Sanpaku Eyes
Posted on 04/13/2013 11:55:14 AM PDT by CHRISTIAN DIARIST
I’m a huge Tiger Woods fan. That’s why it pains me that he continues to do damage to his once-nearly-pristine image.
Having recently reclaimed his sport’s ranking as World No. 1 – as the Euros put it – Tiger flew this week to Augusta, Georgia as the favorite to win the Masters.
He acquitted himself rather well the tourney’s first two days, save for a mishap yesterday on the 15th hole. He hit an approach shot to the green that, as bad luck would have it, ricocheted off the flag pole and careened into the creek.
After taking a “drop” – which entailed a one stroke penalty – Tiger hit his next shot on the green, sank the putt and rocked on to the next hole. As it turns out, the world’s most famous golfer made an improper drop, for which he should have been penalized another two strokes.
Tiger signed his scorecard without including the two penalty strokes and left the golf course. This morning he learned of his error, which meant he signed his Friday scorecard incorrectly.
In every case I’ve ever heard, a golfer who signs an incorrect scorecard in tournament play is disqualified. Yet, the green jacketed powers-that-be at Augusta National somehow found a way not to disqualify Tiger.
And even though I had looked forward this weekend to seeing whether my favorite golfer could win the fifth Master’s championship of his career, I think Augusta’s green jackets made the absolute wrong decision.
Nevertheless, the Bible advises “that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.”
I believe the Almighty, in His infinite grace, gave Tiger an opportunity to redeem himself in the eyes of many of those who have not gotten past his serial adultery with who knows how many harlots, which defiled his marriage and left a lasting scar upon his faithful wife, the mother of his two beautiful children.
Oh, how I hoped that Tiger would say that, even though Augusta’s powers-that-be had not disqualified him for his rule-breaking – had tempted him with preferential treatment – he had decided to disqualify himself. Even though doing so would cost him the Masters.
But Tiger did not enter today through the narrow gate, of which the Word of God speaks. He chose the wide gate, the broad way that leads to destruction.
In 2010, Tiger delivered a mea culpa in which he told a national television audience, “I am deeply sorry for my irresponsible and selfish behavior.” He promised “to be a better man.” And he confided he was returning to the Buddhist faith of his youth, which his Thai mother instilled in him.
Well, the events of today suggest that Tiger is not the better man he promised to be. And I am persuaded he will remain a lost soul until, hopefully, he comes to Jesus.
For when a man is in Christ, he is a new creature. The old things are passed away. All things become new.
I always play by the rules.
Yes, but by Rule 20-1
If the competitor has played a second ball, he must report the facts to the Committee before returning his score card; if he fails to do so, he is disqualified. The Committee must determine whether the competitor has committed a serious breach of the applicable Rule. If he has, the score with the second ball counts and the competitor must add two penalty strokes to his score with that ball. If the competitor has committed a serious breach and has failed to correct it as outlined above, he is disqualified.
Seems that either he must be ruled as not having made an improper drop, or he must be disqualified. Maybe the Committee made the breach in rules.
I like the proper rules enforced, the ones that speak to the essence of the game. The scorecard rule did, at one time, speak to the essence of the game. It dates to a day when even in competitve golf, the players were unseen by other human eyes for much of a round. It was a totally proper rule then. It’s a bureaucratic irrelevancy now. A four stroke penalty, for what was an almost perfect shot, is damned severe and I think appropriate. Total DQ is absurd. You must be a government bureaucrat, or just a Tiger hater.
In the history of the game of golf players have been disqualified for turning in a signed scorecard that was in error. But that same penalty was not given to Woods because he is Tiger Woods.
Exactly right. The original article is just garbage. Rules were applied exactly correctly.
Absolutely incorrect. Learn the new rule before making uninformed comments.
I did learn something in this.
In pro play, say a green is cut super slick, such that the ball rarely if ever, rests on the green, but rolls off of it. The type of green where most players take 3-5 strokes,..or more,..on the approach to get in the cup.
If there is a water hazard, the smart play is to approach closest the cup with no spin, then allow the gradient on the green to take the ball off the green into the water hazard, setting a new line for the next stroke.
Then you have a new line directly along the green’s gradient to the cup. Making a much more reliable approach than any other, but not living up to the intent of it being a penalty shot with more risk than the original.
“It is not that big of a deal.”
David Duval and Nick Faldo disagree. Both have said he should disqualify himself.
He dropped farther back than he needed to to improve his shot. He admitted that in post round interviews. That is cheating. Then he did not penalize himself 2 strokes. So he signed an incorrect scorecard.
The committee decided to just change tigers score and penalize him for cheating. And ignore the incorrect scorecard. Worst ruling ever!
In 1968 Robert Di Vecenzo made a birdie 3 on 17 to get into a playoff. His partner wrote down 4 inadvertently. Robert didn’t notice the 4, signed the card and was DQ’d. But now the new rules allow the committee to only follow the rules when they FEEL like it..
Tiger could have done the correct thing and DQ’d himself and almost completely redeemed himself.
What gets me is all these supposed conservatives...who know in their hearts that riduculous rules and regulations by government are anti liberty - sticking up for the most severe and now absurd golf rule over common sense - all without having any idea how intellectually bankrupt they are being. Golf realized that the scorecard rule is antiquated and overly harsh, so they gave themselves a way to mitigate it - they use that mitigation now- and people go beserk.
...the drop issue is one that is different than the scorecard issue...and while I respect Faldo and Duval - most golf reporters have also indicated that they doubt Faldo would have DQ’d himself under any circumstances. As for Duval, he agrees with me on the scorecard issue. The bottom line is, the guy hit a perfect shot, got a bad bounce, and it’s cost him four shots. It’s not like he skated free.
Do we want to play a game of skill within the spirit of the rules, or be prisoners of nuance and paperwork and the technicalities.
Right or wrong, had he DQ’d himself, it would appear such decision would have been made from the perspective of humility and not selfishness.
Even when stating he respects the Committee’s decision, relying on their ruling instead of his, implies he’s gambling for a win out of self-interest.
But Jesus is the only God of the major world religions who said, "I came to bring truth to those who can hear the truth."
Depends,lateral hazard?
Well, since he's not professing to be a Pastor, but is professing to be a highly competitve athlete, why is this a bad thing? A win out of self interest? Really. Gosh, who knew people in liberty ever acted in self interest?
I’m sorry CHRISTIAN DIARIST, this really was an idiotic post. The whole situation has been handled correctly by the rules committee, the officials managing the tournament & Tiger himself.
While you’re enjoying the hits on your blog, be sure to take that plank out of your eye.
your post is either ignorant or arrogant....I’m still decidin
With that said, and considering his historical angry outbursts and profanity when disappointed in the outcome of a shot, yesterday's demeanor and restraint in proceeding from what must have been deep frustration, which enabled him to continue with focus, was commendable and indicated that lessons may have been learned. At that point, my reaction was to wish him well.
His total honesty as to his intent, during the press interview following the round, also served him well, although it resulted in the 2-stroke penalty.
Now, he accepts the belated penalty with dignity, and will, no doubt, have learned other lessons himself. That, in itself, provides a good lesson for youth.
they why did Zoeller apologize ....chiltins and greens wasn;t racist ?
David Duval and Nick Faldo disagree. Both have said he should disqualify himself
Fald just said on the telecast that now that he knows the full story that they got it right n
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