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.