[TheBUNKY]

Thought that was a little uncalled for if in fact those were his intensions. The announcers just laughed it off, they showed Villegas covering his head as he was waiting to putt on the green.

Luckily Eldrick lost it right, otherwise he would have driven the green while they were putting out.

Sure he drove the green last year, but there wasn't anyone on it last year either.

I guess that is like those Nascar dudes when they bump draft? I can't believe I just typed bump draft on a golf forum. I guess he was trying to send a message.

If that had been Villegas, everyone would be all over him for doing so.

[illinikyle]

Nobody has driven the green yet this week. His ball wouldn't have reached to the green if it wasn't lost right. In my opinion his intention was to keep in rhythm and not stand around to wait for the group in front to move like he had to on 18. If there was anything more to it than that it would seem that he would be trying to knock the ball up short of the green like he did on Thursday just to remind them who was playing behind them.

[slicefixer]

IF Tiger could have possibly hit the green with his drive it WAS bad sportsmanship/ettiquete.........IF he could have FLOWN the ball on the green he could have KILLED someone in the group ahead and thats shear IDIOCY.......MAJOR lawsuit waiting to happen if he even HITS a player in front of him while intentionally trying to drive the green.......not a smart move on his part no matter how slow the guy's in front of him were playing........he's a professional.......unfortunately slow play is part of the deal at times.....deal with it...

[hacker17]

Who cares? It's not like he did hit anyone on he green or around it so just DROP IT!

Besides it was pretty funny.

[italianstallion]

I respect Tiger as a great player, but when people's safety, even LIVES are in danger, it's not something to brush aside. Had he it it straight, it might have hit them; hitting it right means the clubface was open so you lose some distance. I really don't care who it is, they are professionals, they should know better.

Slow play is a fact of life! I deal with it every time I play. Does Tiger think he shouldn't have to deal with slow play because he's the best player in the world? I'm sorry, but if he thinks he's so above everyone else in that manner, I think I just lost alot of respect for the man.

[illinikyle]

Tiger did no more to endanger a life hitting that shot than any pro does hitting any shot in a tournament with people watching. Someone could get hit on any shot taken by any pro at any time. With that risk being so high, i wonder when the last time somebody died at a pga event after being hit by a ball.

[italianstallion]

I think we're talkin intentional vs. unitentional here. Hitting someone in the gallery is somethin that is hard to control. When you aim for a green with people on it, there is a possibility of someone getting hit.

People die becasue they've been hit with balls. About 10 years ago someone from my school was killed by one. Hitting into people isn't funny in my mind.

[Golfchicago]

Even if Tiger came close, I am surprised that he didn't wait till they finished so his shot landing wouldn't disrupt any of the players ahead putting. I don't think that it is a Tiger slam. I think it is the action that is in question.

[illinikyle]

flomarilius, on Mar 4 2006, 09:18 PM, said:

SORRY GUYS AT DORAL THE TICKET SAYS "IF YOU ARE HIT BY A GOLF BALL OR FLYING GOLF CLUB WE OR THE PLAYER IS NOT LIABLE". eNough said.

I'm not sure a PGA pro playing in the group ahead would agree with that.

[italianstallion]

flomarilius, on Mar 4 2006, 10:18 PM, said:

SORRY GUYS AT DORAL THE TICKET SAYS "IF YOU ARE HIT BY A GOLF BALL OR FLYING GOLF CLUB WE OR THE PLAYER IS NOT LIABLE". eNough said.

Flo, we are at odds man! ha

Anyway, we're talkin the players on the course, not the gallery. Basically, Tiger knew he had it in him to get there in one, he's done it before. So why did he play when people were still there? That's what we'er trying to figure out. Golf ball to the head doesn't always end up with the person gettin hit walking away with a ball or glove anyway.

[Johnny]

champx2, on Mar 4 2006, 07:40 PM, said:

I seriously doubt Tiger would intentionally hit into the group in front. I don't believe he thought he could reach. Bad etiquette even if he could only come close? Certainly. Sending a message to the let's just say "deliberate" Argentinian? Perhaps.

On a related topic, could this kid be any slower? How cow. I mean nice game and all but hit the shot already.

Colombian actually... I want to know where in the hell do they get the "j" punouncation in villegas

[skinkman]

i thought I'd dogded the Tiger bashing on other sites...right into the eye of another storm...
First of all..not even Bubba had reached the green...and he is much longer than Tiger...He hits his 2 iron longer than Tiger's 3 wood.
The crowd shouted "fore"....that's where the drama came in..ball was no where near the players. The crowd did it for a laugh...

Villegas is slow...but golf balls do kill.

[Cameron Circle T]

I was out there today, that hole was not reachable by pretty much anyone later in the day. The wind was pretty much straight into em and was playing at least a club and a half. I think that he probly felt that he couldnt get it quite there and therefore saw nothing wrong with hitting.


The spanish alphabet is different than ours johnny. the ll is considered its own letter in the spanish language in is said like a "Y" in english. It shouldnt be said like a j that is the horrible efforts of the commentators to understand, the ll in his name should make it sound like "biyegas" becuase "v" is said like an english "b" and "ll" like "ye". Thats where it comes from johnny

[AUDuffer]

Cameron Circle T, on Mar 4 2006, 11:05 PM, said:

I was out there today, that hole was not reachable by pretty much anyone later in the day. The wind was pretty much straight into em and was playing at least a club and a half. I think that he probly felt that he couldnt get it quite there and therefore saw nothing wrong with hitting.

The spanish alphabet is different than ours johnny. the ll is considered its own letter in the spanish language in is said like a "Y" in english. It shouldnt be said like a j that is the horrible efforts of the commentators to understand, the ll in his name should make it sound like "biyegas" becuase "v" is said like an english "b" and "ll" like "ye". Thats where it comes from johnny

Actually, you're wrong on the pronunciation. When you speak Spanish quickly--an I'm fluent--it will sound sometimes like a y or b, but it's actually a "j" and "v" sound. When you tell someone to call you (llama me), you pronounce the word with a j sound not a y.

[hacker17]

Honestly though who has ever been KILLED by a drive that was on it's way down to the ground.

[xxio]

If Tiger's intention was to get to the green or even 10 yards short it was bad etiquette.

I was playing in a slow flight during the National Interclub Amatuer tournament 2 weeks ago. Our group was slow because we had a 58 and 54 year old in our flight. Extremely good players. They beat my score but on the rolling and extremely long course they would have to catch their breaths on each tee mound and green.

Everyone in the flight was trying to keep up (with me) but we were still a hole and a half behind on the 16th Par 5. I was last to putt out. I had a 2 footer for par. Some jerk in the flight behind hit his second shot. It landed 10 yards short of the green but the sound on the ball landing made me jerk away and I hit my 2 footer 3 feet past the hole!!!

For the guys who said it is not biggie. Have you ever been hit into? Even on a reacheable Par4. I did it "unintentionally" about a year ago. Extreme dog leg left. I was going for the landing area 60 yards right of the green. 1 extremely solid pull hook later I made 4 enemies. Until now I apologize whenever I see those guys, even in the mall.

[golfernut78]

flomarilius, on Mar 4 2006, 09:18 PM, said:

SORRY GUYS AT DORAL THE TICKET SAYS "IF YOU ARE HIT BY A GOLF BALL OR FLYING GOLF CLUB WE OR THE PLAYER IS NOT LIABLE". eNough said.

the player is not liable for a flying club? i won't argue with a ball. there is some risk you take going to certain sporting events (baseball, hokey, nascar, golf, etc...) and you just need to accept that, but a player throwing his club, which of course would be in a fit of rage??? that is crazy, and the fact that it is even on the ticket.

hacker17, on Mar 4 2006, 11:47 PM, said:

Honestly though who has ever been KILLED by a drive that was on it's way down to the ground.

i've heard of happening. doesn't take much to kill a person if hit just right on the head. on the other hand i did see dimarco hit a guy in the head with his drive on the fly last year in the accenture match play. guy seemed fine.

in watching the tournament today it seemed like it would be impossible for tiger to drive the green and get close to the fringe. he wasn't hitting it as long today as the first day and the wind was at them. so i don't fault him for that. tiger seems to be a very patient player except for the tee box. he doesn't like to wait on the tee box, and i don't blame him. the longer i stand at a tee box the more likely i am to hit an errant shot because i am thinking about it too much.

[hacker17]

Good point golfernut, he seemed really patient while Villegas was stuck behind that tree.

[cogi59]

I think that Tiger just wasn;t going for the green...he was trying to hit it 40-50 yards short or whatever

[dannybsj]

Well etiquette states if you hit your second shot on a par four and are out of the way ( i would consider the green out of the way) then its bombs away! If i just happen to rip a good one and it would take a great one even from tiger and it hits the green well get the hell out of the way just the same as if i slice one into the gallery

[TheBUNKY]

Golfchicago, on Mar 4 2006, 09:17 PM, said:

Even if Tiger came close, I am surprised that he didn't wait till they finished so his shot landing wouldn't disrupt any of the players ahead putting. I don't think that it is a Tiger slam. I think it is the action that is in question.

Exactly my point, thanks for getting that unlike some of the others. He could have waited.

[Golfchicago]

Bunky, that is the issue, I am in total agreement with you. The specuation that others are Tiger bashing doesn't really hold validity: however I can appreciate that they are coming to his rescue, because he has taken some unjustified heat in the past.

[mikeweirfan]

i think flomarilius has to stop wishing he was tigers b/f and start looking at the whole picture. Tiger made a stupid decision and he is very lucky to have missed the green. I think Villegas was a little rattled about that and that explains his bogey on 18. GO VILLEGAS GO

[DemolitionMan]

Totally different perspective when you watch what happenned without sound like I did on Tivo last night. Without the benefit of the wise one Johnny Miller, I saw absolutely nothing wrong with what occurred. I saw Camillo grab his head with a smile/laugh like he was acting/fooling around. He clearly knew there was no way the ball was going on the green.

I am fairly certain a lot more incidents like this happen on the tour that never get televised or talked about. It tends to happen when the 145th ranked player in the world creeps up on the 243rd ranked player.

BTW, it's extremely rare for a golfer to be killed by a golf ball to the head from such a far distance. It would have to catch you in the temple area just right. Golf Magazine or Golf Digest had a study on this years ago.

A little humor, emphasis on little.

One fine day in Ireland, a guy is out golfing and gets up to the 16th hole. He tees up and cranks one. Unfortunately, it goes into the woods on the side of the fairway. He goes looking for his ball and comes across this little guy with this huge knot on his head and the golf ball lying right beside him. "Goodness," says the golfer then proceeds to revive the poor little guy. Upon awakening, the little guy says, "Well, you caught me fair and square. I am a leprechaun. I will grant you three wishes." The man says "I can't take anything from you, I'm just glad I didn't hurt you too badly," and walks away. Watching the golfer depart, the leprechaun says "Well, he was a nice enough guy, and he did catch me, so I have to do something for him. I'll give him the three things that I would want. I'll give him unlimited money, a great golf game, and a great sex life." Well, a year goes past (as they often do in jokes like this) and the same golfer is out golfing on the same course at the 16th hole. He gets up and hits one into the same woods and goes off looking for his ball. When he finds the ball he sees the same little guy and asks how he is doing. The leprechaun says, "I'm fine, and might I ask how your golf game is?" The golfer says, "It's great! I hit under par every time." "I did that for you," responds the leprechaun, "And might I ask how your money is holding out?" "Well, now that you mention it, every time I put my hand in my pocket, I pull out a hundred pound note" he replied. The leprechaun smiles and says, "I did that for you. And might I ask how your sex life is?" Now the golfer looks at him a little shyly and says, "Well, maybe once or twice a week." Floored the leprechaun stammers, "Once or twice a week?" The golfer looks at him sheepishly and says, "Well, that's not too bad for a Catholic irish priest in a small parish."

[nikemike]

Mountain molehill what?

[illinikyle]

DemolitionMan, on Mar 5 2006, 01:05 PM, said:

Without the benefit of the wise one Johnny Miller, I saw absolutely nothing wrong with what occurred.

Yep.

[vanquish007]

illinikyle, on Mar 5 2006, 03:06 PM, said:

DemolitionMan, on Mar 5 2006, 01:05 PM, said:

Without the benefit of the wise one Johnny Miller, I saw absolutely nothing wrong with what occurred.

Yep.

Double Yep!

[handmadeaddicted]

One thing to say, golfing bump draft. I love it.

[matt411]

He swung as hard as he could today and hit it flush and couldn't get home and yesterday I think it was more against the wind.

[sync71]

I think we are putting way to much thought into this. He probably didn't think he couldn't reach the green and he didn't. So he hit the ball...no one got hurt. I have had numerous times where I have almost gotten hit and I never said anything to the guy...I just carried on playing. I don't think this is that big of a deal.

[Golfchicago]

It isn't that big of a deal but i would have liked to see Tiger's reaction if he heard a ball drop that close to him when he was putting. Yeah Villegas clowned around about it but would he have the same response if he heard the ball land in the middle of his putting stroke? Hey maybe Tiger knew he couldn't reach the green and maybe he saw that the group up ahead were just walking on the green and not ready to putt, who knows, it just seems odd that he would hit it that close to the next group.

[JoeF]

AUDuffer, on Mar 4 2006, 10:51 PM, said:

Cameron Circle T, on Mar 4 2006, 11:05 PM, said:

I was out there today, that hole was not reachable by pretty much anyone later in the day. The wind was pretty much straight into em and was playing at least a club and a half. I think that he probly felt that he couldnt get it quite there and therefore saw nothing wrong with hitting.

The spanish alphabet is different than ours johnny. the ll is considered its own letter in the spanish language in is said like a "Y" in english. It shouldnt be said like a j that is the horrible efforts of the commentators to understand, the ll in his name should make it sound like "biyegas" becuase "v" is said like an english "b" and "ll" like "ye". Thats where it comes from johnny

Actually, you're wrong on the pronunciation. When you speak Spanish quickly--an I'm fluent--it will sound sometimes like a y or b, but it's actually a "j" and "v" sound. When you tell someone to call you (llama me), you pronounce the word with a j sound not a y.

Actually in South America the Spanish LL is pronounced as a J in most other parts of the world the Spanish LL is pronounced as a Y

[Cameron Circle T]

AUDuffer, on Mar 4 2006, 11:51 PM, said:

Cameron Circle T, on Mar 4 2006, 11:05 PM, said:

I was out there today, that hole was not reachable by pretty much anyone later in the day. The wind was pretty much straight into em and was playing at least a club and a half. I think that he probly felt that he couldnt get it quite there and therefore saw nothing wrong with hitting.

The spanish alphabet is different than ours johnny. the ll is considered its own letter in the spanish language in is said like a "Y" in english. It shouldnt be said like a j that is the horrible efforts of the commentators to understand, the ll in his name should make it sound like "biyegas" becuase "v" is said like an english "b" and "ll" like "ye". Thats where it comes from johnny

Actually, you're wrong on the pronunciation. When you speak Spanish quickly--an I'm fluent--it will sound sometimes like a y or b, but it's actually a "j" and "v" sound. When you tell someone to call you (llama me), you pronounce the word with a j sound not a y.

O.T. somewhat true, however it really depends on where you family is from, part of my family is south american and taken spanish in school (yes im lazy and didnt wanna take another language) have all been spanish and in spain and much of south america for anyone who speaks spanish (i.e. didnt learn it in school) says it like a Y and a B. It's off topic but just thought id point it out.

As well for anyone who wants to read, other than going by the way i speak b/c spanish like english becomes lazy over time...in most of Latin America and parts of Spain, it is pronounced like an English Y.

"LL- The pronunciation of the Spanish letter LL varies depending on where you are in the Spanish-speaking world. For your reference, it can also sound like an English Y with a hint of an L in front of it (softer than in the English words million or scallion), or in other places, notably Argentina, it is pronounced like the soft g in mirage."


so auduffer, where you from out of curiousity.

[Cameron Circle T]

Haha beat me to it Joe,

my family says it like a J or a very soft G but having listened to more spaniards then south americans I use it like the Y.

[ramsey_steve]

skinkman, on Mar 4 2006, 11:05 PM, said:

i thought I'd dogded the Tiger bashing on other sites...right into the eye of another storm...
First of all..not even Bubba had reached the green...and he is much longer than Tiger...He hits his 2 iron longer than Tiger's 3 wood.
The crowd shouted "fore"....that's where the drama came in..ball was no where near the players. The crowd did it for a laugh...

Villegas is slow...but golf balls do kill.

Hey Skink, you can run, but you can't hide..