Friday, April 19, 2013

Steve Williams: Tiger should have been DQ'd at Masters

Tiger Woods' former caddie Steve Williams held the bag for Adam Scott during the Australian's dramatic Masters win last weekend.  But that didn't stop the always outspoken New Zealander — who carted Woods' clubs for a 12-year span — from holding back on Woods' illegal drop at Augusta National.

Asked about the controversial drop on the 15th green last Friday, Williams told New Zealand's 3 News that, although he didn't think Woods was trying to "gain anything on the field,"  his former boss should have been disqualified nevertheless.

"From what I can gather, he took an illegal drop, signed a scorecard and left the course," Williams told the television station. "Under most circumstances that would result in disqualification. ... If the rules of golf are upheld, I believe he should have been disqualified."



Woods was deemed to have taken an improper drop on the 15th hole during the second round last Friday after his approach shot hit the pin and bounced back into the water. The No. 1 player in the world made a bogey-6 on the hole, which the following morning was revised to a triple-bogey 8.

"I don't think people should be able to phone in and have any kind of effect on a golf tournament," Williams told 3 News. "I don't think people should be able to sit back and have an outcome on a tournament.

"Tiger certainly wasn't trying to gain anything on the field there. Obviously he was frustrated and he mistook the rule between a red line and a yellow line and where you can drop. ... It was a mistake."



Williams — who returned to the winner's circle Sunday at a major championship for the first time since the 2008 U.S. Open — said he didn't fully understand the relatively new drop rule himself.

9 comments:

  1. I'm amazed that top professionals and their caddies don't know the rules. Stevie is opening his mouth and doesn't seem to know the rule either. Tiger was picking the option where he rehit from the previous spot, same for red and yellow stakes, he mistakenly thought that he had a two club length area which he did not. However, if his caddie would have known the rules then it would have saved him the penalty.

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  2. all the media might have had a say as to d q because of sat. and sun. without tw would make for little tv viewers and newspaper love for tw.

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  3. Here is the problem with the whole thing. First off there is a tourament rules offcial on every hole who DID NOT see anything wrong with the drop. Second the PGA of America was tolded of it by a TV Viewer before Tiger finished his round and they DID NOT see anything wrong with what he did. Now had they seen it before he finished it had been addressed and he signed an incorect card then, Yes he should have been DQ BUT THEY DID NOT. You cannot let any player leave a course go home come back the next day after the fact and in good faith DQ them, And i donot care who the player is. They made the right choice in this case. He was given a two stroke penalty and played on.

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  4. The PGA is a joke on this entire ordeal. He took and illegal drop. It doesnt matter if he did it knowingly or not. As for an official on the hole. Had Tiger asked the official if it was ok and than dropped based on the judges ruling, that is different entirely. from what i know, Tiger dropped w/o consultation, played the hole illegally, signed an illegal card, PGA and Tiger blamed the incident on a "phone in fan" and moved on. Every other top flight player in that tourney would have DQ'd themselves. that really is the controversy.

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  5. Those of you claiming that Tiger should have been DQ'd for signing an improper scorecard are wrong. A rule put in place two years ago saved Woods from being DQ'd. Rule 33.7/4.5 which basically states that if the tourney Committee is satisfied that the competitor could not reasonably have known or discovered the facts resulting in his breach of the Rules, it would be justified under Rule 33-7 in waiving the disqualification penalty prescribed by Rule 6-6d," the rulebook reads. "The penalty stroke(s) associated with the breach would, however, be applied to the hole where the breach occurred."

    So everyone worried whether or not Tiger should have been DQ'd can get their panties out of a wad and get over it and move on....

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  6. He continues to resent TW for letting him go. Short and simple. We know what TW is, we also know this guy is a petty small man. Yeah I know, redundant. We need someone to write a book about his 'real' relationship with TW.

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  7. It is amazing how everyone is hating on Williams. First, he was interviewed by a news station which is why he commented on the matter. Second, the "news" station highlights his opinion on if tiger should be dq'd in bold letters...why? why is that bold faced? Williams goes on to say that he believes tiger wasnt trying to get an advantage and that he believes views shouldnt have an effect on the tournament.

    There wasnt any illwill or resentment in any of his statement. just an opinion to an asked question. just an opinion that is not at all controversial either. many felt the same way.

    and for those who ask why are they asking his opinion...you must not be very smart. obviously he was tigers former caddy and obviously his new guy just WON the MASTERS. so hate on williams all you want, but his guy won and YOUR guy lost. deal with it. your responses sound like what you are proclaiming to hate in williams' response. look at it, and replace your name with williams. the only difference is that he is he actually knows tiger and you dont!

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  8. The two rules for caddies.....keep up and shut up.

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    Replies
    1. This only needs a short comment. Williams is by no means any longer in a friendly relationship with TW. Who can expect his opinion that sides with TW's position?

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