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Devil Ball Golf - Golf

Devil Ball Golf

Thu Sep 03, 2009 10:31 pm EDT

Tiger calls out Ernie Els: "Not a big worker physically"

By Jay Busbee

So much for the bland Tiger Woods quotes.

At a press conference in preparation for the Deutsche Bank Championship, Woods called out Ernie Els by name, saying Els did not do sufficient rehab on his surgically repaired left knee back in 2005.

"Ernie is not a big worker physically and that's one of the things you have to do with an ACL (anterior cruciate ligament) injury," Woods said. "I feel pretty good with what I've done and I think Ernie could have worked a little bit harder."

Woods, of course, had almost identical surgery and has come back to win five tournaments and place in the top 10 in 12 of 14 tournaments in which he's played. Els, meanwhile, now lingers in the lower echelons of the top 20, and has won only three tournaments since his knee surgery, none since March 2008.

Els was once one of the top players in the world, a legitimate challenger to Woods, but even his own family wouldn't consider him a serious rival to Tiger any longer. But is that because of his knee surgery, or because he's simply getting older? (Els turns 40 later this year.)

Question is, why would Tiger even say such a thing? Why embarrass Els with quotes he knew would be reported worldwide? Perhaps it's a bit of psychological gamesmanship, dispatching his rivals one at a time like a ninja. Perhaps it's just that Woods can't imagine giving less than total commitment at all times, and can't put up with anyone who does.

So, your take. Honest truth or jerk move?

Els did not work hard enough after surgery, Woods says [AP via Yahoo! Sports]

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1307 Comments

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  1. Vito Puzzo
    1. Posted by Vito Puzzo Thu Sep 03, 2009 10:45 pm EDT

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    Honest truth. Eldrick is bored. He wants one of the so called "superstars" of the tour to step up and challenge.
    I guess it's easier to be handed a loss by a top flight golfer than lose to one of the one hit wonders in golf.
    Beem, Curtis, Cabrera, Micheel, Cink, Glover, Slocum.....Webb Simpson?
  2. Justin W
    2. Posted by Justin W Thu Sep 03, 2009 11:03 pm EDT

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    Well, It is obvious that Woods was drunk during the Presser. Kidding aside, why shouldn't he call him out? In baseball we have guys calling out other guys all of the time, same in football, same in basketball. Why should golf be any different?
  3. Justin W
    3. Posted by Justin W Thu Sep 03, 2009 11:04 pm EDT

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    Well, It is obvious that Woods was drunk during the Presser. Kidding aside, why shouldnt he call him out. In baseball we have guys calling out other guys all of the time, same in football, same in basketball. Why should golf be any different
  4. Uncle Stanley McGoober
    4. Posted by Uncle Stanley McGoober Thu Sep 03, 2009 11:31 pm EDT

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    aaron gray?
  5. normy
    5. Posted by normy Fri Sep 04, 2009 12:38 am EDT

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    Someone always has to enter race into everything, grow up.
  6. justin
    6. Posted by justin Fri Sep 04, 2009 12:40 am EDT

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    I respect the fact that Tiger Woods has busted his tail to become the best golfer but as a person I think he is way to self absorbed. I think he is a phony when the cameras are not rolling. Like when he was asked to put the green jacket on Phil after he won the Masters.
  7. justin
    7. Posted by justin Fri Sep 04, 2009 12:41 am EDT

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    I respect the fact that Tiger Woods has busted his tail to become the best golfer but as a person I think he is way to self absorbed. I think he is a phony when the cameras are not rolling. Like when he was asked to put the green jacket on Phil after he won the Masters.
  8. Cayla
    8. Posted by Cayla Fri Sep 04, 2009 1:01 am EDT

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    "Big Ern" has always been "The Big Underachieving, Lolly Gagging Disappointment."
  9. james f
    9. Posted by james f Fri Sep 04, 2009 1:07 am EDT

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    Tiger not only busted his tail to comeback..but has come back as an even BETTER golfer than he was before..he should know about the correct therapy..could have lazied it..but cares about his game..and the game of golf..i for one was bored with it when he was out..Golf in general needs to thank him for making the popular it sport it is today..not saying he MADE the sport...but the networks will tell you that the sport DIES when he is not involved..
  10. Robert
    10. Posted by Robert Fri Sep 04, 2009 1:40 am EDT

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    Why does someone post a comment on a GOLF blog like "...it's golf does anyone really care?"
    People like that have almost as serious a "disconnect" as the people who start talking about "racists"
    in this discussion. You might as well be talking about "Martians" -- it has nothing to do with it!
    Personally, I feel Tiger has every right to make an observation like he did. Look at the facts,
    Els (as much as I admire his swing) simply did not put in the hard work and the results bear that out.
    What is wrong with saying it?
  11. janet m
    11. Posted by janet m Fri Sep 04, 2009 2:00 am EDT

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    They don't call Els the "Big Easy" for nothing! A wonderfully talented man who apparently doesn't work hard on his game and the results show.
  12. Allojama
    12. Posted by Allojama Fri Sep 04, 2009 2:04 am EDT

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    Tiger knows that Els. like Mickelson has the the ability to challenge him consistently, so I think he is just trying to light a fire under Ernie. Competition makes Tiger better, so he wants the consistent challengers!
  13. Allojama
    13. Posted by Allojama Fri Sep 04, 2009 2:05 am EDT

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    Tiger knows that Els. like Mickelson has the the ability to challenge him consistently, so I think he is just trying to light a fire under Ernie. Competition makes Tiger better, so he wants the consistent challengers%21
  14. boomzer1
    14. Posted by boomzer1 Fri Sep 04, 2009 2:27 am EDT

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    The Big Easy and The Big Sleazy
  15. terry u
    15. Posted by terry u Fri Sep 04, 2009 2:36 am EDT

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    no big deal tiger running his mouth.others have run their mouths about tiger but tiger needs to realize all bodies arnt created equal and ernie is lil bit older and also a bigger man and takes more on a knee to rehab.also ernie spends alot more time with his family than mr woody does.
  16. Bushwood
    16. Posted by Bushwood Fri Sep 04, 2009 2:51 am EDT

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    Probably telling the truth and we are all ridiculing for it instead of making mention of the fact Tiger isn't speaking like a Robot. Ernie is a bit outdated.
  17. Albert
    17. Posted by Albert Fri Sep 04, 2009 3:32 am EDT

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    I believed that Tiger has every qualification to say it to Big Easy. Having been through similar injury himself, for him to speak from his perspective does make sense. Though Tiger may be younger, Mr. Big Easy could have recovered much more if he did his hard work soon after his surgery which was a few years back. Let us not put everthing to racial comment that hurts one another. Like Mr. Terry U commented that Ernie gave more time to his family and off course no one can get the best of both world. You give more to your family (healthy though) you sure lose some golf and vice versa.
  18. asdf
    18. Posted by asdf Fri Sep 04, 2009 3:39 am EDT

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    Nice tabloid journalism, Busbee. If you had printed the entire quote, you would have read that Tiger qualified the statement that he has it easier and that Els has it more difficult to train to the same level because Els travels all over the world for his golf and Tiger can take it easy by just staying the US. He goes on to say that Els is starting to come together with a new coach and that Els has the talent.
    It sucks to have your comments taken out of context. Maybe that's why Tiger (and other celebrities) don't like talking to the media, who just love to twist quotes to get more eyeballs. Of course, then the media slams him for not talking to the media. :)
  19. mark e
    19. Posted by mark e Fri Sep 04, 2009 3:47 am EDT

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    As a South African & a big fan of Ernie & Tiger I see some truth in the comment. Tiger has always been more hungry than Ernie. However Ernie has had some Family issues this last year and maybe it has had a negative impact on his game. In saying that Ernie has played like his old self the last three tournements, so maybe he is ready to steo up to the plate.
  20. JohnC
    20. Posted by JohnC Fri Sep 04, 2009 4:30 am EDT

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    I was a big Tiger fan until he started shooting his mouth off about Els . As far as somebody stepping up to challenge him , nobody has to . He " CHOKED " in all four majors this year . I think Woods is under the impression that he is now bigger than the game . He might be the driving force behind the TV ratings but the game will still be around long after he is gone . True golf fans are the ones that go play as much as possible and enjoy every minute on the course , not the clowns that didn't know a wedge from a driver until Woods showed up . These jerks became Tiger fans because it was " the thing to do ". Not true fans of the game, just a bunch of tag-a-longs. Tiger , I wish you well but I hope Els kicks your ass !
  21. pistol
    21. Posted by pistol Fri Sep 04, 2009 4:51 am EDT

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    maybe tit for tat? remember when tiger was first going into surgery? els warned everyone - it'll take a lot longer than tiger thinks. maybe tiger's just responding - sayin - hey - doesn't take long if you work hard.
    or maybe has something to do with retief and ernie - best friends on tour. remember retief called tiger out for "faking" his injury when his leg was busted in 2 places.
    or maybe he just slipped - which he doesn't often do.
  22. manthe_1
    22. Posted by manthe_1 Fri Sep 04, 2009 5:31 am EDT

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    Doesn't Ernie's kid have autsim? Not everyone has Tigers' perfect life. Tiger needs to take and pill and hit the putting green.
  23. Francis A
    23. Posted by Francis A Fri Sep 04, 2009 6:12 am EDT

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    Tiger will find someday, that other things are more important .....I predict he will be a misarable old fart......
  24. Cliff F
    24. Posted by Cliff F Fri Sep 04, 2009 6:44 am EDT

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    If you have watched Els play at all over the past year and a half, you will realize that what is keeping him from winning consistently, and winning majors is that his putting is letting him down. His ball striking is still incredible, and so I do not think it is fair to blame his knee surgery or work ethic subsequent to it. Unless of course the left knee is keeping him from holing the 6 footers...
  25. rcarlislelionlog@...
    25. Posted by rcarlislelionlog@... Fri Sep 04, 2009 7:06 am EDT

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    I agree with a previous blogger. I think Tiger is trying to motivate Ernie in his own way. I thought Ernie could have been a challenger a couple of years ago but unless he gets motivated he will not challenge in Majors again. I know that Ernie and Tiger are somewhat friends and I think Tiger feels it is worth the heat from the Media if he can get Ernie to step it up. It Also will help the Golf ratings on TV if someone will challenge Tiger on a consistent basis. Phil has been good but with all that is going on within his family It will be next year for Phil.

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