Tag

Golf

Browsing

Fans Lose All Respect for Tiger Woods After He Goes Against Their Advice Yet Again

Tiger Woods was once regarded to be one of the greatest phenoms in the world of golf. However, one accident changed everything for him. Ever since he has been trying to make a comeback into the sports. And now, it is no longer restricted to the course. From having his own architecture company that has already taken up several huge projects, to starting a new league, and of course, coming up since,with Sun Day Red, which he promotes on the course.

But apart from everything else, the apparel brand has been quite controversial in the company. While it received a lot of appreciation for introducing the female line a few days ago, it has mostly been criticized for being way too expensive as a golf accessory. Turns out its newly launched product, too, once again has captured the attention of the golf community. But not in a very positive way.

The 82X PGA Tour Pro recently launched a new series of golf markers in the Sun Day Red brand and called them Half Moon. Mr. T took to the official X account of the brand and posted pictures of the two varieties available, and in the caption wrote, “Tiger Woods’ new brand, Sun Day Red, has just unveiled a new ball marker called “half moon” which retails at $50. Who is going to buy one of these?”

Now the question is, why did it not come out to be appealing to the golf community? And instead, why did it turn out to be another backfire to the brand?

The golf marker turns out to be too expensive

Rory McIlroy once mentioned how easy it is to overlook small objects when focused on the game. Additionally, the wind can play a significant role. During the 2021 Masters, several players commented on how gusty conditions caused them to lose not just their hats but also smaller items, like markers. Other professional golfers, too, have noted their concerns. Taking to this, one of them commented, “I already lost it just by thinking of buying it!” 

Tiger Woods

In golf, a “gimme” refers to a putt that a player can take without actually putting the ball into the hole, typically because it’s considered so short and easy that it’s understood it would be made. Now, most of the markers do not have that, but then again, most of them do not cost as much as $50. The Maxfli Tour X golf markers, for example, come in a varied range, costing somewhere between $10 to $25.

Taking to this, one of them wrote, “Sun Day Red is the biggest scam ever”.While another simply commented, “Does it come with a gimme? I’m in! If not, I’ll buy two dozen Maxfli Tour X’s instead.”

In a regular store, one plastic marker stencil costs $9, plus these are good stencils and you get 4 colored markers with the set! One of them, taking to the manufacturing factor, commented, “must cost about 50p or half a dollar to make 🤣⛳️”.

From winning 15 majors to completely changing the dynamics of the sport of golf, Tiger Woods has a lot of contributions. This has also garnered him a lot of fans. But turns out, they are not helping Sun Day Red. As one of them simply commented, “Love Tiger, but hard pass for me.” However, one of them even wrote, “A special kind of id–t tbh. 50 bucks for something like that – he’s taking the proverbial. I’ve got huge respect for what he did in the game of golf, but Tiger’s got issues with what he wants his legacy to be.”

Would you buy the new golf marker? Let us know in the comments section!

Hank Haney worked with Tiger Woods for six years (2004 to 2010). During this period, the 48-year-old won a whopping 31 titles on the PGA Tour. This includes six major championships. So, does the success partially belong to Haney too? One could argue, and well, that is exactly what happened.

The veteran coach shared a tip on X, stating, “You want to lower your handicap? Eliminate penalty shots, eliminate two chips, and eliminate three putts, pretty simple formula.” After this, one fan commented under the post asking, “And how did Mr. Woods react to the advice?”

Haney retweeted the post and bluntly stated that he was a part of Woods’s career during his prime days. He replied to the question by saying, “Statistically the most prolific time in his career. Everyone is entitled to their own opinion, but no one is entitled to their facts.”

Haney and Woods parted ways in 2010, and then Haney wrote “The Big Miss,” recapitulating his time with the GOAT. The golfer did find the book to not be in good taste but the coach argued otherwise. Having worked together for so many years, they share a comfort level, and a certain level of honesty. For this, Haney is more often than not brutally honest about Woods’s gameplay.

A few days ago, Woods was teaching his short-game techniques to Collin Morikawa. While reposting, Haney adorned the video, stating, “Tiger is a little more advanced than most of the other greats, actually a lot more.” 

At the 2023 Hero World Challenge, Woods finished in the 18th position. This tournament was his comeback after being away from the greens since the Masters. When speculations of his comeback became the hot talk, Haney disagreed saying, “Look to be in excruciating pain like he was last year.” And well, he was somewhat right. Woods did play less this year and called it a season after missing the cut at The Open.

Despite the rift after the book, Haney stated that the duo will always remain friends, despite not working together. There seem to be sparks of rekindled friendship between them, but this was not always the case.

Was Hank Haney unprofessional for writing about Tiger Woods?

Hank Haney’s book The Big Miss: My Years of Coaching Tiger Woods had the entire journey of the duo together in professional golf. But it turns out, the 82X PGA Tour winner did not take it very well. He called the book self-serving and publicly criticized it, saying, “I think it’s unprofessional and very disappointing, especially because it’s someone I worked with and trusted as a friend.”

He also went on to add that there have been several other books that have one-sided stories about him narrated, and well, most of them were to earn money, and he would not be wasting his time reading the book. However, Haney took to this and stated that his only intention was to share the greatness of the 48-year-old with the world, and he did not quite get why he was accused of being unprofessional for this.

“People speculate all the time about him, but they are guessing, I was there, I spent 150 days a year with him for six years,” Haney said. “He was incredible, just unbelievable.” In his defense of being called unprofessional, Haney clarified his stance and emphasized that the memories were his to share and that what he was doing was within his right, especially since people often asked him about working with Woods. “I’m not sure I understand the unprofessionalism part. He hasn’t read the book. There’s a lot of positives in there,” said Haney.

What are your thoughts on Hank Haney and Tiger Woods’s relationship?

Where else can you experience the perfect blend of world-class entertainment, elite networking, and the presence of the legendary Tiger Woods? At the Tiger Woods Invitational, of course! Hailed as one of the most exclusive and prestigious private golf events, the TW Invitational is returning to the iconic Pebble Beach, California, from October 14-16.

But what’s so special about it? Well, know it for yourself. The golf tournament format follows a three-day competition and is structured around one gross best ball and one net best ball, per foursome, where each golfer plays their ball. Low gross and low net scores will be recorded for each hole, with a player’s score possibly counting for both categories.

Every participant plays with their full handicap, except on par 3s, and there are also handicap limits based on the day of play. What makes this event particularly thrilling is its competitive edge. But wait, there is more to it! To keep up with the competitive spirit of the participants, daily prizes are awarded for low gross and low net performances.

Sounds exciting? Well, there’s more! As the tournament comes to an end, the teams will not only be awarded trophies, but they will also become eternal on the Invitational’s perpetual trophy. Since it’s a private tournament, nothing much is revealed about who the exact participants are. But there is much more to this gathering than playing in the greens. The TW Invitational isn’t just about fun and competitive golf; it carries in its existence a profound purpose.

How did the Tiger Woods Invitational come into existence?

Tiger Woods is undoubtedly one of the best golfers we know today. But beyond that, he also proves to be a great human, and the TW Invitational is another proof of that. In an effort to give back to the community, Woods started this charitable event, which supports his TGR Foundation. It is sponsored by an insurance company called USLI and aims to empower underprivileged students by providing them with educational resources.

Woods’s contribution beyond golf is not just limited to this event. In addition to this, Woods has been involved in various youth programs and charitable events like the Hero World Challenge, the Genesis Invitational, the National, and the Tiger Jam. These all come under his TGR Foundation, which was founded in 1996 by Woods and his father Earl.

Tiger Woods

What started as a simple junior golf clinic, has today become a remarkable initiative. Ever since its inception, TGR has shown tremendous dedication to uplifting the health, education, and welfare of children across America. With a great purpose in heart, the foundation is an inspiration for all who look forward to making an impact in their community. Their work has also facilitated them to launch programs such as the Learning Labs of Anaheim, Los Angeles, and Philadelphia.

While we eagerly await the TW Invitational to start, golf enthusiasts can look forward to another fundraising event lined up this year, hosted by another golf icon.

FORE Kids ATX is scheduled for next month

Following in Tiger’s footsteps, Sergio Garcia also started his fundraising event. Golfer Sergio Garcia and his wife, Angela started FORE Kids ATX, a fundraising event that aims to support children and families in Austin, Texas. The two-day event is scheduled for November 1–2 and will be held at the Fazio Foothills, Omni Barton Creek Resort, OBC. Similar to Woods’s event, this also encompasses fun activities like cocktail receptions, live music, and dance.

Although this year the couple struggles to bring more golfers on board, the 44-year-old golfer has claimed that even with few players, the event will be as good as it has been. In fact, this year, Garcia hopes to raise more funds and break his record of raising $5 million for this charity.

So whose event are you waiting for—Woods or Garcia? Let us know in the comments.

Nothing can stop Tiger Woods from growing his brand, Sun Day Red, not even back surgery and the prolonged hiatus. After undergoing a microdiscectomy for the sixth time in his life in September, the 48-year-old has been recovering and preparing for whenever he decides to return. Amidst that, Woods’s apparel brand, SDR, posted a tease that the 15-time major champion collaborated with Pebble Beach.

The 15x major winner chose to have his first-ever outlet in not his home state, but in a place that is too special for him. You probably remember the Florida native winning the 2000 US Open with a stunning 15-stroke lead on Pebble Beach. Now, he will be revisiting that site; well, he may not, but his brand will always be there, thanks to their grand partnership. On October 11th, the 48-year-old will open up his first-ever Sun Day Red pop-up shop on the Pebble Beach Resorts’ Lodge Arcade, as The Mercury News reported.

The clothing brand had posted a teaser on X, saying, “Tiger Woods and Pebble Beach are forever linked. The legacy grows October 11.” And now it will be forever linked with Woods fans as well. Notably, the pop-up shop will be opened daily from 9 a.m. to 6:30 p.m., allowing golf fans to buy all their favorite tees and clothes from there. Although many have opined against the designs or the logo of SDR, a small hunch says that there will still be many fans flocking to the Pebble Beach SDR shop.

As Tiger Woods grows his relationship with Pebble Beach stronger by the year, there is more to the Woods and Pebble Beach partnership in October than just the Sun Day Red collaboration and for fans to enjoy the iconic venue, hopefully, alongside the 15-time major winner itself.

Tiger Woods & Pebble Beach’s October plans

Yes, the 48-year-old pro is probably in rehabilitation for his back surgery, but he is hopeful of a prompt return. He said, “I look forward to tackling this rehab and preparing myself to get back to normal life activities, including golf.” Usually, a microdecompression recovery takes around 2-4 weeks, the procedure was a little simpler than his past surgeries, and there is a chance that the 15-time major winner may be back for the two events at Pebble Beach Golf Links.

Tiger Woods

During October, Woods has been hosting two different invitationals, one for juniors and another for golfers of old age. At both of these, Woods has been on site to take photos and award the trophy to the winner. The TGR Jr. Invitational will be from October 12th to 14th. Then, on the last day of the junior event, the TW Invitational will start and end on the 16th. The junior event will have 60 girls and boys aged 10 to 18, whereas a recreational golfer older than that may participate in the TW Invitational.

Why Woods may be present at the two events, you ask? Well, last year, the 48-year-old was recovering from his surgeries too, and made only three starts on the PGA Tour. This year has been similar to that; thus, following that, it could be assumed that Woods will not miss the two special events, where he has been a fixture since they started. If he does come, it will be his first outing after the surgery and an update on how he has been off the course.

Even at the highest level, not even an army of referees and TV cameras could detect every little infringement among 120 competitors, across 200 acres of land.

It becomes even more important at lower levels – when your playing partner draws a bad lie and realises nobody is looking – or disappears into the woods unattended and suddenly finds their lost ball.

But while golfers are generally expected to have a detailed understanding of the rules and hold each other to account, they do have their own version of VAR, too.

In professional tournaments, rules officials are on hand to help players avoid controversy and offer guidance in difficult situations.

It is usually a pretty quiet day at the office. But for Orlando Pope, working at the Phoenix Open in 1999, it was anything but.

He gave Tiger Woods a ruling which was discussed on that year’s Super Bowl broadcast – and it still gets widely circulated on social media, 25 years later.

You could say it rocked the golf world – quite literally – because the ruling involved a 2,000lb boulder.

It all started when Woods – playing in the final group on Sunday alongside Rocco Mediate – pulled a tee shot into the Scottsdale desert on the 13th hole.

His ball cannoned off a giant rock and came to rest a short distance behind it.

There was no way to advance the ball forwards – even for the greatest golfer of all-time – but Woods quickly thought up a bizarre escape plan.

Golfers are allowed to move ‘loose impediments’ – any object that is not attached to the golf course and not in direct contact with the ball.

It is usually used to get rid of twigs and leaves around the golf ball, but Woods applied it to a one-ton boulder.

Reflecting on the situation in a 2023 interview, rules official Pope said: “I pulled up in my cart and asked about the situation. Tiger Woods pointed to this boulder and said it is just lying there. I asked him, ‘What do you mean … it’s just lying there?’

“Tiger said he thought it was decorative and it wasn’t attached, it was a loose impediment. I’ve got to give him credit. Looking back I would have never thought about asking for that ruling.

“Tiger then asked if he could move it and I said yes.

“Tiger thought for a moment, then asked if he could have help. I responded, ‘You can have all the help you want.'”

Then, in a totally unprecedented scene, Woods’ caddie Mike ‘Fluff’ Cowan called over about a dozen fans to move the boulder.

At first, the men were unable to shift it, before they all coordinated their efforts to a ‘count of three’.

Woods smiled as his army of labourers heaved the boulder out of his way, and when one of them asked if that was sufficient, he replied: “Do it again.”

They obliged – and suddenly Woods had a clear route to the green.

The American shook hands with each helper, ripped his second shot into a greenside bunker, then got up-and-down for the most remarkable birdie.

Tiger Woods

Woods would finish three shots adrift of Mediate, who won the tournament on 11-under-par, but that did not stop the chaotic incident gaining widespread attention.

Ken Venturi, tour veteran and broadcaster, was adamant on TV commentary that Woods should not have been given the ruling.

Pope added: “I had no idea it would be as big as it was.

“I went into the clubhouse and Ben Nelson of our team asked me if I was sure about the ruling. I said I was 100% sure.

“The Super Bowl was telecast by CBS right after the final round. It was brought up during that broadcast.”

Pope, who is now senior director of TV rules and video analyst for the PGA Tour, revealed he still gets pestered about the ruling to this day.

“A couple of times the ruling has come up for discussion,” he added.

“One is at the PGA Tour rules seminar. I get attacked with questions on why I made the ruling I did.

“Second, when we bring in new staff, they ask about it during orientation, because it is usually included in one of the slides.

“The biggest question asked is about the pace of play, since Woods and Mediate got behind on the clock.

“My answer has always been the same: ‘It takes a long time to move a 2,000-pound rock.’”

Woods, who was 23 at the time, was already becoming one of the most famous athletes in the world – but the boulder also claimed its place in history.

It can still be found at Scottsdale, with a commemorative plaque on its side, which reads: “1999 Phoenix Open: On January 31, during the fourth round, Tiger Woods’ tee shot came to rest in proximity to this 1-ton boulder. After being ruled a ‘loose impediment,’ a group of spectators moved the boulder, allowing Woods to birdie the hole.”

Let’s get this out of the way right from the jump: Tiger Woods is the greatest golfer of all time. Not Jack Nicklaus, not Sam Snead and not … Jason Day?

This week, the 2015 PGA champion joined Smylie Kaufman’s podcast ‘The Smylie Show’ to chat about his career. In the episode, Day spoke about his intense fitness regime in his prime, explaining how the “lifestyle choice” led him down a spiral of injury and recovery, not altogether unlike Tiger Woods. Speaking of Woods, Day also shared the eyebrow-raising compliment (?) his former Nike teammate used to give him, and let’s just say it might be the hottest take in golf history. Check it out.

That’s right. When Day would ask Woods, “What kept you at number one for so long?,” Woods would reply, “I’m not as talented as you, so I had to work harder.”

Tiger Woods

For such a short quote, there’s a lot to unpack here. First of all, Woods’ claim’ that Jason Day was more a naturally gifted golfer than him is absolutely ludicrous. Even Day called it “a load of crap.” In fact, the claim is so dubious that we almost wonder if it was a head game designed to get Day—who was at the peak of his powers at the time—to let his guard down.

Then there’s Woods’ assertion that he was a more dominant golfer than Day purely because of his graft. We all know Woods’ work ethic and dedication are second to none, but to claim right Day’s face that he worked a full 69 wins harder might be the backhanded compliment of the century. It also completely ignores the preternatural gifts Woods, and many Hall of GOATs inductees like him, were born with.

But that’s how all the greats—from Tom Brady to Muhammad Ali—have operated through the years. They carry a chip on their shoulder at all times. They back themselves into mental corners just so they can fight their way out. They always believe there’s more work to be done even when they’re already the best. In fact, in a strange way, this brief quote reveals more about the psyche of Tiger Woods than any documentary, interview or stat could ever hope to.

He’s taking a break from playing golf right now! Yes, the 14-time major champ is currently recovering from a surgery that he had recently to fix his back. But… frankly speaking… He’s Tiger Woods. Keeping him away from the sport as a whole is, in fact, an impossible thing. And unsurprisingly enough, that didn’t stop him from dropping a tease of his own with a Pebble Beach twist.

The official handle of Sun Day Red recently shared a tweet on X. “Tiger Woods and Pebble Beach are forever linked,” it wrote before adding, “The legacy grows October 11.” Suffice it to say, the post went ahead and created much hype in the community. And as a result of the same, TWLEGION, a fan page dedicated to the golfer reshared the tweet all the while trying to figure out what it meant.

“Guessing this is a merch collab between SDR and Pebble,” wrote the golfer’s fan page on X while alluding to how his brand would make a collaboration with the iconic course. “Tiger has the TW Invitational next week and the Junior event this weekend – not clear if he’s attending those with recovery from the recent surgery.” While the possible collab might happen on one side, the Pebble Beach resorts will witness both tournaments kicking off in these two weeks with the TGR Jr Invitational teeing off from October 12.

The TW Invitational, on the other hand, will see everyone arriving from October 14, Monday onwards with the participants teeing off at the iconic course from 1:00 p.m. in a shotgun start. The next two days will witness the final two rounds being played as well, but there will be a slight change. Well, the second round will see the golfers teeing it off in a shotgun start at 11:00 a.m. while Wednesday it will start at 8:30 p.m.

But the question remains; will Tiger Woods himself be attending both the events? The most probable answer would be a ‘No’, courtesy of the recent procedure. Much to everyone’s surprise, the athlete had recently undergone surgery on his lower back. He had been riddled with back spasms for a while now and, as a result, he underwent his sixth lower back surgery in 10 years. Quite unfortunate, isn’t it? Yes, none would disagree!

Tiger Woods

Tiger Woods’s surgery and his plans for 2024

A tweet was shared on September 14 mentioning how the 48-year-old had undergone microdecompression surgery of the lumbar spine. It was done so to remedy the impingement of one of the nerves in his lower back. “The surgery went smoothly,” shared the golfer in a statement. “And I’m hopeful this will help alleviate the back spasms and pain I was experiencing throughout most of the 2024 season.”

That’s not all. the 15-time major champion also took to express hope in recovering as soon as possible from the same. He said,  “I look forward to tackling this rehab and preparing myself to get back to normal life activities, including golf.” That, interestingly, brings us to the next query. When will he make a possible return?

If everything goes well and Tiger Woods recovers, then you might be able to spot him on the greens at the Ritz-Carlton Golf Club, Orlando as well as in Albany, Bahamas. His fans would hope for a return, but only after he recovers completely. Here’s to hoping!!

Verified by MonsterInsights