Getting hit by a ball at a PGA event... "Hey, here's a glove"

[Samsquanch]

".....oh...thanks..."

Sorry if this is the wrong section, but here goes...

Just thinking after Tiger Woods hit that spectator on the head today...

What do you guys think about just giving a glove, to a guy you just bonked over the head with a golf ball at 180 mph. I mean, he didn't even yell fore. I know you couldn't see that group of people from the tee, but I thought you are supposed to yell fore on any errant drive. :black eye:

I realize that the if the players gave something spectacular to a person they hit, people might try to get hit on purpose to get that "spectacular thing". :birthday:

What do you all think?

[BFC]

I've volunteered (and gone watched) at several tournament (that dude was a marshall/volunteer). If you're on the course, you're in play. It's part of the deal. Says so right on the ticket.

 

What do you want Tiger or any other player to do? What can they do other than say sorry?

 

It no different than getting hit by a foul ball or a hokey puck at from your local team. With one difference, the guy that just beaned you actually stops by and ask if your OK.

[rl4673]

I thought I read somewhere that Mickelson hit someone with a ball and gave him an autographed glove with a couple of Benjamin's in it... I would be happy with an apology.

[BFC]

I thought I read somewhere that Mickelson hit someone with a ball and gave him an autographed glove with a couple of Benjamin's in it... I would be happy with an apology.

 

 

That was at Doral. He actually hit and broke the guy's wrist watch, ence the few $$$.

[EJ Mac]

I think Phil probably would have gave the money anyway especially after his gesture at the FBR that is something that Father and Son will never forget.

[Baycal92510]

here's what I think....if it wouldn't have hit that guy it would have cleared the corner and not ended up in the dessert.....if you wanna watch then you're in play

[gentles]

Hmmm, only a signed glove? That guy was having a hell of a time after he got hit, but Ill bet he's more than happy with a signed glove when his head heals. It WAS an accident......he's not exactly gonna ask they guy round for dinner....

 

OP, just outa curiosity, what do you think would have been an appropriate course of action?

[Samsquanch]

Hmmm, only a signed glove? That guy was having a hell of a time after he got hit, but Ill bet he's more than happy with a signed glove when his head heals. It WAS an accident......he's not exactly gonna ask they guy round for dinner....

 

OP, just outa curiosity, what do you think would have been an appropriate course of action?

 

I'm not sure, I'm not really taking sides of if its okay or not, just wanted to see what you guys think.

 

I guess this sort of relates to what I'm thinking... http://www.golfwrx.com/forums/index.php?sh...580&hl=Fore

[longbal30]

thats crap, he should have gave the guy more than a sweaty glove. why not give him a couple c notes, like he is going to miss it. if it wasnt for the spectators watching then there wouldnt be the huge purses at the end of the tournament. fans make the sport what it is. take care of them. i mean come on, the guy was bleeding.

[atlanta golfer]

here's what I think....if it wouldn't have hit that guy it would have cleared the corner and not ended up in the dessert.....if you wanna watch then you're in play

 

More often than not the balls that hit spectators get a favorable bounce back towards the fairway or green. I sure wish I had a fence made of people that would help contain my errant shots. Plus, this ensures that the ball almost never gets lost because someone's bound to spot it. I'd say on balance the spectators save these guys a stroke a round.

[BEND OF THE RIVER GC]

I would say, Hey Tiger give me a smelly glove for the camera, but after the round can you grab a sweet 350 gram 009 oil can from the Cameron Rep for my pain and suffering?

 

besides that, who wants to walk around with a Swoosh imprinted on their head for 2 weeks?

[scubus]

If you're at the event then you should be paying attention. There are golf balls flying around the place.

 

I think it is a nice gesture for the players to even ask if the hittee is okay - they don't have to do anything. Giving them a token is even nicer.

 

It would be a nice gesture if a player yelled "fore" but it would probably make little difference.

[Mizgoodie]

You know standing there, their is a chance of getting hit. The fact that they say sorry is great, you don't get that in other sports why does every want a handout..... you can move you know.

[bogeyk]

If you take into consideration Tiger's errant driving compared to his wealth. A few bucks each time could ruin him. He may have to actually shop at Target in addition to endorsing it. He might even get caught driving a Buick. When the patrons took his last dime(Stevie would have to chip in) he'd grab a Gillette razor and just end it. E! True Hollywood Story would cap it off with a two hour special. Tiger. If you want to catch Jack just keep giving away free gloves and balls.

[KarstenK]

I'd take the signed glove. Now if I had a half-dollar sized bloody divot in my dome like that guy did I would ask to chill with him and Stevie hitting balls on the range for an hour after the round. Or I suppose one of his putters would more than suffice also!!!!

[muxi87]

Something really odd must have happened - Tiger virtually always yells fore. In fact, usually yells something like "fore right", and points with his club.

The odd something that happened is that the ball was bound for grass and there was no gallery in the area, just a couple marshals that were hidden from site by a few mounds.

 

This is one of the few times that hitting someone actually hurt a tour pro's score. Without the guy there, the ball is just simply in the rough...

[mantan]

As a grown man I would expect d@#n thing from getting hit. It's part of the risk of being at a golf tournament, as someone else mentioned - it says so right on the ticket. Nor would I expect a handout for being hit at by a baseball or hockey puck at a sporting event.

 

If there was a true injury, then yeah - it would be nice if someone came by just to make sure the person wasn't seriously hurt. But again, do you expect a baseball player to come into the stands to check on a fan who got beaned by foul ball?

 

If it hit one of my kids, then getting some sort of souvenir (autographed or not) would be cool because it would make their day. But I'm also from the camp that no self respecting adult should shake down an athlete or celebrity for autographs anyway. (But that's another rant.)

 

Accidents happen. The players aren't looking to hit anybody. And if it happens, an apology would be nice, but by all means not demanded.

 

At some sporting events you take an inherit risk. To expect apologies, gifts, handouts and the like for the times you inadvertently get hit is ridiculous.

[scotton]

Tiger is one of the guys who always yells fore. I'm wondering why a marshal was standing in the blind spot on that hole?

I have yet to be hit a tournament, but if I was I would think a glove would be a pretty cool gesture, and money would be insulting. Unless one of my expensive watches got busted.

[Hifade]

I believe he did, in fact, point his club in the errant direction like he ALWAYS does, however, like someone else said, it was a slight dogleg and the volunteer that got hit was over a mound and concealed from their vision at the tee. Their was no one else around except the guy he was with.....completely an accident. I'm not a Tiger fan but his interaction, apology and the glove were all classy gestures.

[siennaslammer]

i am sure that the pros does more than just a sweaty glove after the day's match/round is over; especially if there was more than just a light 'ding'. i am sure that there was at least a "hey, how's that guy doing", etc.... if the person was still around and/or getting medical attention.

[fentress]

I don't think you're entitle to anything if you get hit at a golf tournament. You assume the risk when you go through the gate. It's just like baseball in that respect; if you don't want to take the risk, watch the tournament on TV.

[SadTrombone]

I can't stand this sense of entitlement that is so common anymore. It drives me crazy.

 

I think the PGA TOUR should adopt a new policy. No giving crap out until after the round...period.

 

Ball hits spectator, the conversation would go something like this.

 

Tiger: "Sir, I'm sorry...are you alright?"

Man with lump: "Yeah...yeah I think I'm okay."

Tiger: "Good, then I need you to move. You're in my line of sight. Thanks...buh-bye"

 

The fact that he was nice enough to sign his name and give the glove to him (hope he's claiming it on his taxes...didn't they say the Bonds home run ball was considerable as income? IMHO, Tiger's autograph is worth more than Baroid's asterisk ball) is great.

 

Not everyone has to give out super bowl tickets (using the "no Journalist Left Unaware" method) the week of an event.

 

-mini

[mat562]

As the first to criticise a player who doesn't yell 'Fore!' in the event of an errant shot I'll give TW a bye on this one. He normally does shout, and I'm sure the two marshals were out of view behind that mound.

 

I don't see the glove as being a 'cheesy' gesture. Woods generally seems to be concerned in the event of hitting someone - unlike many players.

[blade_man]

One other thought, the guy that got hit, probably didn't know who the heck TW was after getting hit that hard, he thought it was Elvis! :black eye: :birthday:

[SadTrombone]

I don't see the glove as being a 'cheesy' gesture. Woods generally seems to be concerned in the event of hitting someone - unlike many players.

I agree. What I don't care for is the people that feel the player should be required to give them something.

 

-mini

[mat562]

The way it ricocheted off his head I bet he thought it was part of that satellite the US Navy just downed that had hit him...

[glc3344]

Why would the guy stand right around the corner where he cant see the players tee off? If you going to stand in an area where you cant visibly see the tee shots then atleast move out of the landing area. It did suck for tiger cause his shot wouldnt of ended up too bad. Instead its now 50ft in the desert. It really is amazing how many people stand in the landing area but dont watch the players hit their drives.

[oregongolf]

I thought I read somewhere that Mickelson hit someone with a ball and gave him an autographed glove with a couple of Benjamin's in it... I would be happy with an apology.

 

 

That was at Doral. He actually hit and broke the guy's wrist watch, ence the few $$$.

I'm hanging out at Doral next season. Maybe they'll let me park my car next to the fairway.

[stage1350]

Simple solutions that would upset the crowd:

 

Clear the rough of spectators from 240-350 yards. That way, the landing areas are cleared and nobody except marshalls and forecaddies assumes a high percentage risk of taking one off the melon.

 

Quit letting spectators on the grounds, period.

 

I have yet to see a ticket without a few paragraphs of legal jargon regarding assumption of risk. But I agree that it's more apalling that the bloodsucking leeches out there seem to think that you are entitled to free swag because you couldn't duck. It's disgusting and shows a lack of character.

[mkp]

How many guys can tell tell their kids.... grandkids maybe in this case.... that Tiger hit them with golf ball? Tiger or someone from his entourage may have found the guy after the round and give him something else.