Tiger, The Gloves Are Off: Players Edition

Jeff Rude on players critical of Tiger's decision to upstage the Accenture WGC Match Play, starting with Ernie Els, who won't be playing any Chevron World Challenge's anytime soon.

“It’s selfish,” said Ernie Els, mincing no words. “You can write that. I feel sorry for the sponsor. Mondays are a good day to make statements, not Friday. This takes a lot away from the golf tournament.”

In a brief telephone conversation Wednesday, Steinberg emphatically told me there was no intention to interfere with Accenture’s spotlight. He said he called one of the company’s executives “to give a heads up” and made sure the Woods’ statement would come “well outside the tournament’s TV window.” He added that “Accenture couldn’t have been more supportive.”

“It’s always good to get your information right before commenting,” Steinberg said of the criticism from Els and others. “It’s strictly a timing issue. There is a very good reason (to do it Friday) . . . and not do it next week.”

The only good reason I can think of is an announcement that Tiger is going to play at Phoenix next week, and a press conference about that could have waited until Monday.

Dave Shedloski at GolfDigest.com writes:

Though few players would speak on the record about it, those approached for comment by Golf World were universally dubious of Woods' decision to choose a tournament day to make his first public appearance. Not many were amused that "Golf's Global Summit," which these World Golf Championships are billed as, were being pre-empted by golf's global icon.

"That was the first thing we all thought of, like he is sticking it to Accenture -- and that the PGA Tour is part of it all," one player said in the locker room, shaking his head. "It's like Tim (Finchem, the tour commissioner) has lost his head. He wants Tiger back in the worst way, and so he lets this go on. I mean, we all want to see Tiger back, but this doesn't look good."

And this from Sergio:

"The timing of it is not the best," Sergio Garcia said, "but he has to do what's best for him, I guess."

I guess!

Even bigger points for Rory McIlroy:

Added Rory McIlroy: "He's got to come out at some point. I suppose he might want to get something back against the sponsor that dropped him."

And Geoff Ogilvy:

"The only thing I will say about it is that I would like to see him answer some questions," Ogilvy said. "If he answers some questions, then that would make it real because he wouldn't be working off a script. But it's a start. And he's got to start somewhere."

And this Tweet from Jay Williamson: