The Issue: Tiger Woods’ latest controversy — an illegal ball drop during the Masters at Augusta National.
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Tiger Woods should have been disqualified for his illegal drop on the 15th hole not because he signed his scorecard before he was informed of his penalty, but because he knowingly dropped the ball two yards behind where he hit the ball previously (“Tiger’s Not a Dropout,” April 14).
It doesn’t matter whether he knew it was a violation or not — it was a wanton act.
The shot that hit the flag was hit from the fairway. Imagine if that shot had not been hit from the fairway but was a miraculous shot from behind a tree. If he chose to re-hit from the original spot, would he have been allowed to drop the ball two yards back from the tree?
The penalty in that instance would have been disqualification, not two strokes, which should have been applied in this case.
Woods should have had the integrity to withdraw, but I’m not surprised that he didn’t. This is the same Woods who watched a group of spectators move a half-ton “loose impediment” boulder that was blocking his shot in the Scottsdale tourney in 1999.Jack Kaufman
Suffern
Why should Woods have withdrawn?
Because for the first time in a very long time he could have demonstrated that he still has some honor and class, despite the eloquent arguments, based on his behavior, that he has none of either.
He made a conscious decision to break the rules so he would gain a competitive advantage. He is reputed to know the rules better than any player out there, according to most commentators.
He always seems well acquainted with them if they give him an advantage. Apparently, now he is ignorant when that gives him an excuse for bad behavior and dishonesty.
The game of golf suffered a loss because of this debacle.Rick Meyer
Pinehurst, NC
Angel Cabrera showed a lot of class at the Masters after he lost to Adam Scott in a second-hole playoff.
Cabrera was gracious in defeat, hugging the winner. I don’t think Woods would have been as friendly. Matt Engel
Wilkes-Barre, Pa.