Quick 9: When golfers collide
Everybody loves a good golf spat played out in public.
There is nothing better than watching wide-eyed as two people lose the plot and clash in hilarious fashion with little regard for the spectators gleefully hiding their smiles behind their hand.
But a spat becomes even juicier when it takes place in what is widely known as the gentleman’s game.
Golf is famous for its strict adherence to rules and high levels of sportsmanship. However, nothing can be done when two personalities clash on the course and the TV cameras are on hand to capture every moment.
In this edition of Quick 9, we run the rule over some of our favourite times golfers collided…
1. Tiger Woods vs. Sergio Garcia
The pair haven’t seen eye-to-eye for some time, and it all came to a head at the 2013 Players Championship.
Garcia accused Woods of pulling a club from his bag while he was playing a shot, which sparked a reaction from the crowd that caused the Spaniard to make a mistake.
Garcia was later asked in jest if he would have the American round for dinner one night during the upcoming US Open.
We will have him round every night. We will serve fried chicken.
The comment, which has racist connotations, clearly upset Woods:
The comment that was made wasn’t silly. It was wrong, hurtful and clearly inappropriate…
— Tiger Woods (@TigerWoods) May 22, 2013
Garcia later apologised and the pair are now on speaking terms.
2. Tiger Woods vs. Stephen Ames
This story starts in 2000 when Ames had a bit of a pop at Woods:
He doesn’t look like he has enough respect for other players. Tiger’s coming across as bigger than the game. He’s a spoiled 24-year-old. If I was in his position I’d be more considerate. If I was beating the spit out of [other players], I wouldn’t have to beat them in that way too. He made $11 million [in 1999], endorsed more than $50 million – what’s he got to be unhappy about?
Before their match at the 2006 World Match Play, Ames went again:
Anything can happen, especially where he’s hitting the ball
Tiger responded in the only way Tiger knew how, by winning the match 9&8.
When asked if Ames’ comments were any kind of motivation, Woods replied:
Nine and eight.
You know what they say – a Tiger never forgets.
3. Colin Montgomerie vs. Sir Nick Faldo
Colin Montgomerie and Sir Nick Faldo are two of the finest these isles have ever produced and it’s somewhat a shame that the pair haven’t always seen eye to eye.
Monty criticised Sir Nick’s captaincy as Europe succumbed to a rare defeat to the USA in the 2008 Ryder Cup and then failed to seek his advice as he took up the captaincy himself two years later.
Faldo hit back on air while working as a TV analyst:
Monty’s too busy these days cutting my head off to try to make himself look taller.
Ouch.
Quick 9 continues on the next page, where Miguel Angel Jimenez takes on Keegan Bradley and John Daly takes on an opponent’s dad…
Alex Perry
Alex has been the editor of National Club Golfer since 2017. A Devonian who enjoys wittering on about his south west roots, Alex moved north to join NCG after more than a decade in London, the last five of which were with ESPN. Away from golf, Alex follows Torquay United and spends too much time playing his PlayStation or his guitar and not enough time practising his short game.
