Spitting into the wind

First, the apology via Twitter: "The Euro Tour is right – it was inconsiderate to spit like that and I know better. Just wasn’t thinking and want to say I’m sorry."

Second, is a Twitter apology even worth considering? There is no question Tiger is sorry this has caused another headache in his life, but if one is going to give a true, honest, from-the-heart apology, it must be done at an ESPN-televised press conference in front of a hideous blue backdrop. Tiger knows this, he's done it before. Cover your heart with your hand, say you're sorry, then go hug everyone in the front row.

Below, in Notable Quotations, you'll read what the announcer had to say about Eldrick after he spat on the 12th green in Dubai on Sunday. There are acceptable places to spit... a baseball field/dug out, the sink, a bottle, but on the green? On television? Probably not a very good play, but that isn't anything Tiger is unfamiliar with these days.

I'm not passing judgment, nor should any golfer - as I'm sure we've all spit on a green at some point during a round. The only difference? We're not under a microscope and we didn't swoon America into thinking we are good-ol' boy, awe-shucks real American heroes in a past life.

One step forward, two steps back... that's the Tiger Woods of 2010-11.

FedEx Cup Standings (through 2/14/11)

1. Mark Wilson (1008)

2. D.A. Points (68)*

3. Jhonattan Vegas (672)

4. Bubba Watson (584)

5. Jonathan Byrd (566)

*D.A. Points has, by far, one of the greatest names on Tour. In hopes that he continues to be in the headlines during the season, please send your best D.A. Points faux-headlines to @HurricaneGolf on Twitter. It was fitting he won the AT&T National Pro-Am at Pebble Beach this weekend with Bill Murray as his partner. Such a great name deserves great company.

Notable Quotations

Bill Murray: "The only chance D.A. had to win was if I could make it through the entire week without ever asking what the initials ‘D.A.’ stand for. And I didn’t. And he’s the champion."

Bill Murray: “I’m thinking of turning pro. I probably won’t. It’s really nice to play with a gentleman. He’s a good person. He’s from Illinois. He’s Lincoln-esque in stature and unfailingly polite.”

Ewen Murray, SkySports: "Disgusting, what he has just done there.  He's got people coming up behind him and he's just spat all over the green.  You look at his work ethics and he's a credit to the game and he's an inspiration to all of those who are trying to become professional golfers, but there are some parts of him that are just arrogant and petulant. Somebody now has to come on this green behind him and maybe putt over his spit. It does not get much lower than that."

Blackberry or Android or Esoteric Flip Phone, all welcome on PGA Tour

Spectators at PGA Tour events will no longer have to put their cellphones in plastic airport-style bins when entering events anymore. The PGA Tour tested the removal of the cell phone ban in tournaments last year and found that fans who will openly tattle-tale on players for infractions haven't been violating the rules. Big surprise, there. 

Taking photos and recording video will be prohibited still, but it leads to a greater question... if a fan illegally tapes video of a player causing a rules infraction that no one ever sees, and provides this to the PGA, will it use it as evidence in enforcing discipline on the player, even though a rule was broken by a fan?

It's almost certain that a fan will be capturing video illegally at some point, so the PGA should look into this issue before it becomes national headlines and the topic of screaming AM radio sports talk hosts. Imagine if Tiger Woods wins the Masters with a 20-foot birdie putt on Sunday on the 18th green and is then ripped of his title due to an infraction recorded by a fan.

What then? Better be prepared, PGA.