I’m not sure why, but I seem to forget about keeping the Pebble Beach Stories series going until it gets close to the AT&T or any event at Pebble Beach. Anyways, Tiger never came to the AT&T Pro-Am during the three years I was working there for the event. He went the year before I started working at Pebble (2002), and I always hoped he’d change his mind so I could see the legend in the making play live, but it never happened. In honor of his first entry into the AT&T since 2002, I figured it was a good time to dust off the one and only Tiger story I have, but unlike Stevie Williams and Hank Haney, I’m not going to be making money on it.
From the first time I mentioned Tiger to co-workers they would all grumble something that ended with I hate that guy. They’d regroup and say he’s a ridiculously good golfer, but just not a good human being. After asking numerous people why he wasn’t a favorite like Phil, Davis Love III, Jonathan Byrd, or even Dustin Johnson, they all seemed to point to the fact that he was a bad tipper, or that he bitched about everything.
There was one time he did come to Pebble Beach while I was working there, and it was for an EA sports party when they were doing promo stuff for his video game, and from that point on in 2004, I didn’t like the guy much either. I tried to make some small talk with him asking him about his hotel stay and where he’d eaten in around town to maybe give him some recommendations or something like that. He flat out ignored me like I didn’t exist. Now, I could understand if he was doing something like talking on the phone or signing an autograph for someone, but he was just hanging out in front of the pro shop with nobody else but a group that just came of the 18th hanging around. I rattled off at least 30 seconds of chat, but was apparently talking to myself. Maybe it was the crappy weather that day or maybe he couldn’t stand getting a fat paycheck for putting his ugly mug on the cover of EA’s golf game, but he could at least acknowledge my existence with more than a head nod. I guess I wasn’t important enough for him to acknowledge my existence. I’m not one to get star struck especially after meeting lots of celebrities and athletes during my time there, but he might have been the rudest of all I met by simply ignoring me. My new theory on maybe why he ignored me in the post Tiger scandal is that maybe one of the girls he was a sugar daddy for extorted him for the money he just made on the EA game.
Whatever the case, I asked our head golf pro and the assistant golf pro what was up with Tiger, because he seemed so cold and was basically the opposite of Phil to the point that it seemed like it would physically hurt him if he smiled, and he wasn’t even there to play golf! They didn’t seem to know or really care that much, but what they did tell me was you’ll probably never see him at the AT&T Pro-Am, which makes it even more remarkable he’s playing this weekend at Pebble when it’s not for the US Open. Curious, I had to ask why.
Chuck (the head golf pro) gave me a couple of answers, both of which made some sense.
First he told me that Tiger doesn’t like the greens at Pebble or really any public course because they get too much play and thinks they’re too bumpy. I was taken back by this answer, because aside from the pace of play, I’d never heard anyone complain about the courses features at Pebble unless of course they plugged the greens, but there’s no chance Tiger ever played after they plugged the course, because they’d never want that shown on TV or have the pros complain.
The second thing he told me which made a lot more sense was he didn’t like playing with amateurs. They play slow, and usually shank more shots than hit good ones. Today they aired a little interview with Tiger on ESPN talking about his celebrity playing partner this weekend, Tony Romo. Tiger went on to say Tony had been texting him relentlessly asking about how low he needed to shoot, and what he could do to work on his swing that made me crack up just thinking of the way Tiger probably responded. I’m almost positive Romo recieved no advice, and was probably annoyed by the onslaught of texts from someone that wasn’t going to be a one night stand.
Maybe he’s a better man close to a decade removed from when I met him, but it’s still the main reason to this day that I don’t root for him to succeed.
February 9th, 2012 at 6:12 am
That’s interesting, Chappy. I wonder why he doesn’t like playing with slow amateurs, but he’ll play with slow celebrities.
February 9th, 2012 at 11:02 am
I read he did the event because his sponsor (AT&T) wanted him to, so I’m betting it’s only so he makes a few extra bucks for the appearance!
February 9th, 2012 at 6:22 am
Reblogged this on elainewoodsrealestate.
February 9th, 2012 at 6:52 am
chappy
If Woods wins more than two tournaments this season I’d be pleasantly surprised ! His game is still a long way from where he needs it to be to contend with the likes of McIlroy , Luke Donald and the contingent of young US players now making a name for themselves on the PGA Tour .
Enough Already ….. !
tophatal ………………
February 9th, 2012 at 2:13 pm
Yeah, honestly I want him to contend, but not win!
February 9th, 2012 at 5:43 pm
I am sooooooooooo ready for my Masters trip.
February 9th, 2012 at 6:01 pm
Got an extra ticket?
February 14th, 2012 at 11:33 am
Not that really care about Tiger either way, but heck Bill Belichick has more class than him.
I heard on the course this week that Woods did give Romo some chipping advice on Wednesday, but never played a practice round with him.
Greens too bumpy? Even if that was the case does it matter? You’re playing on one of the most beautiful courses in the world.
February 14th, 2012 at 11:47 am
I think the more stories I hear about Tiger, the more I dislike him! I thought it was hilarious that Belichick was wearing a hoodie most of the week, not that he shouldn’t be comfortable golfing, but it seems like someone would’ve hooked him up with some golf gear!
February 14th, 2012 at 11:50 am
I have to believe that Hoodie was playing it up some how, because he showed up on Wednesday in perfectly normal golf attire. Perhaps his new lady suggested he continue that wardrobe.
February 14th, 2012 at 1:22 pm
chappy
I’d certainly can’t visualize Woods missing so many holes but the problem may well have been the holes he’s normally use to using his ” 9 iron ” on weren’t necessarily as small as those at Pebble Beach ? Your thoughts ?
Belichick devoted more time in strategising a game plan for the match-up against the Giants rather than consulting golf pros prior his stint at Pebble Beach then perhaps the end result might well have been different . But then again it might not considering the Pats’ receivers were so inept ! I’m not saying they were bad there was talk of using industrial glue on their hands .
I see Mayweather and Jason Whitlock are throwin’ ’bout the “race card” in terms of Lin’s recent performances for the Knicks ? How dumb are those two a##holes to begin with ? Mayweather needs to shut the ###k up get about fighting Pacquiao rather than beating up on a tomato can like Miguel Cotto .
Floyd Mayweather takes swipe at Jeremy Lin
The IQ of Mayweather and Whitlock combined couldn’t even gain them entrance into the US chapter of MENSA !
The saying ” a mind is a terrible thing to waste ” rings true when applied to the likes of Mayweather and Whitlock as both are a$$holes !
tophatal …………