Friday, September 4, 2009 / Jason Sobel, ESPN.com
NORTON, Mass. -- On a day when one playing partner grabbed a share of the opening-round lead and another holed out from a bunker for eagle, Tiger Woods initiated the most fireworks in his threesome at the Deutsche Bank Championship. And they weren't the good kind.
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In a career filled not only with victories, fame and fortune, but also grandiose outbursts and expletive-filled self-indulgences, Tiger suffered an epic meltdown at one point Friday. Teeing off the par-4 fifth hole -- his 14th of the day -- Woods badly blocked a drive well right of the fairway. That's hardly a surprise, but it's what followed that was truly startling. Almost immediately after impact, he spiked the driver toward the ground, releasing the grip and letting it fly into what can only be described as a dry wetlands area about 10 yards in front of the tee box.
Tiger then walked away, roaring "Release the club!" to himself -- an ironic proposition considering the aftermath of his swing. His caddie, Steve Williams, was left to recover the driver from the thigh-high thick stuff -- which proved to be a daunting task, as it took some 30 seconds to locate the club and another 30 to actually pry it loose -- failing to leave the potential eBay goldmine lying in the weeds. Asked later to describe his frustration on the hole, Woods would only allow, "How about every hole?"
It was a "SportsCenter" moment if there ever was one, an occasion that would be replayed for the masses time and again. But here's the rub: On a tee box that was largely closed to foot traffic, Woods' tantrum may have been witnessed by fewer than a dozen observers -- playing partners included -- as nary a cameraman nor photographer was within shooting distance. Once the driver was finally reunited with Frank the headcover and safely in the bag, Woods found his ball in an unplayable lie and was forced to take a drop from the hazard. He made bogey on the hole, then played his remaining four in 1 under par, ostensibly letting his frustrations go with that release of the club. It was part of an altogether respectable round of 70, especially considering how he described it afterward.
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Easy, big guy...
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