no way support his actions.
No question. I have had to play with slooooow golfers before and it drives me crazy, I would suffer in a round with Ben Crane. I think he should learn from Sergio, who's greatest contribution to the sport was learning how to play at an acceptable pace. On the other hand, if I were playing with someone who was standing behind the green before my approach, the target wouldn't be the pin . I shoot in the high 70s and have a friend who struggles to break 100. We used to play a lot, but I couldn't bear his slow pace, which was like old Sergio but he took 105 shots a round , it was the pace, not the difference in ability that brought an end to our tee times.
shout back and forth to one another during their entire round (what, there are other people playing? 2 bad!) and leave raking bunkers, replacing divots and fixing ball marks to other, lesser golfers.
This goes too far, I do not think that you can link this behaviour to Sabbatini. I suspect he had been warned about being on the clock and lost it on the 17th when he realised his chances of winning or finishing in the top three had evaporated.
.... I suspect he had been warned about being on the clock and lost it on the 17th when he realised his chances of winning or finishing in the top three had evaporated.
I've never seen Sabbatini behave this way on Thursday or Friday when he realized his chances of finishing in the top 3
have evaporated!
We have slow players in our group on a Saturday morning. Like bad drivers ,they never think it is them. They are great guys to play golf with despite their slow play. We rib them about it ,but it does not seem to work. I'd rather play with a slow good guy than a fast moron.
This goes too far, I do not think that you can link this behaviour to Sabbatini. I suspect he had been warned about being on the clock and lost it on the 17th when he realised his chances of winning or finishing in the top three had evaporated.
I think that anyone who would behave as Sabatini did is exactly the type of person who would do these things. If Rory's good work on Sunday was a one time thing, then I am perplexed by the results of a Golf Digest caddie poll last year where they voted him the biggest jerk on tour. He is clearly out of touch with the spirit of the game.
June 13th, 2005, 08:12 AM
because of it.. and with that being said i think the pga needs to look at the rules and revamp them and not penalize one man in the group for what the other man does.. rock on rory............
. I shoot in the high 70s and have a friend who struggles to break 100. We used to play a lot, but I couldn't bear his slow pace, which was like old Sergio but he took 105 shots a round 
, it was the pace, not the difference in ability that brought an end to our tee times.
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