Jeff Gove: pouring salt on the wound
Jeff Gove won't be winning the Humanitarian Golfer of the Year, at least not this year. While playing with Michelle Wie, who got sick with heat exhaustion and had to get an IV and go to the hospital, it appears that Gove was glad to have Wie drop out because he felt Michelle was "inconsiderate" and just holding the group up. For a guy who's missed seven of the last nine cuts, he sure does have his opinion.
"She just said, 'I'm going to withdraw,' which was good because she was holding us up again," said Jeff Gove, who finished at 1-over 143 and missed the cut by three strokes. "I saw she was hurting, but she never said anything. And she was walking real slow, which I thought was inconsiderate again because we're trying to keep up. If we get on the clock again, that's painful."
This reminds me of the time when Pete Sampras became dehydrated and threw up on court while playing a 5-setter against Alex Corretja. While vomiting, Pete received a delay of game warning from the ump. Talk about lack of concern.
19 Comments:
Jeff Gove is more than twice Michelle's age. What a jerk.
Jeff Gove = Big Loser.
Not sure what being twice her age has to do with anything. This is the PGA Tour, the big leagues. There are no points for age or sex, the only thing that counts is what score you are shooting and she was negatively impacting her playing partners chances by her slow play.
Now feel free to disagree with how Gove stated his opinion or that he did so publicly but I am fairly sure that if you took a poll of the other 150 players out there, if they would have been in the same situation, they would have been upset that someone who was in on a sponsor’s exemption, who had zero chance of making the cut, who is not fighting for a tour card, who had put the group on the clock the day before, was once again holding them up.
Gove is out there trying to earn a living, this is how he puts food on the table and pays his rent. He is not getting the big endorsement dollars or playing PGA Tour events for the experience. He is trying to keep his tour card.
Like I said, feel free to disagree with the way he expressed himself but he had a right to be upset.
Wie put them on the clock thursday? That's not right! Say what you will about her age, girl, whatever. She has ZERO right to play on a PGA event if she puts her group on the clock!
Jeff Gove showed no class with his comments. I don't care if it was Michelle Wie or John Doe he was whining about... the partner was physically sick for goodness sake.
As for him "earning a living", I'd take his 1/2 million in earnings this year any day. That's more than I'll make in the next ten years.
Zero right to play on the tour because she put them on the clock!!?? Would you make the same comments about Nick Faldo (RE: the Sabbitini incident) or the dozens of other players that get clocked every week?? (Gove has been put on the clock for his own slow play in the past)
Sounds like to me he is putting the blame on her for him not making the cut. The way he played is not her fault, it is his own because he stinks. If I were her, I would have punched him in the mouth for his insensitivity.
Any player on a sponsors excemption, I dont' care who it is CANNOT put it's group on the clock. Players who have earned their cards is another matter, and of course you all understand this, your just defending with nothing to defend.
Furthermore, Gove is fighting to keep his card. You can't tell me that you woudn't be frustated yourself if it was you being distracted, but since it's not you, you find it EASY to attack someone trying to make a living. Sorry but I don't think Gove is getting millions "handed" to him by Nike for doing nothing, so he needs to play well to make money, and it's obvious that Wie bothered him. Takes guts to speak-out when he knew how "understanding" people like you would be!
Gove is currently 105/125 with >$100K between him and 126th spot... with is performance this year and the remaining tournaments, its likely he'll keep his rank above 125 and his card.
The clock is part of the "big leagues". If he can't deal with that, or Wie for that matter, as a distraction, perhaps he shouldn't be on tour to begin with.
Perhaps the previous poster's points were to illustrate that Gove should show some class. I'd be embarassed to use a fellow golfer's "distractions" as an excuse for my own results.
At the end of the day golf is a sport of individual effort, and your results are purely of your own design, precisely because of the playing environment.
Michelle Wie is now a "pro" and therefore her performance and behavior are fair game. Gove has every right to state what he believes are facts.
As for sensitivity ... I am not sure if Wie was really that sick. The whole thing smells orchestrated to me. She knew she was gonna miss the cut and found a way to bail out early and maybe earn some sympathy. Not buying it.
It's never a huge shock when a self-absorbed PGA tour wanker sticks his foot so deep in his mouth that it shows up on his next colonoscopy.
The average tour pro is a thin-skinned narcissist who has deluded himself into thinking that what they are doing is actually important.
The classy thing to do is to say something along the lines of: "I was relieved when she checked out of the tournament because it was obvious she wasn't feeling well and medical attention was in order."
Wow I'm surprised at the lack of intelligent responses! I'm seeing things like "who does he think he is" and "he stinks". C'mon people, this guy is not the devil. And Wie is not spending the week in intensive care. She was not slow b/c she was dehydrated, SHE PLAYS SLOW ALL THE TIME. This is reported to me by a first hand account.
She's 16 so we can give her a break, but if you are going to play professional golf, or golf at all, you need to be mindful of your playing partners. That includes not speaking while they are hitting, not walking in their line and playing at a resonable pace. You've heard of etiquette right?
Gove never said he missed the cut b/c she was slow. "Jeff Gove = Big Loser." = this is one of the more caveman-esk comments I've read in my time. And Jeff Gove's age is not relevant. Would it have been ok for him to say that if he was 16 years old?
I think he didn't have to celebrate the fact that she was dehydrated, but the guy's not a jerk.
And by the way for all you Wie die hards, from witnessing it first hand, she bunts the ball about 275 off the tee if she's lucky and makes Ben Crane look like John Daly. Give her 3-4 years and she may make a PGA cut. Although I'd rather see her dominate the LPGA before she tries to 'make cuts' on the PGA.
Maybe we really need to find the truth behind Wie's illness??? It sounds more like PMS.
Many have been put on the clock -- some big names as well (Sergio for example) and they were perfectly healthy. I wonder if Mr. Gove would be as opinionated against these guys? Or, is it different rules for different players? She was put on the clock - that's the rule -- there were no special exemptions. Also keep in mind the only reason anyone has heard of Mr. Gove (other than his family) is because of Ms. Wie
Wie does not belong in the PGA Tour...She should prove that she CAN win on the LPGA Tour first!!!! I am sick and tired of media's spotlight on Wie.....She's a 16 year old golfer who hasn't won any professional event!!!! I heard her Father is an arrogant ****, but that's another story....
Periodically a golfer has to play with someone slower than they are...(you know who you are!!) and it does disrupt your rhthym etc. But shouldn't Gove be held to the same standard of behavior as any decent human being as it relates to a sick 16-year old kid (Nike sponsorships worth millions not withstanding). There are good guys (read Olgivy's comments) and bad guys in sports and life. Gove is certaining entitled to complain about his vomiting slow-playing teenage playing partner but neither he nor anyone else should be surprised when people think he's a dick.
I met Jeff Gove at the International golf tournament in Colorado in August. He is a class act all the way. It sounds like he was just commenting about the slow play of Wie and it was nothing personal. He probably would say the same thing if a guy were playing slow. Being on the clock these guys must keep up the pace of play. Don't bash Gove too much over this. All of us would probably say the same thing if we were in his shoes.
Golfed with him in a Pro-Am in 2002. Couldn't have been more genuine and kind. To those who think he is loaded, look at his earnings the past 5 years. Subtract out travel expenses, tourney fees, caddie's winnings, plus paying for his own insurance, and you'll realize how badly he needs to stay on the tour. Wie is a stupid sideshow act who should be in school.
I just met Jeff at St. Jude. My son is a patient there. Jeff and several other golfers came to the hospital to visit our kids and play games with them. I heard several parents comment on what a great guy he was. He spent the most time with the kids. The kids loved him. You can't be a jerk and fake his caring.
On the course he is at work. If you want to play PGA golf. Play PGA golf. If she is playing slow because she is sick, she should have the integrity to withdraw and not jeopardize her playing partner's livelihood. That's called professionalism.
If you want to play with the big boys, you should keep up! Jeff Gove is a wonderful man with a wonderful family! If someone was doing something continuously to any one of you, I am sure you would say something too. These men have been playing for years and it has to be frustrating to have someone who keeps breaking rules and holding everyone up. Let her go play with the ladies and get some experience with not only the game but the rules and how to work well with others. I think she is a spoiled brat!
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