The Common Golfer

During the final round of the WGC-Bridgestone Invitational, prior to teeing off on the 16th hole, Tiger Woods and Padraig Harrington were “put on the clock” for playing too slowly.  Players are given 40 seconds, with an additional 20 seconds going to the first player, to hit each shot.  Not doing so, and falling behind the pace of the group in front of you, gets your group a warning.  After the warning, if slow play continues the penalty is $5,000 and 1 stroke added to the score.  After being warned on the tee, Harrington went on to post an 8 on the hole compared to Woods’ 4.  That 4-stroke swing went on to be Woods’ margin of victory, and immediately after the round Woods apologized to Harrington for what he felt was the rules official “getting in the way of a great battle.”

Harrington conceded that after hitting his tee shot way offline, that he was rushed in making his next few shots, but he came up short of blaming the slow play warning on why he lost.  “It’s an awkward situation,” he said. “There are rules, and the players make the rules and we’ve got to apply them. If you’re put on the clock, you always want to be nicely in position so you’re not having to think too much. I got out of position with my tee shot, my second shot and my third short. I got out of position and just got myself out of the zone.”

I am in no way suggesting that Harrington lost because of the warning, but isn’t it a bit absurd that you would warn the final pairing of the tournament with 3 holes left to play – especially when Tiger Woods is in that pairing?  They weren’t holding up any groups behind them, and every extra minute of television coverage with Tiger in the lead is more money for the PGA!

On the other hand, every player should have to play by the same rules.  And for the people out there that claim Tiger gets preferential treatment on tour, maybe this will shut them up for a few minutes.  It’s also worth keeping in mind that while groups of players are warned nearly every week on tour, the last time a player got more than a warning was back in 1982!  So it’s not like the rules officials were going to turn around and penalize one of the leaders with 1 or 2 holes to play.

Either way you look at the issue, I think the only thing we can all agree on is what a class-act Tiger Woods is.  He was humble after winning on Sunday, and didn’t have to say what he did.  I’ve also had the privilege of meeting Tiger in person, and he’s equally as humble and polite around us “commoners.”

Maybe the USGA should consider adopting this slowplay rule, as well.  If I could penalize slow golfers $5,000 every time I’m held up on the golf course, I’d be a freakin’ millionaire.