Sports

NBC’s Miller questions Tiger’s drop at The Players Championship

PONTE VEDRA BEACH, Fla. — Last month at the Masters, an incorrect drop by Tiger Woods sparked a firestorm at Augusta. So when Woods hit his tee shot into the water to the left of the 14th fairway yesterday and took a drop, there was much scrutiny about whether it was a proper drop.

Johnny Miller, NBC’s lead analyst, said on air it was a “highly questionable’’ drop, indicating Woods gave himself too much distance from the tee. But Woods’ playing partner, Casey Wittenberg, was adamant afterward Woods’ drop was absolutely correct.

“I saw it perfectly off the tee,’’ Wittenberg said. “I told him exactly where I thought it crossed, and we all agreed, so he’s definitely great on that. I told him I thought it crossed on the corner of the bunker right where he took his drop, and it’s all good. There is no doubt, guys. The ball crossed where he dropped.’’

There was no rules official positioned on the hole, so all Woods could go by was what Wittenberg saw.

“If [a rules official is] not there they can’t see it, so there’s really no point [to calling one over to the hole],’’ Woods said. “The only guys who really know are Casey and his caddie, so that’s who we rely on. I talked to Casey and the caddie and we agreed that’s where it crossed [the water], and I played it.’’

Woods ended up double bogeying the hole before recovering to win.