This video is awesome for any number of reasons. For people who don't play golf, it probably doesn't make much sense, but after you here the explanation it'll almost certainly convince you that this is a sport populated by people who couldn't make it other, louder endeavors.
Bubba [Watson] detected some movement while he was trying to play his approach shot from the right rough on the 10th hole. He felt it wasn't the first time [Steve] Elkington was moving at inappropriate times and unleashed a torrent of expletives, a portion of which was captured by the Golf Channel's microphones.Yeah, Elk, enough with all the, um, walking. Are you going to do that all day? Jerk. Meanwhile, the never-at-a-loss-for-words Nick Faldo was speechless.
Kidding aside, I fully understand Bubba Watson's beef. Yeah, it sounds supremely silly to yell at somebody for walking around as you prepare to hit a little white ball, but it's a lot harder than it looks, although, judging by these comments, non-golfers are skeptical.
Fortunately (I guess), Watson and Elkington settled their differences after the round and Watson went out of his way to apologize for his behavior.
"I want to apologize to everybody in the tournament," Watson said. "Everybody who heard it, whoever saw it, especially Steve and Shigeki and their caddies. I heard something and I took it out on them and shouldn't have done it. I apologize to the tournament, to anybody that's involved in this tournament, all the volunteers, all the caddies, the spectators, the kids that came out here. I'm not like Charles Barkley. I'd love to be a role model. I make mistakes. My mistake was I got angry today.As long as we're randomly calling out Charles Barkley, I'd submit that Barkley's golf swing is much more offensive than anything Watson said on Friday.
"Everything's good. He's not mad. He's looking at me like this is like his son, basically. I'm a lot younger, he took me aside and said, 'Look, be strong in what you're doing and make sure you don't do that.' I apologized to him as best I could."
And for those actually curious about the golf, Elkington is currently tied for fifth, Watson is tied for 74th and John Daly, predictably, missed the cut.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
3-29-2008 @ 6:45PM
wes said...
you're supposed to be still and quiet when golfers are making shots, that's why they hold up the lil signs
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3-30-2008 @ 9:07AM
rick_s said...
here's the problem. Bubba's a LEFTY! there are only what...10 leftys on the tour (Mickelson, Weir, Chalmers, Watson, etc). most guys cant see Elkington walking cuz the player is facing AWAY from him. Both guys are wrong. 1st Bubba shouldnt have lost his cool. and 2nd Elk knows better.
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3-30-2008 @ 9:08AM
sal cunningham said...
Elkington is known as the biggest jerk on the tour!!
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3-30-2008 @ 7:22PM
joao dovale said...
Advise for Bubba Watson: Next time something like that happens--- Keep your cool- step away from the shot- look directly at the guys eyes and ask him if your swing is bothering his walk. I'll garantee he will get the message!!! Now that you have delivered your message, proceed in making your shot.
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3-31-2008 @ 7:44PM
short timer said...
all that i heard on tv was bubba asking elk to stop walking then saying to his caddy, not the whole world, they can kiss my ass. i have been 40 years in golf and did not see or hear anything news worthy. if it were not for the intrusive directional microphone and a gotcha press not covering the real sport i would not be on line trying to see the actual scores of some of my favorites.
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4-02-2008 @ 5:36PM
short timer said...
Not to change the subject but who has an opinion on the risk/benefit of being a long hitter and working the ball right and left as much as bubba does? I know the courses are difficult but arn't their some straight away shots out there. A log kept on bubba's hooks that don't hook vs a slightly longer putt he might have had if he had taken a safer shot might be interesting.
Golf is a great open air game i hope the hollywood gotcha long range audio does not prevent them from airing out a fart. How do you make a relaxed swing while squeezing back a fart?
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4-11-2008 @ 6:31PM
kbishop said...
is tiger so good that he is above the same type of disrespect that watson felt he got from elkington.at the masters on friday at the 11th hole tiger holed his par putt and made a b-line for the 12th tee ,about the time he made it to the next tee stuart applebee sank his putt on the 11th, they were in the same groupe and tiger showed at best poor golf etiquette,theres a reason those guys hold up quiet signs and ask patrons to stand still please. it showed total disrespect
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