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Sabbatini's rudeness occurred immediately after he dunked his 2nd shot into the water on 17 and lost any chance he had of winning OR beating Ben Crane (he was 1 stroke behind him at the time). Rory has a temper which probably simmered all day and blew when realized Ben-the human rain delay-Crane would be earning about $100,000 more scratch than him. It was classless and I'm certain that Nick Price and Ernie Els, among others, will have something to say to him.

What was fascinating to me were the reactions of Paul Azinger (noted fast player) and Nick Faldo (notorious slow player) in the booth. Azinger was ripping Sabbatini, while Faldo was also critical "Rory chooses to get upset" but without the emotion and vitriol that Azinger expressed.

I wonder if the annoucers mentioned that he was a "good guy" only to be PC. Zinger was ripping the guy, but softened his tone by mentioning he just has a temper. I don't think the annoucers say what they are really thinking.

FTR, as with everyone else here, I HATE slow play. But there are proper ways to handle the situation and Sabatini clearly was out of line. When you are playing for the $,$$$,$$$ these guys are, both the slow and fast players have a tempo that bests suits their game. But problems with the 2 styles should be handled after the round between the players and officials. No player should take matters in their own hands to the point of effecting their game or their partners.

I also hope this is the last time I hear the fans boo a player. I was ironically impressed that the fans on 18 picked up on Sabatini's actions - when you're at an event, it's not easy to know exactly who has honor, or is acting out of line - but not sure booing fits on the spirit of the game, especially on Tour. Silence is golden.

I literally had to change the channel because Zinger wouldn't quit ripping Rory. Obviously what he did was out of line, but that kind of self-righteous voiced disbelief is just ridiculous. Yes, we know this is rude, let's move on and talk about something else. I've always thought of Azinger as a classy guy but that high horse was not something he should have gotten on.

I had thought Rory was cursing at the fans coming off 18. If he was doing that to Crane that really is classless. You could tell from the post-round interview that Crane was well aware of the problem and he wasn't trying to be rude but rather knows he needs to work on it. I don't think he could have handled it better and it wouldn't surprise me if Crane begins to play more quickly. He seemed to really feel bad for what he had done and he absolutely refused to put any blame at all on Rory. Class act.

Slow play is more often caused more by not being ready to play rather than time spent over the ball. When the other guy is playing , you should be checking yardage,picking club , then start your pre shot routine as his ball comes to rest. With amateurs,, there is the paralysis by analysis problem where peopel think that they can hit to a specific yardage, rather than pick a club in the range. If I'm about 140 ,it's a full 8 unless there is wind. If its 139 ,I am not hitting it any different.

While I think everyone has made good points in this thread, I must point out one thing regarding the clock situation. They were not on the clock by the 17th hole, as reported by Judy Rankin who talked to the officials. So, Sabbatini's actions were completely classless and no one should try to defend him by saying that "they were on the clock and Rory had every right to play fast." They weren't on the clock, and he was completely out of line.

I mean, I hate (absolutely LOATHE) slow players, but when I get paired with one I don't freak out like that. I try to be as polite as possible, and I just slow down my routine quite a bit (I'm a very fast player). Crane was very gracious, and I agree with him and all of you that he needs to speed up his pace of play...but that does not make Sabbatini's actions acceptable by any means!

Though I'm a fast player, I always use the extra time a slower player "gives me" as time to read my putt better, judge my swing better, give me more time on where to play my next shot. Or just "veg" out and actually take a look around at the beautiful course I'm on and thank my lucky stars!
I imagine with millions on the line, I'd just have to be fined.

This is also the best medicine for whenever things aren't going as well as I'd hoped out there, I've found. I only wish I learned this 25 years ago.

I am curious as to what this game is coming to. Be a man Sabatini. Use your head. I am a fast player myself & I play a lot of golf with a lot of different types of players. THERE IS NO EXCUSE FOR BEHAVIOR LIKE THAT ON A GOLF COURSE. Sabatini obviously has no real love for the game. Standing behind the pin or putting out of turn on purpose................really proffesional. Props to Ben Crane for handling it like a gentleman.

Thanks for the info TTU. I also saw the incident on Pardon The Interruption. It's one thing for Sabbatini to walk ahead and another to stand behind the green and putt ahead. I guess he couldn't hold his frustration anymore. I am glad to hear that Crane acknowledged his slow play and was going to work on it. I suspect that Sabbatini's sponsors are not too happy about this bad publicity.

The PGA Tour probably will take some sort of action, most likely a fine. Don't look for any confirmation though.....the PGA Tour does not disclose any disciplinary action it takes against it's members. I don't believe there's anything the PGA Tour can do to Crane because he didn't violate any existing rules. He was on the clock for a few holes but the ABC crew reported that Crane and Sabbatini were not on the clock when they played the 17th and 18th holes.

The PGA Tour doesn't have the guts, or the backing from the players, to put any teeth into slow play penalties. Like Valeogut mentioned earlier.....the slow players know how to circumvent the current system so what's the point? Until stiffer penalties (i.e. added strokes) are put into place, slow play will continue to be the problem that it is. If you think Crane was slow.....wait until you see the pace of play at Pinehurst #2 this week!

We had what I thought was a similar incident this evening...single playing behind our foursome which included my wife who is still learning the game and myself who has only broke 100 once so far...went zooming by us on the 3rd hole to play the 4th...if I had known for sure it was his Scotty Cameron Futura putter we found on the 8th green I WOULD have sold it on Ebay...or kept it myself. Just because you are a fast player or by yourself, remember when you were just learning the game and it took you 10 strokes just to get to the green never mind the 4 putts. SHOW SOME COMMON COURTESY! We had let a single play through earlier and would have been glad to let him play through but just zooming ahead without saying anything is, like someone said, like taking the shoulder to pass all the stopped cars. WE would like to get there too and you jumping ahead slows us down even more.

And for that matter, the marshal coming by telling you to speed up makes me hit bad shots which, you guessed it, makes me take more shots which just slows me down, not speeds me up...

Sabbintini---never liked the guy before...and this just confirmed it. I don't care if your playing partner is in a wheelchair and has ADD...you play by the gentlemanly rules. Crane was at the time two shots off the lead...Sabbitini was off his rocker. Rude doesn't begin to describe it...the man was a j****** , period. Hats off to Crane, he handled the post round interview like a true pro. He is trying to speed up his game, much like Sergio did after Bethpage.

Isnt it also gentlemanly to consider the people youre playing with or the people playing behind you? If your playing partner may be punished for your actions then can you really blame him for his actions? I also hate slow play but I've learned to deal with it and I dont approve of Sabbitini standing behind the green but I feel that Crane also deserves some of the blame for what went on that day.

I think there are two different subjects.

Sabbatini's actions were unacceptable and he should be punished.

Crane's pace of play was unacceptable, and he should be punished.

The biggest sufferers were the group behind ,who had plenty of time to veg out. I would love to hear Mickleson's opinion on Crane.