Tiger Calls the 17th at Sawgrass 'Gimmicky'

Posted May 08, 2007 11:16PM By mjd (RSS feed)

Filed Under: Golf

I'm pretty fond of the 17th at Sawgrass ... it's a fun hole, and it's unquestionably beautiful. I really couldn't imagine anyone not liking it. Except Tiger Woods, who hates fun.

"You'd probably lose the allure of the hole," Woods said. "I've always thought that that hole is too gimmicky for the 17th hole of a championship. As far as the 8th hole, I think that would be a fantastic 8th hole, but not as the 71st hole of a tournament or 17th hole of your round."

Myself, I like gimmicky. Golf could use a little more 'gimmicky'. Make the 17th in island green, put a damn windmill on the 16th, and make the last hole a clown's mouth for all I care. Most weeks on tour are a staid parade of khaki pants, hushed golf claps, and Verne Lundquist. We get enough of that.

Every now and then, I want to see an island green. I want to see Sergio Garcia have to putt with three live alligators on the green. I'd like to see Vijay Singh hit a 7-iron from 200 yards out in the ocean while riding on a whale's back. I'd like to see David Toms putt while American Gladiator Malibu is clocking him with that giant joust thing. Is that too much to ask?

Here's my point: The hole is fun. It's beautiful. It might even be gimmicky. But it's fun. People like fun. You've got 17 other holes to grind it out, Eldrick ... you can deal with one little island green.

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

5-10-2007 @ 3:25PM

Pettigrew said...

I agree with Tiger, a championship should not hinge on a hole that is at best Goofey Golf.It might as well have a Clowns head on it that spits the ball out when you hit the ball in his mouth.

Jerry in AZ.

5-10-2007 @ 7:56PM

Marge said...

I think Tiger Woods is a very neat person and certainly great at golf. Wish people wouldn't talk him down when he doesn't do well but he will come through I am sure. If they don't like him they can keep it to themselves.
Thank you,
Marge Arizona

5-15-2007 @ 2:19PM

r.norwood said...

GOLF FANS LOVE THE 17 COME ON TIGER LITEN UP,LET THE FANS SEE YOU AS THE GREAT PLAYER YOU ARE,AND NOT A WHINER.

5-11-2007 @ 8:00AM

Chuck said...

I understand what Tiger means. The 17th is a good golf hole, but the green is very tricky. I've played it many times myself and it is possible to hit a great shot to the center of the green and get a very bad role right off into the water. This is the "gimmicky" thing that Tiger spoke about. The hole should not penalize a good golf shot. But, this hole has lots of undulations and slopes into the water in several parts of the green.

5-11-2007 @ 11:44AM

Donn said...

It's very simple, this is NOT a golfers hole, it is a golf FANs hole. The reason this hole is at the 17th and not the 8th is so it can be seen on national TV on the weekend. How many people tune into the Players just to see great golfers do what so many of us hackers do when we are faced with hitting it over water on the tee shot? This hole has one purpose and on purpose only, to increase the viewing audiance of the tounament, and that is GOOD for golf.

5-11-2007 @ 12:52PM

Pat said...

What a joke! the best golfer in the world is whining because he has to hit a verry good shot on the 17th hole of a (major)non major tournament. Keep it on the green if your ahead and you are more than likly going to win if not? that is what we as fans are looking for.

5-12-2007 @ 9:33PM

BOBTHEMAN said...

complain TIGER complain YOU DID NOT COMPLAIN WHEN YOU MADE THAT GREAT PUT ON 17 YOU DANCED AROUND LIKE A TURKEY WHY NOT COMPLAIN THEN NO YOU ENJOYED IT THEN GROW UP AND SMILE LIKE THAT GREAT GOLFER PHIL

5-12-2007 @ 9:37PM

Elaine said...

I heard that Tiger was playing this week and the last tournament that he won with a knee or hip that was giving him trouble, so that he was not playing his best. Is this true? I did see him cringe a few times while playing last time. anyone agree with this?

5-12-2007 @ 11:30PM

Acosta said...

I am your fan since I saw you win that very well rememberd day at Disney. I have seen you smile and I have seen you suffer through your losses and then come back again and I have also seen you losing your temper in unfavorable situations. I would only like to say one thing to you: Please always show us, that follow your career and also as a gift to your late father that YOU CAN GO INTO HELL WITHOUT LOSING YOUR HEAVEN! Remember you are going to be a father and you want you children to be proud of your actions and of the gentleman you are. God bless you.

5-13-2007 @ 12:20PM

audrey hobbs said...

Gimmicky? Amusing is more descriptive of hole no.17. I have had a lot of laughs watching my least favorite golfers plunk balls in the water and end up with doubles or worse. Vijay, Jose Coceres, Sabbatini to name a few. The looks on their faces is Sidesplitting fun and every golfer that gets on the tee has an equal opportunity to end up a victim of the island fun house green. This year promises to see more balls in the water than ever before. I will be waiting with bated breath.

5-13-2007 @ 12:33PM

John Slobom said...

It is a shame that complaints about the 17th at Sawgrass are also made by crybabies. The only gimmick required there to scor is a solid well placed shot based on the current conditions(Ca'nt do it? Go home and cry about it.)