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 like FReeping at the beginning of Sattiday evening cocktail hour — find a thread with over 50 posts, and a pissing match is a sure thing.
The one aspect of golf had that it prized above everything, was it's high value on integrity.
That is now gone.
I’d take it up with Augusta’s honchos. Their tournament, their call.
Agreed. But, it always amazed me that so many people, including those who should have known better, were sucked in by Tiger Woods’ cult of personality. I always thought of him as a very good golfer, but he was not perfect. Too many people drank the Kool-Aid and believed he was.
Ditto. It's just a stupid game.
Why get one's panties all in a wad over a stupid game?
Golf, tiddly-winks, baseball, football, hockey, basketball, etc., all just opiates for the masses so they don't pay attention to what's really important.
bumpidy bumpidy
obama is tiger??
that is the sickest thing i have ever read
my goodness what is wrong with you??
tiger has never asked for anything
he works incredibly hard
he has talent
there only thing they have in common is neither is black.
**Ditto. It’s just a stupid game.**
Absolutely! I used to deliver products to over a hundred golf course maintenence departments. In most cases, if you aren’t talking to the maintenence chief or his second in command, you’ll need to know some Spanish.
To those that golf, I suggest that you wash your hands before eating, after playing the course. They lay down a LOT of pesticides/herbicides per acre.
**Golf, tiddly-winks, baseball, football, hockey, basketball, etc., all just opiates for the masses so they don’t pay attention to what’s really important.**
Well, some people want to do something fun once in a while. That’s fine. It’s just that when it reaches an obsession about something that is really just vanity, that it seems so foreign to those that ‘look for a crown that fadeth not away’. But, the sports obsession in this nation reminds me of the verse: “They sat down to eat, and they rose up to play”.
These people that are good at what they do in sports wouldn’t be rich at all if it weren’t for the media hyping them, making them into ‘heroes’ (as though they are healing someone or saving lives). Folks need to quit worshipping and idolizing these famous people, and realize that these sports/entertainment people have to take a crap regularly just like anyone else.
Mr. Woods is good at what he does because he works hard at it. He probably couldn’t lay down a good weld, smoothly handle a 40 ton semi in snowstorm, or be excellent at any number of meaningful jobs, simply because he’s probably never done them. It’s the real world.
While I am a fan of Tiger, I was at first feeling that he should be DQed for the rules infraction and signing an incorrect card. I am an avid golfer and golf coach and feel that the integrity of the game is very important to uphold. That being said, as I read and listened to the rules explanation and was reminded of the new rule (instituted over a year ago) allowing a penalty to be added after a card is signed instead of an automatic DQ, I don’t feel that Tiger was obligated to withdraw. Again, the rules committee looked at and judged the play twice determining there was no rules infraction. It was only later after listening to Tiger’s interview that the committee decided to talk with Tiger and then penalize him.
This is a completely different scenario than the De Vincenzo incident in 1968. In that case, DeVincenzo signed a card which had a hole scored as a 4 instead of the 3 he actually shot. He signed for that score and thus lost by one stroke.
Is Tiger the most upstanding citizen and trustworthy in his personal life? No, but I respect his golfing ability and playing under the established rules as determined by the USGA and the R&A.
He’s black....blacks get by with murder....LITERALLY!
IF Tiger wins there will be a HUGE Asterisk next to his score.
The mish-mash way the events unfolded and the official rules committee's public response put Tiger in a tricky spot even if he did want to "do the right thing". If he decided to penalize himself with a DQ after all the hubbub about it, he would be slapping them in the face. Surely you don't claim to know his heart and think that he considers himself above the game of golf that gave him everything - he would not be damaged with a DQ and his image is important to the game. Think it out (and examine yourself too) before you decide to smear another of those who you so obviously love as you love yourself when you can take a break from loving God the Father with every fiber of your being. Is there a Pharisee Delusion Syndrome? I keep running across people who think that they have no sinful nature left in them and are now capable of being worthy all on their own - they use it to "prove" themselves a 'Better Man/Woman'.
Thanks; you certainly would be popular at DU, newbie.
“Let him know, that he which converteth the sinner from the error of his way shall save a soul from death, and shall hide a multitude of sins.”
James 5:20
I think I'm with you, but can't tell if your post is an agreement or if you consider it a rebuttal to my post. It should be clear, but, alas, far too many misinterpret and one can't tell without some context.
God Bless
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