A storm is brewing in the cloudless blue skies surrounding Augusta. The weather may be pristine and the course as glorious and beautiful as ever, but behind all this trouble and controversy is lurking, hovering ominously, poised to engulf the golfing world.
It may be strange to say, but for the sake of Tiger Woods and the sport as a whole, it would surely be construed as a good thing if the world number one misses out on his fifth Masters title. After the controversy of the past two days, the repercussions of a Woods victory would undoubtedly cast a menacing shadow over the tournament and serve only to undermine the credibility of golf, and one of the sport’s greatest competitions.
Although Woods is far from being favourite going into the final round, sitting four shots behind joint leaders Brandt Snedeker and Angel Cabrera, it would be foolish to write the American off claiming another title. Yet the reality is that Woods should no longer be participating in the tournament, after his infringements of the rules during his second round.
As Woods stood over his third shot at the fifteenth hole during his second round, everything appeared to be going perfectly. The 14-time major champion was in a share of the lead, and looked on course to firmly reinstate himself as the best player in the world.
Minutes later his ball had ended in the water in unfortunate fashion after ricocheting of the flag, setting off a series of events where the integrity of golf was severely threatened. Woods knew exactly what he was doing when he re-positioned his ball in an advantageous position. The change in distance may have only been two yards, but it doesn’t matter if it was two or twenty, it was still cheating.
Yet somehow Woods avoided disqualification, as officials cited rule 33.7 and imposed a two-shot penalty rather than the humiliation of disqualification. The rule reads: ‘A penalty of disqualification may in exceptional individual cases be waived, modified or imposed if the Committee considers such action warranted.’
The only thing that was exceptional about the situation was that the player involved was the legendary Tiger Woods, if anyone else had been involved then in all likelihood the punishment would have been much greater. Nick Faldo’s scathing attack on Woods summed up the overwhelming view that Woods’ actions had served only to undermine the game.
The honourable course of action would have been for Woods to disqualify himself, but instead he continued and shot a 70 in the third round to leave himself with a chance of moving a step closer to Jack Nicklaus’ record. Integrity and trust has a significant role to play in golf, and these facets of the game were breached and undermined by Woods.
A shadow has been cast over the whole tournament, so much so that the battle for the Green Jacket has to some extent become a sub-plot to the drama surrounding the controversy of day two, which also saw 14 year old Guan Tianlang handed a one-shot penalty for slow play. Can you imagine the rumpus that would have emerged if Woods was ever handed such a penalty?
Let’s just hope that the Green Jacket does not end up in the hands of Tiger Woods come the close of today’s play, for if it does an almighty storm will be unleashed over Augusta, which will truly take some weathering.