golfrewind.com

Looks like Ricky Barnes' temper flared up BIG time. Do you think that a monetary fine is enough punishment? Do you feel this behavior is OK, and just adding "personality" to the Tour?

http://sports.yahoo.golfserv.com/gdc...e.asp?id=29495

The behavior is certainly not OK in my opinion, though I do believe that no matter where you go, you are going to get somebody like it. I think a fine is enough punishment, as how many people here can honestly say that they have never got angry on the course? While they may not have gone to lengths Ricky did, they still got angry?

I believe that is simply Ricky's way of blowing off steam. It is definately not acceptable, but thats the way it is. He should have apologised to his playing partners

That's key. It's too bad, the world is his for the taking if he could get it together. It doesn't sound as if he's one of those guys for which expressing anger is a useful outlet.

Very poor behavior from Barnes and the lack of an apology is wrong, but like someone said, there are guys like that everywhere. Barnes sounds like a John Daly waiting to happen, I wouldn't wonder that he has other off-course issues as well.

I think fining Barnes is perfect. He doesn't make a whole lot of jack, so hit him where it hurts. The PGA tour, however, needs to come up with a better way to punish Tiger for similar behavior. He'd hardly notice a $5million fine

That's way too rational of a post for those that see no problem with professional players acting unprofessional! You'll find that it doesn't matter what Tiger does or what happens to him (both good and bad)....somebody will be unhappy about it.

LG, first of all, my humble apologies for being "rational" . Comes with being a mature professional human, I suppose.

Secondly, someone, sometime please give me a reasonable explanation of why "some people" are so invested in this golfer that they get their knickers in such a twist. I mean I can understand young girls getting all gushy about a good looking, rich young man but what about all these otherwise "normal" people obsessing over him? I mean to the endorsers, every comment written on a BB,as well as in the news media, makes him more attractive. No such thing as bad publicity in the marketing world. Do the "haters" realize they are helping perpetuate his popularity?

eh hes a kid we have all done it once or twice, perhaps not at that level or in front of cameras but that doesnt change the fact hes human. he broke the rules he payed the price another day tommorow

No apology necessary Donnakay. There seems to be less and less of us rational humans.

Barnes behavior was unacceptable from a hack at a local muny, much less a professional golfer at a country's National event. Because he's young and a golfer, we're supposed to excuse rude behavior? I don't think so!

What's really frightening is that this kind of behavior could be the wave of the future as golf and golfers follow the example of other sports.

where have u been, young players in most sports are arrogant and unprofesional, case and point nba, nfl, nhl, just pic a sport

Hello everyone: I can't condone Ricky Barne's behavior is any fashion. Having said that, I believe we all need to step back a bit and give him some air. All young men who excel in sports are passionate. They all erupt in their own ways. Ricky is one who apparently must "blow" to retain some sense of sanity. If you can relate to this you know what I'm saying. His behavior was unprofessional and casts a long shadow on him for now. The fine should be proof enough to him this kind of tempermant will not be tolerated. He should learn from it and we should step back and see if he does.

So let's see - according to this he slammed his club into the ground twice, hit a tree, and lost concentration over a putt or two.

First, and this is only MO, he gets all the punishment he deserves for missing putts - it cost him prize money.

Second - I honestly feel it is a bit rich from MOST golfers to complain about pros who slam the clubs into the ground. Ask yourself - do I EVER do that? I'd guess most of us do from time to time, when we're playing poorly.

The article does mention anything about Barnes mouthing off - he was not fined for language.

It's not pretty, but it happens. IMO Barnes' biggest failing here is that he didn't apologise to his playing partners.

So by all means fine him, but golf is a serious game and people who take it seriously will occasionally show their frustration, and expecting the pros to be any different is unrealistic.

"Similar behavior? Want to show me a tourney in which TW was close to the lead and upon falling back, deliberately missed putts and carried on for the entire round like that? Sure, I know Tiger's mouth gets away from him sometimes and he occasionally slams a club, but he does not behave like an irrational child for an entire round. He vents and moves on - like most of us."
Wake up, Donna. Did you watch the end of the T.W.C. Sunday. They played a video of Tiger "highlights" which included slamming and throwing clubs and walking off a tee box taking a full swing at a bush with an iron. And we all know he curses constantly on the course as well.

"And he gets fined just like everyone else. People confuse me.....they complain about him received unequal treatment (tv time, WGR point system, high appearance fees) and then complain again when he is treated equally"
Do not, I repeat DO NOT, try to lump me in a group with anybody! I don't complain about unequal treatment, I don't complain about TV time, I don't complain about the WGR point system and I don't complain about high appearance fees. Also, Ms Rationality, I am not a Tiger hater. I have no clue where you drew that brilliant conclusion. All I said is that I don't think a small fine would deter someone like Tiger, or ANYONE WHO MAKES THAT KIND OF $, as much as it would a lower tier player. That's life. I'm not complaining about anything. GET IT???