by Jeff Skinner
From the file labeled “Anything Tiger Never Goes Away” Michael Bamberger of Sports Illustrated reports that the marshals don’t support Tiger’s story.
In the controversy surrounding Tiger and Sergio’s second hole on Saturday where Woods pulled his club and the crowd reaction disturbed Sergio a new revelation has come to light.
Tiger said he was given the green light to hit his shot. “The marshals, they told me he already hit, so I pulled a club and was getting ready to play my shot, and then I hear his comments afterward and it’s not real surprising that he’s complaining about something.”
Being the thorough journalist that he is, Bamberger found the marshals that were surrounding Woods as he prepared to hit his shot from the trees left of the second hole.
From Sports Illustrated: Well, when they heard that remark from Woods, the marshals were surprised. One of them, Gary Anderson, said on Sunday, “He didn’t ask us nothing, and we didn’t say nothing. We’re told not to talk to the players.”
Anderson’s boss, John North, was the chief marshal for the first three holes. He stood over Woods’s ball to protect it from the throng and was five feet away when Woods played his shot. North has worked the tournament as a volunteer marshal for 30 years, he’s a graduate of the Naval Academy, he served in Vietnam, he’s a FedEx pilot and he donates his round on the Stadium course for being a volunteer to the Wounded Warriors project.
Tiger’s 2nd Hole Shot
“Nothing was said to us and we certainly said nothing to him,” North said. “I was disappointed to hear him make those remarks. We’re there to help the players and enhance the experience of the fans. He was saying what was good for him. It lacked character.”
That account differs greatly from Tiger’s and to tell you the truth, I’m not surprised. Woods has a singular focus: himself. He’s always been that way. And he cares little for those around him especially Sergio.
It’s only fitting that Mr. Anderson mentions “character.” As a Naval Academy graduate and a wartime pilot I would suspect that he developed a bit of character somewhere along the line.
Once again it seems that Tiger does and says what he wants without regard for others or the truth. But we are used to that by now.
Notah Begay reports on the Morning Drive that Tiger’s camp will not respond to the Sports Illustrated article. Of course they won’t.
Bamberger has a revealing line concerning Tiger, “Can you imagine someone more exciting and flawed and unknowable than Tiger Woods?” He sure has that right.
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