Tiger Woods will be fined for publicly criticising rules officials following his victory at the Bridgestone Invitational, according to reports in the USA.
The world number one prevailed in an epic tussle with Padraig Harrington on the final day at the Firestone Country Club.
But Woods was unhappy the final pairing were put on the clock by tournament referee John Paramor at the par-five 16th, believing it led to Harrington rushing three difficult shots on the way to a triple-bogey, effectively ending his challenge.
“I don’t think that Paddy would have hit the pitch shot that way if he was able to take his time, look at it, analyse it,” Woods said. “But he was on the clock, had to get up there quickly and hit it.”
The PGA Tour does not publicise fines but a tour official, speaking to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity, confirmed Woods will be hit in the pocket for his comments.
Section VI-D in the PGA Tour’s player handbook says, “It is an obligation of membership to refrain from comments to the news media that unreasonably attack or disparage tournaments, sponsors, fellow members, players, or PGA Tour.”
Tiger Woods has denied being fined by the PGA Tour for remarks he made about a tournament official after the WGC Bridgestone Invitational.
Reports in the United States suggested Woods had been punished for his criticism of European Tour chief referee John Paramor, who put the world number one and Padraig Harrington on the clock for slow play on the 16th tee.
The pair were engaged in a head-to-head duel for the title at the time, with the Dubliner a shot clear with three holes to play.
Harrington went on to take an eight on the 16th after twice finding the greenside lake.
The Irishman played down the ruling on Sunday, but Woods accused Paramor of getting “in the way of a great battle” and the controversy continued into a third day at Hazeltine National, as both players faced the press again ahead of Thursday’s opening round of the USPGA.
“I’ve heard from the Tour and there was no fine. That was an erroneous report,” Woods said.
"The way I understood it, we were the only two in contention to win the event.
"We had separated ourselves. The winner was not going to come from the groups ahead, even though Robert (Allenby) played just a great round ahead of us.
Great battle
"It was going to come from our group and we were having a great battle.
"I just thought that even after Paddy had pitched the ball in the water, he then walked all around the lake, taking the drop, hit his shot over the green and pitched back up, we got on the 17th tee, hit our shots down the fairway and as we were arriving at the ball, the group ahead of us was now entering the 18th fairway.
"So we were not that far behind, maybe five minutes or whatever it may be from the group ahead of us.
"If Paddy does not hit the ball in the water, we play up, we are right behind the group in front of us.
"So that’s why I said what I said, because that certainly affected how Paddy played the hole, and the outcome of the tournament.
"He was in control of the event. He was one up with three holes to go and he had a par five.
“And you know, when we were put on the clock, it certainly changed everything.”
But Harrington once again chose to take the blame for that ugly triple bogey which ended his hopes of a maiden World Golf Championships title.
“You know, we were having a great battle,” the defending USPGA champion said. "I was enjoying it. I believe he was enjoying it. I think we were both putting up to each other, and that was a good thing.
Own fault
"I reacted poorly to the situation, and that’s my own fault. It’s part of the rules that these things are going to happen. It would have been probably better if it happened earlier in the round.
“Ultimately, the two of us getting into trouble on 14 pushed us over the edge, which was unfortunate that we both played the hole poorly at the same time.”
The world number 10 also said he preferred to let Woods take up the issue.
“As regards what (Woods) said, you know, I think it’s easier for having won the tournament, he can take the moral high ground and say what he wants,” he said.
"Having lost the tournament, I’m going to sit back and just, you know, there’s not much; I’m going to take it on the chin and say it was my mistake.
“He’s in a good position that when you’ve won the tournament, you can, well, what could I say? I suppose that’s best left said to him. As I said, he’s in a better position to say it.”
How the fuck are the final pairing put on the clock with 3 holes left!!!
