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Ernie Els blasts Tiger Woods as 'selfish'

Feb 18, 2010, 9:30 AM EDT

880 Comments

So why is Tiger Woods making Friday’s big press statement (don’t call it a press conference!) right in the middle of the Accenture Match Play Championship? Ernie Els, for one, is not amused.

“It’s selfish,” Els told a reporter from American magazine Golf Week. “You can write that. I feel sorry for the sponsor. Mondays are a good day to make statements, not Friday. This takes a lot away from the golf tournament.”

“It’s like Tim (Finchem, the tour commissioner) has lost his head. He wants Tiger back in the worst way and so he lets this go on. I mean, we all want to see Tiger back, but this doesn’t look good.”

That Ernie, such a quiet one. You never know what he’s thinking.


Some are saying that the timing of the State of the Woods address is a deliberate attempt to stick it to Accenture, which was one of the first sponsors to drop Woods when the sex scandal hit the fan. Others say that the timing was necessary so that Woods could beat the deadline to announce that he’s playing in the Tavistock Cup, which is played near his home in Orlando in March.
Mark Steinberg, Woods’ manager, stopped just short of saying as much in response to Els.

“It’s always good to get your information right before commenting. It’s strictly a timing issue. There is a very good reason (for Friday) and not do it next week.”

But when pressed, he wouldn’t elaborate.

Rory Mcllroy believes Woods did it deliberately, as the sponsor in question was one of the first to dump the American after the revelations about his private life emerged following a bizarre car crash on November 27.

“He’s got to come out at some point,” McIlroy said. “I suppose he might want to get something back against the sponsor that dropped him.”

Match Play defending champion Geoff Ogilvy was unimpressed at Woods’ decision not to take questions at the US Tour’s headquarters where the controlled press conference will take place.

“Maybe we can put the whole tournament on hold for 10 minutes to watch,” he said. “The only thing I will say about it is that I would like to see him answer some questions.”

***
Els blasts Woods over announcement [UKPA]
Tiger Woods accused of ‘selfishness’ by Ernie Els as
world No 1 prepares to face the music [London Daily Mail]

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  1. Paul - Feb 20, 2010 at 1:19 PM

    I agree 100%

  2. No Woodie for Tiger - Feb 20, 2010 at 3:26 PM

    I don’t understand why grown men still have a woody for Tiger can’t accept the fact that he is a horrible person, father and husband who just happens to be a great golfer!

  3. shari - Feb 20, 2010 at 6:22 PM

    YOU HAVE MADE THE BEST POINT EVER..IT ISN’T ANYONE’S BUSINESS.. ISN’T IT MORE IMPORTANT TO HAVE A COUNTRY THAT IS UNITED,
    WHAT ABOUT THE JOBS? WHAT ABOUT THIS MESS OUR COUNTRY IS IN..GIVE
    THIS NONSENSE A REST.

  4. Charles - Feb 20, 2010 at 7:58 PM

    It’s comments like this that shows racism is still alive. If this were a white golfer in the exact same situation, people like you would be supportive. Now you want the black golfer to deal with his problems on your terms. He has to deal with this on his terms not yours. So until you go on TV and spill your guts about your private life, you should stick your head in the sand.

  5. Giovanna - Feb 21, 2010 at 7:06 AM

    Way to go! Your assinine comment has NOT set African Americans back….it’s set the human years back to the era of Hitler and his “supreme” race. You’ve proven once again that stupid words come from stupid minds. Only problem…….you and your kind are dangerous racists not to mention idiotic cretins.

  6. JB - Feb 21, 2010 at 11:20 AM

    Ren,
    Leave it to some right wing jerk like you to reduce this episode to a matter of race.
    This is nothing more than a grown man who clearly is spiritually lost and broken and he has a huge journey ahead to fix his messed up life. But race has nothing to do with it. You my man (and I use that term losely as it applies to you) need to look yourself in the mirror and ask, why do I see arrogance in these two black men? Last time I checked any time white men are accomplished, strong and powerful, and opinionated those qualities are considered to be something to look up to and emulate. You and people like you are the reason we will always struggle with race in this country. Thankfully there are fewer people like you in this world and more people today who will judge people not by the color of their skin.
    I pray for people like you that one day you will be able to let go of your bigoted and racist mindset.
    JB
    Oh and P.S. When Tiger does come back he is going to kick #### especially those guys who just couldn’t help themselves from using this opportunity to kick Tiger while he is down and going through this episode, mark my words. Tiger is keeping tabs and making a list and one by one he is going to stomp each and every one of them when he gets paired with them. This will only make Tiger stronger and a better person when he comes out on the other side.

  7. JB - Feb 21, 2010 at 11:25 AM

    Amen Dave!!!!!!!!

  8. Linda - Feb 21, 2010 at 9:38 PM

    SET BACK FOR BLACK RACE. THEN I KNOW YOU FEEL THE PAIN WE ARE ALL MIXED

  9. Sean - Feb 22, 2010 at 1:37 PM

    urmmm….Brooke…..Ernie was twenty years old when Nelson Mandela was released from prison effectively ending apartheid, he was trying to become a golf pro at that stage not a political activist!! He is just voicing what all the pussy US pro’s are afraid of doing……

  10. dave - Feb 22, 2010 at 2:20 PM

    In point of fact, you should not use sports figures as role models. you should have your children aspire to there own dreams. with you as the parent setting the standard. this would force the parent to do better. If you want to be a better golfer. and play like tiger okay. there are many golf models to play like i.e. arnold palmer. ben hogan. these are people who overcame problems to become better at what they do. Getting caught with your pants down is just plain stupid…tigers statement was at best bullshit and not from the heart, when you talk from the heart you don’t need to have it written down, because it pours out in an honest fashion. His wife needs to clean his clock, and if he comes back to golf thats okay too. but what that dumbass needs to learn is that if you don’t want your laundry done in public don’t hang it out the window..

  11. cynical1 - Feb 23, 2010 at 7:43 AM

    Mark Steinberg is a complete idiot and Tiger would do better to fire him immediately. David Letterman mixed it up with the hired help which was a lawsuit waiting to happen and more serious from a legal perspective. He went public, answered all the questions up front and it has disappeared. Steinberg’s blunders will be taught at the business schools for decades.

  12. Manny - Feb 23, 2010 at 3:05 PM

    I agree 100% with you Vicki. Tiger Woods is a golfer and Kobe Bryant is a basketball player…I enjoy watching them !! What they do away from their professional sports are their own business. I bet the owner of accenture probably have mistresses all over the world. It’s a human instinct that if you are famous and wealthy…there are abundance of oppurtunity to get what you want. As a normal Joe…I’m just wishing I’m on their shoes!!!

  13. Kamen - Feb 23, 2010 at 5:04 PM

    Ren, if we added up every screwed up thing that white people did or will do they wouldnt be a credit, they would own points! Your an idiot. WTF does Obama have to do with this article or Tiger Woods? Your showing your true colors! And I mean that in the worst way!

  14. i_hooked_up_tigers_affairs - Feb 24, 2010 at 6:42 PM

    i couldn’t of said it better myself!

  15. LINDA VINSON - Feb 26, 2010 at 4:47 PM

    I CAN’T BELIEVE THAT ERNIE ELS( TIGERS SO CALLED FRIEND) WOULD TALK ABOUT TIGER LIKE THAT, THE ONLY ONE WHO SHOULD BE JUDING IS GOD AND I DON’T THINK IT’S ERNIE ELS SO FOR ERNIE AND ALL OTHERS THAT JUDGE HIM SHOULD REALLY THINK OF THE THINGS IN THERE PAST QUESTIONABLE, IT DOSEN’T MATTER HOW SMALL JUDEMENT DAY WILL BE BE DONE.

  16. Giraud - Mar 1, 2010 at 1:52 PM

    What does being black have anything to do with their behavior? Lets stick to what you think is the problem — not racism and hate.

  17. Captainjack - Mar 3, 2010 at 11:25 AM

    The only thing that took away from thr Golf Tournament is the fact El’s was playing in it. He is a loser. and the only thing “Selfish” as El’s states is his remark.
    No way can he compete with Tiger other then to Bad Mouth Him !!!!

  18. a black person - Mar 6, 2010 at 2:31 AM

    What are you talking about Ren? I dont see how one person being a cheater could set the black race back 25 years. Tiger Woods is not the first man to screw around on his wife and he wont be the last. His race has nothing to do with it. Men and women of all races cheat. And what in the hell does Obama have to do with golf. You are a very ignorant person and you should keep your ignorant comments to yourself. Have a blessed and wonderful day!

  19. Greg - Mar 9, 2010 at 7:58 AM

    Are you really mad because he cheated on his wife or are you mad because he was really banging the heck out of some fine white chedda??? Stop hating and get on with your dull lives. Where was your anger when The Donald cheated on each of his wives. Where were you when David Justin cheated on Halley Berry???
    It seems to make all of you bible thumping hypocrits upset when it is a mixed couple issue verses a white on white or a black on black scandal. His old lady just might be a sorry lay!!!

  20. Urban Dustyboots - Mar 9, 2010 at 8:11 AM

    How far did Clinton set the white race back? Not preaching – just a core value.

  21. Matt in DC - Mar 10, 2010 at 11:12 AM

    Who cares it’s GOLF!

  22. PCM - Mar 11, 2010 at 8:23 PM

    I watched golf before Tiger Woods. I have always appreciated his talent as a golfer. But does it really come as a huge surprise that a man with tons of money and power sought new frontiers to exert control over? Are you kidding me? History is rife with this. Personally, I hope he never comes back; that way I will never have to watch him hit shots when he’s 10 strokes behind, while hardly ever seeing those golfers close to the lead. The media is all whiny now, but they can share the blame for elevating this guy to savior-status. They are getting what they deserve, too. Tiger Woods is a great golfer, and I am sure, unfortunately, that he will return and win many, many more times. The world will forget. But as far as I am concerned, great golfer or not, the guy is a scumbag — period.

  23. RUSerious? - Mar 12, 2010 at 4:53 PM

    @Ren
    Well, I learned a long time ago that when you argue with a fool you look like one. So, Ren, please hug my nuts! Go Tiger! Go Obama!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

  24. RUSerious? - Mar 12, 2010 at 4:57 PM

    @Ren
    I learned a long time ago that when you argue with a fool, you look like one. So, Ren, please HUG MY NUTS!
    Go Tiger!!
    Go President Obama!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

  25. jazzbo - Mar 19, 2010 at 1:12 AM

    I am glad to see Tiger is coming so we can enjoy golf.With Tiger its been boreing.

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