April 2008
A year of controversy
Lisa Longball gives us the scoop on the latest happenings in the golf industry
The 2008 PGA Tour is in full swing. Looking back, 2007 had its share of news stories and controversial topics—ranging from teenage phenom Michelle Wei’s poor play and outspoken South African Rory Sabbatini’s playing performance comments directed at Tiger Woods to Gary Player’s revelation at the British Open that he knew for a fact there were PGA Tour players taking steroids. Well, 2008 is off to a bang with its fair share of headline grabbing and at times, “soap opera-like” storylines.
A cool shot: Lisa Vlooswyk prepares to tee off at the Columbia Icefield in Jasper National Park.—photo courtesy Lisa Vlooswyk
The year started off with the season opening Mercedes Championship at Kapalua on the island of Maui. There was trouble in paradise, or at least on the way to Fantasy Island, when rough-around-the-edges tour player—I don’t know how to add up a playing partner’s score card properly—Boo Weekley, almost didn’t make it to the tournament.
Weekley, an avid outdoorsman, accidentally left two bullets from his rifle in his carry-on bag from a hunting trip he took in the off-season to Illinois. Airport security detected the ammunition and detained Weekley.
“I just begged and pleaded,” Weekley said. “I just sat there and shook my head like I was an idiot, you know? They confiscated the bullets and then broke down a bunch of stuff, got in everything and put a flag by me. They said they were going to red flag me.”
After several missed flights and connections he finally made it to Maui where he eventually tied for 23rd and pocketed $76,000.
The season opening event also saw one of the biggest news stories of the year develop. Kelly Tilghman, golf’s first female analyst with the Golf Channel, was light-heartedly conversing with co-anchor Nick Faldo late in the Friday telecast. The two were discussing how young up and coming players could challenge Tiger Woods.
“To take Tiger on, well yeah, they should just gang up for a while until . . . ”, said Faldo.
And Tilghman interjected, “Lynch him in a back alley.”
A flurry of controversy ensued with big guns such as the Reverend Al Sharpton weighing in calling for Tilghman’s dismissal.
“Lynching is not murder in general; it’s not assault in general,” said Sharpton. “It’s a specific racial term that this woman should be held accountable for. What she said is racist. Whether she’s a racist . . . is immaterial. She’s a broadcaster. The channel has to be accountable to the public.”
The Golf Channel decided to suspend Tilghman for the next two weeks and publicly denounced her choice of words. As for Tiger Woods’ reaction, he considered it a non-issue. His agent released the following statement: “Tiger and Kelly are friends, and Tiger has a great deal of respect for Kelly. Regardless of the choice of words used, we know unequivocally that there was no ill-intent in her comments.”
However the buck didn’t stop there. Just as the controversy was boiling down, golf publication Golfweek Magazine used the image of a noose on the cover of their January 19th issue. There was an immediate negative outcry. Advertisers threatened to pull out of the magazine and PGA Tour commissioner Tim Finchem was fired up stating that Golfweek’s use of an image of a swinging noose on their cover was “outrageous and irresponsible” and “smacks of tabloid journalism.” As a result, editor and vice-president of the magazine Dave Seanor was fired over the incident.
The second event of the season, the Sony Open, was not without its news stories as players started to air their discontent with the newly instated cut-line policy. In an effort to address the growing number of five-hour+ rounds due to an inordinate amount of players who had made the cut, the new policy reduced the starting field after 36 holes. Typically, the top 70 scores plus ties advance to the weekend which has led to fields of up to 92 players.
In the new rule, if the number of players who made the cut is greater than 78, only the closest number to 70 players would return for the final two rounds. The players who made the cut but were not allowed to tee it up would still receive official last place money and FedEx Cup Points.
At the Sony Open, 87 players made the cut. Sixty-nine players finished at 1 under, thus 18 players were sent packing with $9,699 in prize money and 46 points toward the FedEx Cup. One disgruntled player posted an anonymous one-question survey in the locker room: “Do you agree with the new cut policy?” Six players bucked up and said no.
One tour player willing to go on the record was Steve Stricker, runner-up at the Mercedes Championship.
“I don't like the rule,” he said. “It just seems like it doesn’t benefit any of the players. It seems like our tour is about giving opportunity, and here’s one they’re taking away.”
After much outcry, the PGA Tour amended the policy as of the Honda Classic. The cut will remain at the lowest 70 scores and ties but if the number is greater than 78 players, an additional cut will be made after 54 holes. That cut will reduce the field to the low scores nearest 70 and ties. Still in line with the original policy, all of the players eliminated after the second cut will receive prize money and FedEx Cup points.
January on tour wrapped up on a sad note with the announcement of the tragic death of tour caddie Steve Duplantis. Duplantis was killed on Wednesday night of tournament week at the Buick Invitational when he stepped off a centre median and was hit by a car while crossing the street.
The week of his death he was looping for Eric Axley. Duplantis has worked for some of the game’s best including Jim Furyk, for four of his tour victories, until eventually Furyk had to let him go for being late too many times.
He also guided Rich Beam to his first tour victory in 1999 and was on the bag for Tommy Armour III at the 2003 Texas Open when he set the PGA Tour’s 72-hole scoring record.
Duplantis was well known for his late nights on the town and his tardiness as a result. His “John Dalyesque” lifestyle was featured in the book Bud, Sweat and Tees.
“Am I shocked by this? No,” Armour commented. “I tried several times to get him some help. And I told him in 2003, ‘Bud, if you don’t change, you’re going to die a tragic death'.”
Comedy often goes hand in hand with tragedy and no phrase has been truer when you take Ian Poulter’s quote about Tiger Woods into consideration. In the March issue of the United Kingdom’s edition of Golf World Magazine, Poulter implied that all the other PGA Tour players weren’t a threat and that he was really the only one who could give Tiger a run for his money.
Poulter was quoted saying, “The trouble is I don’t rate anyone else. Don't get me wrong, I really respect every professional golfer, but I know I haven’t played to my full potential and when that happens, it will be just me and Tiger.”
After the article was released Poulter took a great deal of flak from both the press and players. Poulter claims he was misquoted and it was taken out of context. Woods had some of his own fun with it. When it was pointed out to him that the gap between Woods and Phil Mickelson (the number two ranked player in the word) was greater than the gap between Mickelson and the 1,000th ranked player in the world, Woods replied with a big Tiger Woods smile, “I thought Ian Poulter was the World Number 2?” Perhaps Poulter and Sabbatini can start a support group.
As for other bonehead moves, former PGA Tour player Tripp Isenhour, who lost his tour card this season due to poor performance and is playing the Nationwide Tour, may be losing more than that. Isenhour is up on charges of cruelty to animals and killing a migratory bird. Isenhour killed a red-shouldered hawk while filming an episode of Golf Channel’s “Shoot Like a Pro”.
Irritated that the squawking hawk forced him to shoot another take, Isenhour approached the bird. He started firing shots at the hawk, but when the bird didn’t budge he gave up and drove away.
While working on another take, the bird approached and was within about 75 yards, based on a report filed by Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission officer Brian Baine. Isenhour allegedly said, “I’ll get him now,” and aimed for the hawk.
Baine stated that Isenhour was very excited when he came close to hitting the bird in the head. After a couple more tries, he fired a direct hit and the hawk dropped to the ground bleeding from both nostrils.
Isenhour claims he was only trying to scare the bird away. That is believable if it was one or two shots but after repeated shots and the precision shot making that a PGA Tour player is required to have in his arsenal, it doesn’t seem like a fair fight nor a very gentlemanly thing to do.
The Humane Society released this statement: “Americans have no tolerance for cruelty to animals. Such a petty, mean-spirited act against a wild bird is inexcusable and prosecutors are right to hold Isenhour accountable to the law.” His actions could cost him a maximum of 14 months in jail and $1,500 in fines.
Yet another player punted down to the Nationwide Tour from the PGA Tour for not finishing in the top 125 in 2006 is in trouble with the law. Arjun Atwal, the PGA tour’s first Indian-born player, was allegedly participating in a street race in March of 2007 in the suburbs near Walt Disney World in Orlando, Florida.
Based on eye witness accounts, Atwal and John Park (not known to Atwal) were driving at speeds near 160 kilometres per hour in a 72-kilometre per hour zone. Park crashed into a tree after being unable to navigate a corner and was killed. Florida Highway Patrol recommended that Atwal be charged with vehicular homicide.
After an in-depth investigation into the event, it was determined that the two racing vehicles did not come into contact with each other to cause the crash, nor did it appear that either vehicle was causing the other to brake or avoid a collision.
Therefore, Atwal could only be charged with participating in a street race. However, as luck would have it for Atwal, the Florida Highway Patrol did not give a citation for the lesser charge of street racing. When that charge of vehicular homicide was dismissed and the fact that there was no citation for street racing given to the State Attorney’s office, they could not prosecute and Atwal is free as a bird. Yikes, better avoid Tripp Isenhour in the near future.
John Daly, golf’s notorious bad boy, continues on his downward spiral. Earlier this year, Daly employed renowned teaching instructor Butch Harmon. Harmon agreed to work with Daly as long as he made golf a priority in his life.
After several reports of Daly’s partying and drinking during the week of PGA Tour events he was playing in, the straw that broke the camel’s back was his behaviour at the PODS Championship in Tampa Bay. After a rain delay during Friday’s round, Daly ditched his regular caddie and put Tampa Bay Buccaneer’s coach Jon Gruden on the bag, all but making a mockery of the role of a looper. After missing the cut, Daly headed to the Hooters Owl’s Nest tent located off of the 17th hole the next day and reportedly drank several beers and even autographed the rear portion of a female fan’s jeans.
After Harmon got wind of the antics he publicly renounced his relationship with Daly the week of the Arnold Palmer Invitational.
“When I started working with John the understanding was that I would help him with his golf game if he helped himself,” said Harmon. “Quite frankly, I don’t see any reason for us to continue going down that road.” Harmen added, “I don’t even want to be associated with him now.”
The very next day, Daly was true to form when he missed his mandatory Wednesday Pro Am tee time and was disqualified from the event. For a player who is not exempt on the PGA Tour and lives off the generosity of sponsors’ exemptions, not a great move.
Daly claims he was given the wrong time when he called the tournament officials the day before the event but agrees he should have confirmed it himself.
“It is just unfortunate stuff like this happens,” said Daly. “I feel bad for Arnold because he gave me the spot. Had a great hug from him in the Monday Pro-Am on number seven. I love him to death. (It was the) first time in 17 or 18 years that I have ever missed a tee time. I feel responsible for it but I just feel bad this had to happen with all of the other crap going on in my life. I would never miss Arnold Palmer’s Pro-Am if he wanted me to play. I would never miss that tee time. Unfortunately, I just got a bad time.”
The first few months of the 2008 PGA Tour season are definitely proving to be as entertaining off the links as on. Hopefully for the remainder of the season we will hear a little bit more about records being broken by Mr. Woods rather than the broken record of Mr. Daly’s partying lifestyle gone bad.
Lisa is a five-time Canadian Long Drive Champion and she competes on a long drive tour in the United States. Lisa is available for corporate outings and motivational speeches and can be contacted through her website at www.lisalongball.com.