[J13]

Have to say maybe not specifically just him but did anyone see yesterday when he nailed a spectator in the face with his tee shot on the par 3? He hit a laser left of the green right at the crowd and nor he or his caddie or anyone in the group for that matter said "fore" I'm sorry pro's or not that's just ignorant and I lost a lot of respect for him. He hit it left then just turn around and didn't even really watch the shot. Anyone agree here?

[Bomb and Gouge]

Were you there?

I think you should get your facts straight before you start a thread like this.

[BugsyinNC]

Give me a break. You are going to impugn a guy's character because a spectator got hit by an errant shot?

[tbowles411]

I think his point is if anyone let's say, Eldrick had done that, he would have been instantly flamed on top of the other flaming he gets on this board for no darn reason.

[BugsyinNC]

So you go to watch a golf tournament, sit on a par 3 within 15 yards (about) of the green and don't keep an eye out for balls when guys are teeing off but instead wait for them to yell fore and then duck? Maybe he should sue Retief and the PGA Tour. Give me a break!

[cnelson]

1) This topic is a joke.

2) Theres already a theard open about it.

3) ON EVERY TICKET IT SAYS, THE COURSE, THE PLAYERS, NOR THE PGA TOUR IS RESPONSIBLE FOR ANY INJURY OCCURRED.

Your on a golf course, you should know better, and should be paying attention, do i feel bad for the guy that got hit? Of course I do. However, its not the players fault.

[tbowles411]

It's not a joke. The person bears a burden because of the risk, but the player should be DECENT and at least go see if they are ok. Everyone knows Phil famously peeled off a couple Benjamins to a guy who had a ball bounce off his watch during a match a few years ago. An I'm sorry would be sufficient.

[cnelson]

The players are there to play golf and making a living. Not say sorry.

[SmooveB]

J13, on Mar 27 2009, 08:26 AM, said:

Have to say maybe not specifically just him but did anyone see yesterday when he nailed a spectator in the face with his tee shot on the par 3? He hit a laser left of the green right at the crowd and nor he or his caddie or anyone in the group for that matter said "fore" I'm sorry pro's or not that's just ignorant and I lost a lot of respect for him. He hit it left then just turn around and didn't even really watch the shot. Anyone agree here?

Based on what I saw on TV yesterday yes, I would have to say, Retief Goosen is a jerk.

Being upset with a double cross is no reason not to yell "fore." And the guy he hit was (from what I could tell) lying down on the ground when the ball smacked him. I suppose he should not have been lying down on the ground, and deserves to be hit with anything a pro lobs at him, without warning. Someone is sure to write that.

The truth of the matter is, many pros (not all mind you) have contempt for the fans. Can't say I totally blame them. Between the "get in the hole" guy, the "get in the water" guy and the "I'm going to snap your picture with my toy camera in the middle of your backswing" guy, fans don't do themselves any favors.

[hurricanes7]

how can you say he is a jerk based up one shot. do you know him personally , or have dinner with him. dont be so judgemental over one golf shot. someone might say you are a jerk for bringing up such a ridiculous topic?

[Milo]

There's no two ways about it. You fire your ball towards the crowd, you yell fore. It's just common decency.

Tiger's normally very good about that. Even if he's really pi##ed about the shot he usually hangs an arm and shouts as soon as he sees where it's going. Shame others don't follow the example.

[Used To Be Good]

Firstly, I can see where the OP is coming from. I personally believe that the pro's or their caddies should shout fore on errant shots. I'm always surprised when it doesn't happen but let's be honest, it's not just Retief. To call him a jerk and for someone else to say that they "lost a lot of respect for him" is probably more ignorant than the original incident. We all mistakes and even though what's said on message boards probably means very little to him, I'm sure we wouldn't want to be judged so harshly for one error.

Secondly, I've had the pleasure of meeting Retief a couple of times and I have to say that you'll be hard pushed to find a nicer guy.

Someone above has also said that many pro's have contempt for fans. While this may be true in a few instances, I can assure you that the vast majority of pro's know exactly which side their bread is buttered. They're not stupid. They know that without the fans there'd be no large endorsement deals, no lucrative tournament sponsorship and no chance of earning a million dollars a year without even getting close to winning a tournament.

[tbowles411]

So I understand. When someone rushes to the defense of a guy who is being flamed for duck hooking a laser tee shot and hitting a guy who "just happened to be in the way" and not even acknowledging him, and that golfer is someone we obviously don't know or never met, maybe we can give the same courtesy to other golfers who may have a mental moment or lose their cool from time to time?

Probably not going to happen. False indignation is just that.

[wingz9]

I watched the coverage yesterday and watched the guy get hit in the face yet they never followed up on the status of the guy or Retief's response when he got to the guy who was hit. So you have no idea weather or not Retief did the typical pro response and gave the guy a signed glove or ball.

[Sean2]

the word "fore" was developed for a reason.

a friend of mine was at the masters in the mid-60s and following a famous golfer. the golfer was debating what to do on a par 5: go for it or lay up? he and his caddy discussed it and it was decided the golfer would go for it and his target was the crowd behind the green. the reasoning was even if the ball went too far it would hit a "patron" and stop just behind the green.

i'm not making any judgments hear. as shepard smith says: we report, you decide.

[pjccjp]

Milo, on Mar 27 2009, 09:50 AM, said:

There's no two ways about it. You fire your ball towards the crowd, you yell fore. It's just common decency.

Tiger's normally very good about that. Even if he's really pi##ed about the shot he usually hangs an arm and shouts as soon as he sees where it's going. Shame others don't follow the example.

+1

[thenation48]

That dude was near the green on a par 3 and wasnt watching the group tee off? his fault. CRACK IS WACK

[JLTD63]

Unfortunately, captainjimbob is an aspiring tour pro in Europe. (According to some other threads/posts.)

I guess if he makes it we already know how he feels about fans, or at least overweight ones who have decided to (GASP!) sit down while watching a sporting event.

[SUBPARJ]

pjccjp, on Mar 27 2009, 09:12 AM, said:

Milo, on Mar 27 2009, 09:50 AM, said:

There's no two ways about it. You fire your ball towards the crowd, you yell fore. It's just common decency.

Tiger's normally very good about that. Even if he's really pi##ed about the shot he usually hangs an arm and shouts as soon as he sees where it's going. Shame others don't follow the example.

+1

+2, but I cant imagine Retief is a jerk ( I never met him but I doubt it highly).

Also, if he were to block it into another group in the tourney and didn't yell fore he'd be torched by all his peers, same concept you yell fore,NO MATTER WHAT!

And lets try to remember those fans are what have made golf what it is, if there weren't fans willing to lay around agreen on a par three and watch guys hit golf shots, then there wouldn't be sponsors willing to pay millions of $$$ to the winners.

But again I cant imagine Goose is a jerk, just bad decision caused by an errant shot

[MAK2525]

tbowles411, on Mar 27 2009, 09:26 AM, said:

It's not a joke. The person bears a burden because of the risk, but the player should be DECENT and at least go see if they are ok. Everyone knows Phil famously peeled off a couple Benjamins to a guy who had a ball bounce off his watch during a match a few years ago. An I'm sorry would be sufficient.

How do you know that he didn't apologize?

I'm not defending Goosen for neglecting to yell fore, but there were almost 10 minutes between the guy getting hit and TV coverage resuming as he was about to take his second. There was plenty of time for him to have had a conversation with the guy! Just because the TV didn't show it doesn't mean it didn't happen!

All you guys seem to want to vilify him for not apologizing without any evidence that he didn't!

[ZBigStick]

pjccjp, on Mar 27 2009, 11:12 AM, said:

Milo, on Mar 27 2009, 09:50 AM, said:

There's no two ways about it. You fire your ball towards the crowd, you yell fore. It's just common decency.

Tiger's normally very good about that. Even if he's really pi##ed about the shot he usually hangs an arm and shouts as soon as he sees where it's going. Shame others don't follow the example.

+1

+3

To those that say you need to watch the tee, have you been to a tournament? Played golf much?

Certain conditions prevent you from tracking the flight of the ball every inch of the way. Curving golf balls often appear to be heading to the green from off of the tee. You can lose the flight of the ball if hit high enough, as many pros do.

Not sure that I would call Retief a jerk, but he should have warned the green of his errant tee shot.

[GatorBait]

MAK2525, on Mar 27 2009, 12:21 PM, said:

tbowles411, on Mar 27 2009, 09:26 AM, said:

It's not a joke. The person bears a burden because of the risk, but the player should be DECENT and at least go see if they are ok. Everyone knows Phil famously peeled off a couple Benjamins to a guy who had a ball bounce off his watch during a match a few years ago. An I'm sorry would be sufficient.

How do you know that he didn't apologize?

I'm not defending Goosen for neglecting to yell fore, but there were almost 10 minutes between the guy getting hit and TV coverage resuming as he was about to take his second. There was plenty of time for him to have had a conversation with the guy! Just because the TV didn't show it doesn't mean it didn't happen!

All you guys seem to want to vilify him for not apologizing without any evidence that he didn't!

Good post.

Additionally, I thought it was common knowledge by now that Goosen has been suffering from some rather bad eyesight issues lately. Isn't it possible that he just didn't see the ball hit someone?

[gonabepro1day]

me and my dad cracked up big time when that happened. Being in the uk, i find your american coverage sooooooooo boring, fairplay your commentators speak some c**p! I think yesterdays round needed that to happen cos i was nearly falling asleep.

[kamtile]

gonabepro1day, on Mar 27 2009, 12:13 PM, said:

me and my dad cracked up big time when that happened. Being in the uk, i find your american coverage sooooooooo boring, fairplay your commentators speak some c**p! I think yesterdays round needed that to happen cos i was nearly falling asleep.

I'm glad that the mans injury entertained you. You must have been in stitches after the World Trade Center attack.

[gonabepro1day]

Kamtile, Dont take my post too seriously! Im fed up with people takeing some posts so so seriously. Sure I felt bad, that he had a bad knock......and yes me and my dad were saying, "man, i bet that hurt" But then again you gota laugh as well!!!!! It was funny!! But also, sad because he got hurt...but if you stand that close to the green the chances of getting hit are high, even if he did shout fore, your still not really going to know where abouts the ball is going to land.

How can you compare a man getting hit on the head by a golf ball to the trade center attack?

lighten up abit.........I bet you the man who got hit on the head has had a laugh about it with a couple of friends since!!!! Sure it hurt at the time, but im sure he is laughing about it too!!

[SmooveB]

gonabepro1day, on Mar 27 2009, 03:13 PM, said:

me and my dad cracked up big time when that happened. Being in the uk, i find your american coverage sooooooooo boring, fairplay your commentators speak some c**p! I think yesterdays round needed that to happen cos i was nearly falling asleep.

Yeah that was hilarious! Because the Seppo was fat innit! That's always good for a laugh! Blahahahahaha!

Do you live in a council estate, use lots of hair gel and drink lots of alcopop?

[gonabepro1day]

Why? Do you live in a penthouse? Use "just for men" and go with the natural flowing look? And drink lots of Champagne?

All im saying is that, I bet even the man who got hit is having a laugh about it today??? Yes, he was probably angry and hurting at the time! But i bet he isnt takeing it as seriously as all you lot are??

And, here is everyone on here, have a flamin debate about it, who really gives a s**t. The fat man got hit by a golf ball.....big WOW!!!!

Listen to you....."Oh maybe it was because he has had eye surgery and he couldent see the man??????" OMG get a life!! Why are you all looking into these things so much?? If Goosen can see a 1 inch thiick flag to aim at surely he can see a 20st obese dude!

Dont lose sleep over it! Im sure he will survive!

[Riuzzi]

Looks like this thread has run its course...