for speaking out about the official putting their group on the clock.

Interesting...so the article I read said the rule is "It is an obligation of membership to refrain from comments to the news media that unreasonably attack or disparage tournaments, sponsors, fellow members, players or PGA Tour."

But all I saw that Tiger said was "Woods said he told Harrington after it was over, "I'm sorry that John got in the way of a great battle."

That doesn't seem to be too unreasonable a comment to me. Did anyone see that he said something in addition to that?

It was interesting, as I watched Sunday I heard that the network was worried about whether they'd finish the event on time or whether they'd have to run over to see the finish. I didn't realize that finishing on the TV schedule was part of the PGA's factor for putting someone on the clock or not.

I hate it for Pads as it was good to see someone stay with Tiger like he did.

OH, PULEEZE....
He didn't make an all out attack on the official, he expressed regret that things may have turned poorly due to the official timing them. He didn't say the rule was BS or the official was a Nazi or anything that overt, although he may have intimated it may have been cool to "overlook" the time simply because they were the final pairing and really who are they holding up?
Whatever the fine is, I'm sure it will be a relative pittance to Tiger and he'd do it again. Nothing accomplished.

While a totally agree that the fine was an over reaction to what Tiger may has said.But it was no one else's fault but Harrington's that he was put on the clock. I was watching the match both days, and he's really SLOW on and around the greens.

As for finishing the round BEFORE, the end of the time allotment on TV is concerned, YES, it is important, if you want the major TV stations to continue to PAY big money to cover the events. Sunday's coverage was set for 4 hours. And 4 hours should be plenty of time for groups of 2 to play 19 holes. These are some of the best golfers in the world, so they should be able to play 18 holes in a good bit less time than the rest of us amatuers.
I see that you Scott, stated YOU can play 18 holes in under 3 hours. So why can't Paddy?

Well if I was playing for $1M I wouldn't play in 3 hours either. I would take whatever time was reasonable for me to be sure I was hitting the shot I needed to hit. You can't do that for 18 holes in 3 hours. Not every shot.

Sure Pads is slower than some but they were still headed for a 4 hr round from what I read. If that's true who cares if they're a hole behind. I don't. TV doesn't show that. No one would ever know. But I realize the rule is probably something to the effect of "If a grouping is X holes behind, put them on the clock or X time behind the group in front of them, etc" which it sounds like they were but to me, if they're working on a 4 hr round and aren't holding any other groups up, let 'em play.

I agree with the ESPN article, Pad's should have continued to play at his pace and let the PGA do what they've always done in that circumstance...NOTHING. He would not have been penalized and it he was fined, so what. But he tried to do the right thing and apparently got out of his game.

Too bad.

I guarantee you the networks will pay to carry the event, no matter what. They all want the national commercial revenue paid for the air time.

The network worrying about not finishing the event in time was an excuse by the PGA for prematurely placing them on the clock.
Although they fell a hole behind the group in front of them, they were ahead of finishing time for the telecast.

BTW, the PGA didn't fine Tiger for his comments.

And that is an appropriate decision. Tiger probably carries pocket change or walking money enough to pay the fine BTW

And why can't we criticize the officials or the tour or the whatever? Basketball does it, baseball does it, Nascar does it, etc. Why? It's a natural response to our view of a poor decision? it's one thing if you berate someone but come on, we're all adults, we will never agree with everyone or every decision. Just be adults and professional about it. But I guess everyone can't do that...

If I'm reading all this correctly. Paddy might have been FINED, for playing too slowly, but not a PENALITY STROKE? If this is true, no stroke penality, THEN WHY WORRY ABOUT IT? Think about it. The first place money is over $ 1 million, and second was more like $700,000. If figure it would be well worth any fine he might have been issued to for playing to slow. What's a $20,000 fine when you're playing for over a million dollars? I don't know about you, but I"d gladly pay a $20,000 fine if I just won $1,000.000 in prize money. And as Bill mentioned, the PGA never does inforce the fine, so what's the big deal?

There's no fine without a penalty stroke. It's fine and penalty.

Imagine being in the final group, with Tiger Woods,in contention to win, a one shot difference in score, TV cameras, gallery all around, three holes to go, you just pulled your tee shot in the rough, you walk off the tee, and some clown comes UP and tells you you're on the clock, which puts you in danger of getting a one shot penalty if you don't hit your next shots within 40 seconds.

I don't care how much calm, how much experience or how much talent you possess, there's no such thing as..... "THEN WHY WORRY ABOUT IT?"