Sep
07
Sergio Garcia Issues Ryder Cup Challenge to Tiger Woods
The war of words has begun.
Most of the golfing world is familiar with Tiger Woods’ reaction to slights, either real or perceived. Ask Vijay Singh, whose caddy wore a hat that said “Tiger Who?” during their singles match in the 2000 Presidents Cup – a systematic 2 & 1 loss for Singh. (I had the good fortune to personally witness that one.) Ask Stephen Ames, who referred to Woods’ poor driving prior to their match in the WGC Match Play – an 9 & 8 spanking. There have been other instances. And afterwards, Woods always lets it be known that those sort of things help him get greater focus.
This time it’s the petulant Sergio Garcia who has thrown down the gauntlet, inviting a monster performance from El Tigre. Garcia had this to say about Woods in an interview prior to the Omega Masters, “Fortunately for us, he doesn’t have a great Ryder Cup record so I’m looking forward to hopefully going out there and meeting him two or three times.”
I’m guessing that Woods already has that article posted on his refrigerator door, so he’ll have to read it every day. Be prepared, Sergio, be very prepared.
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22 comments
Nobody ever accused Sergio of thinking before he speaks!
09/07/06 @ 12:00
Comment from: Lee [Visitor]
This sounds about what we've come to expect from Sergio, at least when the subject is Tiger.
Maybe he should talk more about Tiger getting all the breaks, anything to keep Tiger fired up.
Maybe he should talk more about Tiger getting all the breaks, anything to keep Tiger fired up.
09/07/06 @ 15:34
Sergio might be the US team's secret weapon. And here I thought it was Captain Woosnam.
09/07/06 @ 16:08
Tiger may not have a great Ryder Cup record but his current five wins speak for themselves.
Is Sergio jealous? NAH...
Is Sergio jealous? NAH...
09/07/06 @ 16:14
Comment from: CB Maxwell [Visitor]
Let's review...
Sergio has 6 wins and 46 top tens in his career and this year has a 70.52 strokes per round average and has won almost $1.5 million...ranked 39th in the world.
Tiger has 53 wins and 131 top tens in his career and is averaging 68.30 or TWO shots per round better than Sergio...8 shots over any given tournament. Tiger is closing in on $9 million.
As they say, "shut up Sergio and let your game do the talking." What a putz.
Sergio has 6 wins and 46 top tens in his career and this year has a 70.52 strokes per round average and has won almost $1.5 million...ranked 39th in the world.
Tiger has 53 wins and 131 top tens in his career and is averaging 68.30 or TWO shots per round better than Sergio...8 shots over any given tournament. Tiger is closing in on $9 million.
As they say, "shut up Sergio and let your game do the talking." What a putz.
09/07/06 @ 19:17
Comment from: Dan R [Visitor]
Sergio the master of the final day fold......issuing a challenge, what a laugh
09/07/06 @ 19:45
Comment from: Joe Cool [Visitor]
Ya know, Forest Gump was right..."stupid is as stupid does."
09/07/06 @ 21:51
Here's a curveball for everybody. Since the inclusion of all of Europe in 1979, Sergio has a better Ryder Cup record than ANYONE that has played in more than one. He's 6-0 in foursomes (alternate shot) and 3-1-2 in fourballs. However, he's just 1-2 in singles but that adds up to a 10-3-2 record which is fantastic.
09/08/06 @ 07:51
Comment from: David Doig [Visitor]
This is the Rider Cup and Sergio has a much better record than Tiger - so he's entitled and then some!
09/08/06 @ 19:15
Comment from: Lee [Visitor]
David- yes he is entitled. DO you thik Tiger will return the favor when they return to HIS domain...er winning majors & such?
Im not saying Sergio hasnt completely made a name for himself in the RC, or that he isnt superior to Tiger in group settings, but I AM saying that if he's going to start throwing around challenges, then he should do the same on Sundays the Open.
I mean, you cant rejoice in being master of one domain & then pretend you dont have the yips in the other. If he's speaking the truth for the RC, then I WISH he would speak it for EVERYTHING. add a scissor kick in there for exclamation.
Im not saying Sergio hasnt completely made a name for himself in the RC, or that he isnt superior to Tiger in group settings, but I AM saying that if he's going to start throwing around challenges, then he should do the same on Sundays the Open.
I mean, you cant rejoice in being master of one domain & then pretend you dont have the yips in the other. If he's speaking the truth for the RC, then I WISH he would speak it for EVERYTHING. add a scissor kick in there for exclamation.
09/09/06 @ 10:08
Comment from: john runyon [Visitor]
There are those who feel that Tiger's poor performance historically in team activity such as the Ryder cup is an indication more of who Tiger really is than the quality of his golf game. Tiger is for Tiger. He does not show the kind of elan necessary to contribute to a team effort nor do I think he really cares. Tiger may beat jack nicklaus' records but he will never be a great man like nicklaus.
09/11/06 @ 08:04
I would disagree with your assumption that Tiger will never be a great man. It is totally unfair to compare a man nearly 70 years old to someone who just turned 30. As I recall, Nickalus was still not the most popular golfer alive when he was that age. Nobody was calling him a great human being then - they were calling him Fat Jack.
Tiger has had to grow up under the most intense spotlight in the history of the game (although Michelle Wie may be getting it worse now). And he's handling it very well, if you ask me. In addition to all he does to popularize the game, Tiger has put a lot of effort and his own fortune into helping disadvantaged youths. I don't know what else you expect from a young man.
Tiger has had to grow up under the most intense spotlight in the history of the game (although Michelle Wie may be getting it worse now). And he's handling it very well, if you ask me. In addition to all he does to popularize the game, Tiger has put a lot of effort and his own fortune into helping disadvantaged youths. I don't know what else you expect from a young man.
09/11/06 @ 09:40
Comment from: Zinger [Visitor]
Why shouldn't Sergio give Tiger something to think about because Tiger sucks when it comes to the Ryder Cup. Forget all of his individual accomplishments. In team competition, his record is pathetic given all the accolades bestowed upon him.
I would love to see the media have an in-depth discussion as to why Tiger performs so poorly in the Ryder Cup. Will it happen? Nope! Why? Because he is a media darling. Also, his arrogant attitude wouldn't stand for it.
I just wish a young player cloned out of the mold of Tom Watson would come along and kick Tiger's behind. Right now Tiger has no equal and golf is starting to become boring unless of course it's the Ryder's or President's Cup.
I would love to see the media have an in-depth discussion as to why Tiger performs so poorly in the Ryder Cup. Will it happen? Nope! Why? Because he is a media darling. Also, his arrogant attitude wouldn't stand for it.
I just wish a young player cloned out of the mold of Tom Watson would come along and kick Tiger's behind. Right now Tiger has no equal and golf is starting to become boring unless of course it's the Ryder's or President's Cup.
09/11/06 @ 16:48
When you say the media, I presume you mean television because Tiger takes his lumps around here - when deserved. On tv the only one with the stones to criticize him is Johnny Miller. Thank God he's doing the Ryder Cup. No one is more honest about things like Tiger's record or what's going on with the players, although Azinger comes close. The Golf Channel is packed with nothing but boot-lickers for announcers. And it will get worse now that they are becoming heavily involved with PGA Tour broadcasts in 2007.
09/12/06 @ 08:50
Comment from: danny noonan [Visitor]
A great man like Jack Nicklaus...I have met Jack numerous times, my father's firm represented him in some of his business dealings and he is one of the most arrogant, self-important men I have ever met in my life. The truth is Jack is an a--hole and anybody that knows him would agree, that is when they are not preserving the legend that is "the Golden Bear". I hate to be the one to break this to you John, but most high profile people, athletes especially are in it for themselves and are generally not the kind of people you should place on a pedastal or look to as role models. For the record, Tiger has done more with his fame and wealth than Jack ever has, look at the first tee program and his numerous other charitable acts.
09/13/06 @ 11:05
I never had any personal dealings with Nicklaus so I won't comment on that. He is a good family man, but so was Vito Corleone, so I won't go on about that. But here's the thing about the very special ones: They ARE the greatest in their field so they are treated that way by everyone they come in contact with for most of their adult lives. Nicklaus has been getting it for 45 years or so and I would guess that by now he expects to be treated that way. On top of that, he, along with the other great ones, is typically very blunt and honest. They have to be to drive themselves to be the best they can be. And let's face it, a lot of the world really isn't ready for that level of truth.
09/13/06 @ 13:28
Comment from: danny noonan [Visitor]
Here's the thing Shanks, everybody's personal image is shaped to some degree by the opinions and views others have of them. It is the truly great human beings who can take the compliments and critcism and still remain humble and true to themselves.
I would like to make a distinction between the Jack Nicklaus the golfer, the family man and the public figure. No doubt he was a great golfer, for at least a couple more years the greatest ever. By all accounts he is indeed a great family man as well, my heart broke for him when I heard about his grandson drowning a couple of years ago, but from what I have seen of him as a man he is a pompous jerk, arrogant and condescending, rude to people he deems beneath him and generally a grumpy old man.
I would like to make a distinction between the Jack Nicklaus the golfer, the family man and the public figure. No doubt he was a great golfer, for at least a couple more years the greatest ever. By all accounts he is indeed a great family man as well, my heart broke for him when I heard about his grandson drowning a couple of years ago, but from what I have seen of him as a man he is a pompous jerk, arrogant and condescending, rude to people he deems beneath him and generally a grumpy old man.
09/13/06 @ 16:58
Comment from: Lee [Visitor]
"Why shouldn't Sergio give Tiger something to think about because Tiger sucks when it comes to the Ryder Cup. Forget all of his individual accomplishments. In team competition, his record is pathetic given all the accolades bestowed upon him. " Zinger
Fine, but while he's at it he REALLY needs to be as honest about his own play in the majors. If Serg can afford to be so brutally honest & be applauded for it, then he should also do the same when they're asking "So Sergio, what happened on Sunday?".
Just give that cocky little smile & let 'er rip. not give inane answers about 'it wasnt my day' or "tiger gets all the breaks".
Fine, but while he's at it he REALLY needs to be as honest about his own play in the majors. If Serg can afford to be so brutally honest & be applauded for it, then he should also do the same when they're asking "So Sergio, what happened on Sunday?".
Just give that cocky little smile & let 'er rip. not give inane answers about 'it wasnt my day' or "tiger gets all the breaks".
09/14/06 @ 02:29
Danny "Miss It" Noonan - Then I suppose your list of great men is very short indeed. Very, very rare is the talented & powerful man that is also a regular guy. We as a society try hard not to let them be that way.
Lee makes a nice point about Sergio. A while back I wrote that Sergio will never be any better than he is right now. So what I think he's doing is trying to cut out a little niche for himself in this era of Tiger - The Greatest Golfer Ever. Wants to be able to say he beat him at something.
Lee makes a nice point about Sergio. A while back I wrote that Sergio will never be any better than he is right now. So what I think he's doing is trying to cut out a little niche for himself in this era of Tiger - The Greatest Golfer Ever. Wants to be able to say he beat him at something.
09/14/06 @ 08:21
Tiger lashes back.. read a good article about Tiger ready to battle:
Ryder Cup - GreatSportsNews.com
Ryder Cup - GreatSportsNews.com
09/18/06 @ 15:07
Comment from: A.L Rubio [Visitor] 
Tiger will get it back next year and we will see great golf again. Sergio will have a tiger by the tail real soon
10/07/10 @ 07:49
Comment from: Boston Taxi [Visitor]
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01/13/11 @ 13:21
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