[arindiruppya]

I voted always a fan, even as an avid fan of golf I'm more apt to tune in and watch if he's lurking near the leaders on Sunday.

Love him or hate him, he's been good for the game.

[OpVJokl8]

I always will be, I cant turn my back on him for doing what we all dream about ( I am kidding Diane)

[tadacia]

I never much liked Tiger and his recent behavior only made me dislike him even more. I would cheer for him during the Ryder Cup/President's Cup, but thats only because was representing the USA.
I definetly always respected his skill, talent and ability on the golf course; but never much liked him as a person or as a man.

[spapsinee]

i was a fan when he first burst onto the scene, but he became too pretentious, too alienated from his fans, plus i really get annoyed by hearing "in the hole" every single shot...

not a fan, prefer to see nicer people play.
prefer too that golf is about golf, and not about tiger.

[TheBestCheapestOEM]

You hear this now and then about Tiger, and it's a valid point in some aspects, but let's put it in perspective.

What great pro athlete DOESN'T show similar traits such as Tiger's?

Just about any great athlete I can think of has a big ego, shows their emotions, yells at teammates, etc etc. Of course you need God given talent, but to be really great, I believe you need that big ego to drive you ahead of all the rest. Anyone as competitive and fired up as Tiger gets is going to show emotion during the heat of the moment. At the same time, if he didn't have that high strung, highly competitive persona, he wouldn't be as good.

Look at Michael Jordan. He barked at teammates. Showed emotion on the court all the time. Got in the faces of competitors. He wanted to win, period. Kobe Bryant comes to mind when I think of someone else w/ this kind of persona as well.

Nobody calls those guys out and says they need to cut down the swearing, or try to be nicer to teammates and competitors.

"Hey Michael, I know you just dunked over Patrick Ewing in a big game in the Eastern Conference Finals, but did you have to yell and do a big fist pump after doing it? I mean, think of the children watching you." As rediculous as that sounds, it's similar to saying Tiger shouldn't fist pump after he makes a putt to win a tournament.

Yes, I realize golf isn't basketball but I'm correlating the kind of athlete we're talking about. You're not just going to tell Tiger to "tone" it down. It's who he is.

while I agree that most of the real top level guys do have a passion for their sport, yell at teammates and whatnot

this is golf, not basketball, not football

if fans in the gallery at a golf tournament acted like fans at the black hole at a raiders game, they'd be tossed out in a second.

Better behavior is demanded to be a spectator of golf when compared to other sports, and better behavior should be expected of the athletes as well

the behavior tiger exhibits both after great shots and even more so after poor shots is over the line in many cases to me, which is why I've never been a tiger fan.

Just because Jordan or Kobe or T.O. or whoever act up on the field is irrelevant because behavior that's acceptable other places is not acceptable on a golf course.

[glamourcitys]

if fans in the gallery at a golf tournament acted like fans at the black hole at a raiders game, they'd be tossed out in a second.

Better behavior is demanded to be a spectator of golf when compared to other sports, and better behavior should be expected of the athletes as well

Apparently you've never seen the fans on the 16th at the FBR Open. It's coming up in a couple of weeks. Personally, it's one of my favorite tournaments, one where the fans have a great time not only watching great players, but get involved by booing, hissing, cheering, etc.

[spapsinee]

while I agree that most of the real top level guys do have a passion for their sport, yell at teammates and whatnot

this is golf, not basketball, not football

if fans in the gallery at a golf tournament acted like fans at the black hole at a raiders game, they'd be tossed out in a second.

Better behavior is demanded to be a spectator of golf when compared to other sports, and better behavior should be expected of the athletes as well

the behavior tiger exhibits both after great shots and even more so after poor shots is over the line in many cases to me, which is why I've never been a tiger fan.

Just because Jordan or Kobe or T.O. or whoever act up on the field is irrelevant because behavior that's acceptable other places is not acceptable on a golf course.

exactly.

Golf is a sport of Gentlemen, well it is supposed to be anyway.
Its supposed to be fair and just, and each player is supposed to be respectful to the gallery, sport and each other, as seen by the actions of Paul McGinley during the Ryder cup 2006:

McGinley famously offered a handshake to J. J. Henry as Henry lined up a long putt to half their 2006 Ryder Cup match at the K Club, an action prompted by the incursion of a streaker on the final green. Golfers playing with Tiger not only have up their game to play amongst a huge walking gallery, but also need to block out Tigers petulant behiavour (cursing, throwing clubs, and general selfishness).

I've never been able to play with people that continually bark and complain after a bad shot, how can these guys do it playin with him??

[unfolaReemoma]

I have always admired Tiger, I love the Euphoria he brings to the game. He has made an idiot of himself off the course, but that will not change my mind regarding the greatness of this man on the course.
But as someone said earlier, The one thing that annoys me is the "Get in the Hole" shouts when he hits a ball, even sometimes when he Driving off a Par 4.

[erepsysoulptnw]

Great player with super skills. I have never been a fan of Mr. Woods and don't plan to be. I am a fan favorite of the older generation players and love the Senior tour. Turning 60 this year might have something to do with this I do hope he can get his life back together. We all make mistakes and need forgiveness.

[Siliespiriulk]

I've always been a Tiger fan and I always will be.

I grew up with Jack as my hero, but when the torch was passed to Tiger, I hitched myself to his wagon and I've been there ever since. Tiger is the best golfer I've ever seen and I hope he goes on to break Jack's records and beyond (sorry Jack).

Despite what's happened in Tiger's life recently and despite all of the hoopla that has followed, he's still the best and all any of this proves is that he's just as capable of making the same dumb mistakes that the rest of us make. In many ways, that makes him even more likable than before because it shows that he's as human as the rest of us and that has a sort of reassuring feel to it.


-JP