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I've been watching a little of the Master's on TV and is it just me or does Tiger act like an immature kid on the course. Every time he hits an errant shot, he either throws his clubs to the ground or has a whiny pout on his face. I understand that golf is about competition and once in awhile it's great to show a wave of emotions (I've slammed my clubs on the course once or twice) but I think it shows up other players and in the long run disrespects golf.

Now we have a thread that we can express love and hate for Tiger. Thank you noobie! Please keep the debate civil and within GR's guidelines.

Totally agree with you. However, don't assume that Woods is the only one doing it. Many pro golfers get angry, but you never see it because the media shows each and every movement by Woods. He gets more coverage b/c they know he'll bring them ratings, but more coverage means more scrutiny...and more scrutiny = more chances to make yourself look like a whiny crybaby like he does quite often.

I think these guys have the best sportsmanship and this is in no particular order:

1. Ernie Els
2. Vijay Singh
3. Phil Mickelson (most of the time)
4. Jack Nicklaus
5. Arnold Palmer
6. Gary Player

Some of the worst sportmanship:

1. Tiger Woods
2. Sergio Garcia (sometimes much worse than even Woods)
3. Colin Montgomerie
4. Tiger's caddie Steve Williams (kicking people with cameras!)
5. Pat Perez

I just read the Lenny Wadkins thread after I posted

I agree there are others who lack sportsmanship but with Tiger we expect more because he is planet earth's ambadassor to the game (whether he wants to be or not). Let's face it, golf is an extremely difficult game and sportsmanship matters a whole deal. To my knowledge, no one has perfected it- not even Tiger. If anything he should be humbled by the game and realize that you can never take winning or your talents for granted. Once he does, I think he could return to past form.

Perez is the worst I've seen. I don't think that Monty's that bad. He got on the wrong side of some US hecklers a few years ago and it followed him around. Sergio can be bad too, but what do you suppose would happen if fans yelled out to Tiger to hurry up and hit it ? I really don't think that Tiger is all that bad temperment-wise. He's not good , but not one of the worst.

I'm a big Tiger fan, but it's become so obvious that he is only a good sport when things are going his way. I know he is under intense scrutiny, and lots of pressure like none of us here can understand, but he is in a position to truly influence the game. If young players think its ok to throw clubs or curse, etc, they will do it, and the next generation of golfers will make golf look like football, basketball, etc... trash talk, arrogance, lack of respect for opponents.

I remember a story that Arnold Palmer told about when he was a kid, he threw a club at a junior tournament. During the car ride home with his dad, there was complete silence. When they got home, before Deacon Palmer let Arnold out of the car, he simply said, "If you ever throw a club again, you will never play golf." (something to that effect). It was a lesson that Arnold took very seriously, and he says it never happened again.

Parents of young players today are going to have a hard time teaching their children the proper etiquette, if they are constantly seeing their hero having tantrums.

wazman, I'm not just thinking of what the hecklers said to Sergio. I'm thinking of his pouting at the Masters while playing a fabulous final round, his claim that the USGA would have stopped play if Tiger were out there on Friday during the 2002 US Open, despite the fact that the average score was a couple of shots WORSE in the morning. That entire day was just terrible in terms of the conditions, and Sergio insinuated that Woods receives special treatment. I had forgotten about Perez...I'll add him to the list as well. That guy really has some temper issues. Not surprising that he and Tiger grew up playing in the San Diego area together then I guess...takes one to know one in this case.

14and18, since when has Woods ever talked trash to his opponents? I don't think that happens, at least not in a serious manner. They all talk trash to each other, but in a poking-fun sort of way. However, I completely agree with you that he's sending a bad message to all of the young golfers influenced by him. However, I will say this...I started playing when Tiger came along, and I have never yelled a curse word on the golf course, I've never slammed a club, and I typically play kind of like Retief Goosen (not ANYWHERE NEAR as good score-wise obviously, but I mean his calm attitude).

TTU, good point, I didn't mean to imply that Tiger talks trash... I guess I am just an idealist when it comes to sportsmanship, and I see golf going in the direction of certain team sports, where trash talk seems to be the norm.

Trash talking wouldn't bother me. My friends and I do it all of the time. The profanity I could do without though. A 7 second delay or something ???

I couldn't agree more with ya on that one. Just the heckling that goes on is itself a good example of how much closer to team sports golf seems to be getting.

wazman, a 7 second delay sounds like a great idea to me. They've already done it for the Super Bowl and awards shows, so it's definitely a feasible solution.

I am a huge Tiger Fan, but I have to say he is a whiner.
When he plays bad, he says I don't feel good, when he plays well, he says I am surprised I played well in these conditions, or I have been sick etc etc.

I for one am disgusted that this is what our children are watching, how about last year when he couldn't find a fairway and he took it out on an innocent tree, or he tears his golf glove off of his hand, throws clubs, his caddie yells at a cameraman and rips his camera off his neck!!!!!!!

I can go on and on, but I think you see my point.

Monty brought most of that "grief" on himself but that's for another thread. Besides, those huge rabbit ears are so cute! I've never seen Monty display bad sportsmanship and I don't think he belongs in the same conversation as these other guys.

Did anybody else read Phil's lips at the BellSouth last week while in the playoff with Rich Beem? I think it was the third or fourth playoff hole and Beem lagged a great putt near the hole. As he walked to mark his ball, Phil, with a noticeable smil on his face said "Nice putt" to Rich. In a playoff, more so than regular play, that is great sportsmanship.