Irish Sports
Welcome to Live View – Take the tour to learn more
Start Tour
There is currently 1 person viewing this thread.
03 Feb 10
19:47
Joined:
Date Joined:
16 Sep 03
what a t wat
Show More
Tom Watson believes world number one Tiger Woods has to "show some humility" when he makes his return to golf.
Woods, 34, is taking an indefinite break from the game in order to tackle issues in his private life which surfaced at the end of last year.
He has not been seen in public since a car crash at the end of November.
"He messed up. He knows he messed up. The world knows he messed up. And he has to take ownership of that," said eight-time major winner Watson.
"One of the things that is not in question is what Tiger has to do, he has to take ownership of what he has done. He must get his personal life in order.
"And when he comes back, he has to show some humility to the public in the sense that, if I were him, it wouldn't be at a golf tournament where I would first come ou
"I would come out and do an interview and say 'I screwed up' and admit it. And (say), 'I'm going to change, I want my wife and family back, I have to earn her trust back'."
Watson, who has won the Open five times and came agonisingly close to a fairytale victory at last year's event at Turnberry, has also called on Woods to refine his on-course behaviour.
"I feel that he has not carried the same stature as other great players like Jack (Nicklaus), Arnold (Palmer), Byron Nelson, the Hogans, in the sense that there was language and club throwing on the golf course," said Watson.
"You can grant that of a young person that has not been out here for a while. But I think he needs to clean up his act and show the respect for the game that other people before him have shown," added Watson, who is making his first regular European Tour appearance since 1993 at this week's Dubai Desert Classic
Woods's personal life became headlines news when he crashed a car into a tree outside his Florida home in November and after weeks of press speculation, the 14-times golf major winner admitted to "infidelity".
He has lost a number of endorsements since the crash, including giant management consultancy firm Accenture and telecoms giant AT&T, while Gillette and watchmaker Tag Heuer have said they would be scaling down their use of the star.
Drinks manufacturer Gatorade has discontinued a line of Tiger Woods-branded energy drinks.
Watson is not the first elder statesman of the game to speak publicly about Woods, after Nicklaus said last month that he will find it harder to break his record of 18 majors if he does not compete this year.
Woods, 34, is taking an indefinite break from the game in order to tackle issues in his private life which surfaced at the end of last year.
He has not been seen in public since a car crash at the end of November.
"He messed up. He knows he messed up. The world knows he messed up. And he has to take ownership of that," said eight-time major winner Watson.
"One of the things that is not in question is what Tiger has to do, he has to take ownership of what he has done. He must get his personal life in order.
"And when he comes back, he has to show some humility to the public in the sense that, if I were him, it wouldn't be at a golf tournament where I would first come ou
"I would come out and do an interview and say 'I screwed up' and admit it. And (say), 'I'm going to change, I want my wife and family back, I have to earn her trust back'."
Watson, who has won the Open five times and came agonisingly close to a fairytale victory at last year's event at Turnberry, has also called on Woods to refine his on-course behaviour.
"I feel that he has not carried the same stature as other great players like Jack (Nicklaus), Arnold (Palmer), Byron Nelson, the Hogans, in the sense that there was language and club throwing on the golf course," said Watson.
"You can grant that of a young person that has not been out here for a while. But I think he needs to clean up his act and show the respect for the game that other people before him have shown," added Watson, who is making his first regular European Tour appearance since 1993 at this week's Dubai Desert Classic
Woods's personal life became headlines news when he crashed a car into a tree outside his Florida home in November and after weeks of press speculation, the 14-times golf major winner admitted to "infidelity".
He has lost a number of endorsements since the crash, including giant management consultancy firm Accenture and telecoms giant AT&T, while Gillette and watchmaker Tag Heuer have said they would be scaling down their use of the star.
Drinks manufacturer Gatorade has discontinued a line of Tiger Woods-branded energy drinks.
Watson is not the first elder statesman of the game to speak publicly about Woods, after Nicklaus said last month that he will find it harder to break his record of 18 majors if he does not compete this year.
Nicklaus said last month that he will find it harder to break his record of 18 majors if he does not compete this year.
Some proper insight from the Golden Bear there!!! :)
Sanctimonious gimps like Watson and Badger should invest in a muzzle before talking and a set of boxing gloves before typing.
Some proper insight from the Golden Bear there!!! :)
Sanctimonious gimps like Watson and Badger should invest in a muzzle before talking and a set of boxing gloves before typing.
The only place that Tigers going to be at 60 is probably going to be in a home for the mentally ill.
Love to see him play with the clubs that they used in the 70s
Love to see him play with the clubs that they used in the 70s
really happy now that bible bashing watson bottled the open last year .....guys a jerk
If you saw the interview there was no "side" to Tom's speak on Tiger . Just a sensible approach . If you think about it , Tiger's situation is irrelevant to Tom Watson . Tom is at the end of a magnificent career , best links player since Peter Thomson , load of Opens to his credit . Tom is a credit to golf , always has been .
His own off course problems give him some insight too .
His own off course problems give him some insight too .
i guess the golfing establisment would be happier if Woods was more like (uncle??) Tom
It seems US golf broadcasters have forgotten about Tiger
I never heard his name mentioned once last week
I never heard his name mentioned once last week
a lot of golf snobbery on show here , it smacks to me of kicking a man when he is down
Its known some aspects of tiger tees off tom bigtime, tom doesnt like the way tiger spits at times on the course, there has been other comments in the past that tiger hasnt behaved like the gentlemen of the past.
I don't think Woods' personal life is any of Tom's business, but his behaviour on the course is a professional matter, and Watson has a right to comment on it. And I think what he said about it was right.
Tom is one to speak , he seems to have forgotten his many shortcomings years ago,
im sure when tiger returns he will worry about those who try to find fault with him , he will be a winner as he always has been.
Who gave watson sainthood ? Bow down and show some humility to the best player that has ever played the game , so he fked a few birds and regrets it , would i quintus , would you ?
When they see him on the leaderboard again , they will all bow down as they cant match him, i look forward to seeing him doing his stuff again , noone commands any sport like tiger.
Who gave watson sainthood ? Bow down and show some humility to the best player that has ever played the game , so he fked a few birds and regrets it , would i quintus , would you ?
When they see him on the leaderboard again , they will all bow down as they cant match him, i look forward to seeing him doing his stuff again , noone commands any sport like tiger.
Tiger got away with some ungentlemanly behaviour on the golf course ( and by admission also off the course ) because he was so good . Plus sponsors etc needed him , and he is box office .
Everything has changed now . Some of those in the gallery will never forget , and will never allow Tiger to forget what has transgressed . It's hard enough to beat your competitors , doubly hard to take on the crowd as well . Essentially that is the rationale ( unspoken ) which Tom Watson and others are saying , and it is true . Tiger crossed a few lines recently .
Anyone who thinks that Tiger will come back a better golfer ( certainly in the short term ) will be barking up the wrong tree in my view . Likewise it will take a giant leap of faith to lump on Tiger first time out . Only way I will back him is when I see the scores on the board and the swing mechanics . Plus the demeanour .
Sad , considering how much we have enjoyed the journey to date , but it is a cruel world , and the (American ) public will be looking for a new hero . Phil might oblige , popular already , but needs to improve his consistency .
Everything has changed now . Some of those in the gallery will never forget , and will never allow Tiger to forget what has transgressed . It's hard enough to beat your competitors , doubly hard to take on the crowd as well . Essentially that is the rationale ( unspoken ) which Tom Watson and others are saying , and it is true . Tiger crossed a few lines recently .
Anyone who thinks that Tiger will come back a better golfer ( certainly in the short term ) will be barking up the wrong tree in my view . Likewise it will take a giant leap of faith to lump on Tiger first time out . Only way I will back him is when I see the scores on the board and the swing mechanics . Plus the demeanour .
Sad , considering how much we have enjoyed the journey to date , but it is a cruel world , and the (American ) public will be looking for a new hero . Phil might oblige , popular already , but needs to improve his consistency .
Post Your Reply
Please login to post a reply.
Wonder
Instance ID: 13539