Azinger labels Woods an embarrassment

Former Ryder Cup captain hits out at Tiger for his antics at Augusta

Unimpressed: Paul Azinger didn’t approve of Tiger Woods’ bad behaviour during the Masters Tournament

Former US Ryder Cup captain Paul Azinger has labeled Tiger Woods an ’embarrassment to the game’ after the former world No.1’s outburst of petulance during the Masters at Augusta.

Fourteen-time major-winner Woods was seen to let go of clubs and, on one occasion during the second round, swing a kick at one of them after a litany of bad shots ended any hopes he had of winning a fifth Green Jacket before his challenge even got going.

Woods was also caught by on-course microphones swearing after a bad shot during round two.

Afterwards, he apologised for his behaviour, saying: “Certainly, I’m frustrated at times and I apologise if I offended anybody by that. But I’ve hit some bad shots and it’s certainly frustrating at times not hitting the ball where you need to hit it.”

He added: “I certainly heard that people didn’t like me kicking the club, but I didn’t like it, either.”

However, his apology held little sway with Azinger. Talking to a US radio station, the 2008 Ryder Cup-winning captain said: “Tiger’s antics this week were an embarrassment to the game, to the membership at Augusta.

“I was really disappointed to see him carry on that way. He’s not trying to endear himself to anybody.

“After he won Bay Hill I thought, ‘Here we go again, this is going to be Tiger just kicking butt and taking names.’ I don’t know. I thought he acted like the south end of a northbound mule.”

As well as hitting out at Woods’ behaviour, Azinger also slammed the state of his game.

“I think his brain is full of swing thoughts, not swing feelings,” said ‘Zinger, who won the 1993 US PGA Championship.

“He thinks he needs to know it all so he can fix what’s wrong, but that’s not what happened here [at Augusta[. When it started to go off he didn’t have a go-to shot, there was nothing he could do. I can’t compare my career to Tiger Woods’ career for sure, but I’ll say this: in the 28 years I’ve played golf for a living, I’ve never been as lost as he looked out there.”

Michael McEwan is the Deputy Editor of bunkered and has been part of the team since 2004. In that time, he has interviewed almost every major figure within the sport, from Jack Nicklaus, to Rory McIlroy, to Donald Trump. The host of the multi award-winning bunkered Podcast and a member of Balfron Golfing Society, Michael is the author of three books and is the 2023 PPA Scotland 'Writer of the Year' and 'Columnist of the Year'. Dislikes white belts, yellow balls and iron headcovers. Likes being drawn out of the media ballot to play Augusta National.

Deputy Editor