The Golf Watch

Sabbatini donates last place Target earnings

Last month, Rory Sabbatini withdrew from Tiger Woods' tournament, the Target World Challenge, after three rounds of play.  Even though Sabbatini never finished the tournament, he still picked up last place earnings, $170,000.  Sabbatini left for Hawaii after he withdrew, and chose not to speak to the media about what he had done.  There was some speculation that Sabbatini was going to donate the money to charity, and on Wednesday, he did just that.  Sabbatini donated $170,000 to United Through Reading, a non-profit organization that allows officers overseas on navy ships to read books that are recorded on dvds for their children.  Sabbatini told The Golf Channel:

"With everything that occurred in late last year, there was obviously a lot of criticism towards me.  We spent some time thinking about it, and we felt that we could put that to good use, and what better use than a partnership that Target has with United Through Reading.  It’s something that definitely kind of helps us, since we have been associated with military charities…It’s just our way of putting to good use a bad situation."

Sabbatini presented the check at the 32nd Street Naval Station in San Diego.  When asked if he planned to talk to Tiger about it, Sabbatini said, "no," and that he is moving forward.

Sabbatini doesn't want to talk to the media

Almost three weeks after he left Tiger Woods' tournament early, Rory Sabbatini is still refusing to talk to the media.  Both Jeff Babineau of Golfweek and Inga Hammond of The Golf Channel have reported that Sabbatini, who fired a 1-under-par 72 yesterday, has declined interview requests this week.  In other news, it was announced yesterday that Adams Golf had signed the South African and Aaron Baddeley to deals. 

Funny videos of '07

To ring in the new year, I have posted two videos which should bring some laughs.  The first video shows a kangaroo interrupting Rory Sabbatini's opening round at the Australian PGA Championship.  Who would have thought something other than a Tiger could intimidate Sabbatini?  The South African went on to shoot a 4-under 68.  As for the second video, the picture speaks for itself.  The line from Paul Azinger, "Checking for a little change in the 'ol pocket there maybe" is a classic.  It happened at this year's British Open at Carnoustie.

ESPN analysts criticize Sabbatini

Once again, the spotlight is on Rory Sabbatini, and not for a good reason.  ESPN analysts criticized Sabbatini's decision to leave Tiger Woods' tournament, the Target World Challenge, early, citing personal reasons.  Mike Wilbon said on Monday's edition of Pardon the Interruption: "This guy Rory Sabbatini, he’s a trollish little sleaze.  Every thing he does he thinks he’s being cute I think by taking these shots at Tiger, except he looks like a fool.  He can never beat him, he’s not as big a figure."  Skip Bayless said on Monday's ESPN First Take: "This was beyond stupid to me because this was lower than a snake.  He had already made an enemy of Tiger, but he just made enemies with the other 14 invitees in this tournament...I loved it early last year when Rory Sabbatini stepped up and had the guts to tell the truth about Tiger that he was at that point ‘more beatable than ever.’  But Tiger humiliated him head-to-head and if that’s the way you feel, if your ashamed, then don’t accept an invitation to the guy’s tournament.  Just turn it down."

Sabbatini withdraws from Tiger's tournament, integrity questioned

16 players entered the Target World Challenge, and 15 players finished. Rory Sabbatini withdrew Sunday morning from the Target World Challenge citing personal reasons, the first time a player has ever withdrawn from the tournament.  Sabbatini was in last place heading into Sunday's final round at 10-over-par overall. Fred Couples said, "Well, I think it’s kind of poor taste, poor judgment.  I think it’s a lack of a lot of things…I think Tiger deserves a little better than not play the final round.  But, he’s his own guy and he does what he wants.  I’ve made mistakes too, but I think that’s a huge mistake."  According to Steve Sands of The Golf Channel, tournament officials were under the impression that he withdrew on Sunday morning because of shin splints.  Tim Rosaforte of Golf World said on Sunday night's edition of Golf Central that tournament officials were upset with Sabbatini's decision.  "It's unfortunate," said Steve Stricker.  "It's a limited field as it is."  Sabbatini will still collect $170,000 for finishing in last place.

Els, Sabbatini blow fourth round leads

Ernie Els came up to the par-5 18th tee box at the Dunhill Championship two strokes ahead of England's John Bickerton.  Els hit his drive into the fairway, but then hit his second shot into the water (pictured left). He followed that by putting his next approach shot into the water, and finished with a triple-bogey 8, giving Bickerton the win.  Another Sunday meltdown came from another world class player, Rory Sabbatini.  Sabbatini was playing in the Australian PGA and entered Sunday's final round with a one stroke lead.  However, the South African fired a 2-over 74, leaving him eight strokes out of the lead in a tie for 10th place.  Peter Lonard ended up winning the tournament for the third straight time. 

Sabbatini-Australian PGA controversy continues

On November 1, John Coomber of Fox Sports reported that some US-based Australian golf professionals were boycotting the Australian PGA Championship at Coolum in December due to an unconfirmed appearance fee of $200,000 for world No. 8 Rory Sabbatini (pictured above).  Paul Gow (pictured below), an Australian PGA Tour player, said, "There are many unhappy Aussies...it's all about Rory.  We all know (Sabbatini) personally and we know he's not worth 200K."  Other Australians that were said to have been unhappy with the move included Stuart Appleby and Robert Allenby.  Allenby's manager, David Rollo, said that his client was not happy about the appearance fee.  But tournament promoter Tony Roosenburg disputed the $200,000 figure.  In an article on November 14 from Fox Sports, Max Garske of the Australian PGA said that the rumored size of the appearance fee was not accurate.  Garske said, "They (the pros) should be thanking us, not taking pot shots at us."  Gow and Appleby still stood by their feelings about Sabbatini's appearance, while Allenby said that he was in support of the Australian PGA.

Sabbatini grabs first round lead at Westchester with 8-under 63

Rory Sabbatini fired a bogey-free 8-under 63 earlier today at The Barclays to take the first round lead by one stroke over K.J. Choi and Rich Beem.  Sabbatini said during his press conference, "I’m not thinking about three weeks down the road, I’m not thinking about two weeks down the road, I’m just focused on each round as it comes, and I’m here to try and win a golf tournament."  Sabbatini is ranked 6th in the FedEx Cup standings with a win earlier this year at Colonial. 

Sabbatini kicks spectator off course

During his collapse on Sunday at the WGC-Bridgestone Invitational, Rory Sabbatini kicked a fan off the course.  According to the Associated Press, Sabbatini had just double-bogeyed the par-4 ninth hole when a "retired firefighter and paramedic Steve Banky casually said to him, 'Hey, Rory. Still think Tiger's beatable?'''  Sabbatini then told a police officer that he wanted the fan removed from the course.  Two officers then escorted Banky off the course.  "Have a little bit of decorum, a little bit of class out there. I guess a few too many beers were talking," said Sabbatini following his round.  Banky said, "I figured he was talking a better game than he was playing.  I wasn't trying to dog him. At the press conference he had, he said Tiger was beatable. I just called him on it.''

Woods/Sabbatini duel to be settled on Sunday

Rory Sabbatini said earlier in the year that Tiger Woods is "more beatable than ever."  On Sunday, Sabbatini will be grouped with Woods as the South African will try to win his second tournament of the year.  "I’m going to go out there to do battle and I’m going into it with the full intention that I’m going to win," said Sabbatini in a news conference.  He added in an interview on the Sprint Post Game, "Obviously, I think it was misinterpreted and taken to a new level.  But, you know, people can do that in the media...But, the situation is, I know that if I want to be number one in the world I’ve got to compete against number one…You’ve got to keep challenging yourself."