Rory Sabbatini Opens Up On Tiger Woods Feud - "Media Fabricated"
The Slovakian says that his supposed feud with Tiger Woods came about after being misquoted in the media
The Slovakian says that his supposed feud with Tiger Woods came about after being misquoted in the media
When golf fans hear the name Rory Sabbatini, they'll first think of his switch to Slovakian citizenship and his stunning Olympic silver medal performance.
However, before his Slovak switch and aside from being a great golfer, he was also known for his supposed 'feud' with Tiger Woods over a decade ago.
Sabbatini was quoted as describing Woods as "more beatable than ever" at the 2007 Wachovia Championship at Quail Hollow, and those comments were not forgotten about.
In an interview with Golf Monthly, Sabbatini said he received a lot of "unwarranted and incorrect" criticism for his words for the story that was "fabricated" by the media.
"A long time ago the media fabricated that Tiger and I had a feud with me not liking him and nobody ever bothered to fact-check and correct it as there’s never been anything like that," Sabbatini told Golf Monthly.
"I received a lot of criticism and a lot of grief from people because of it and I felt that it was very unwarranted and incorrect.
Get the Golf Monthly Newsletter
Subscribe to the Golf Monthly newsletter to stay up to date with all the latest tour news, equipment news, reviews, head-to-heads and buyer’s guides from our team of experienced experts.
"When Tiger beat me at Quail Hollow they claimed that I said that he was more beatable than ever, which I never did.
"I said that the Tiger that I saw play that day was a Tiger who could be beaten and we weren’t used to seeing that.
"The Tiger that we were used to was like an auto-pilot, he would dominate and destroy.
"I said that Tiger could be beaten as opposed to the Tiger that we were used to and they ran away with me saying that he was more beatable than ever.
"But, you know what, people are entitled to their opinions and most of the time they don’t know me.
At the end of the same year Sabbatini then missed Tiger’s event which, predictably, added some fuel to the flames.
“I had played three straight events on three different continents, I had some shin splints and my then wife was having some health issues and I pulled out and they made out that I had snubbed Tiger which was never the case.
"I have never had anything but the utmost respect for the guy, he changed the face of golf for us.”
Elliott Heath is our News Editor and has been with Golf Monthly since early 2016 after graduating with a degree in Sports Journalism. He manages the Golf Monthly news team as well as our large Facebook, Twitter and Instagram pages. He covered the 2022 Masters from Augusta National as well as five Open Championships on-site including the 150th at St Andrews. His first Open was in 2017 at Royal Birkdale, when he walked inside the ropes with Jordan Spieth during the Texan's memorable Claret Jug triumph. He has played 35 of our Top 100 golf courses, with his favourites being both Sunningdales, Woodhall Spa, Western Gailes, Old Head and Turnberry. He has been obsessed with the sport since the age of 8 and currently plays off of a six handicap. His golfing highlights are making albatross on the 9th hole on the Hotchkin Course at Woodhall Spa, shooting an under-par round, playing in the Aramco Team Series on the Ladies European Tour and making his one and only hole-in-one at the age of 15 - a long time ago now!
Elliott is currently playing:
Driver: Titleist TSR4
3 wood: Titleist TSi2
Hybrids: Titleist 816 H1
Irons: Mizuno MP5 5-PW
Wedges: Cleveland RTX ZipCore 50, 54, 58
Putter: Odyssey White Hot OG #5
Ball: Srixon Z Star XV
-
Wind Causes Putting Havoc At PGA Tour Of Australasia Event
The third round of the Victorian PGA Championship was hit by blustery conditions that included one of the players in contention, Cory Crawford, helpless as a putt for birdie drifted well past the hole
By Mike Hall Published
-
LIV Golfer Talor Gooch Buys Up Second Sports Franchise
The Smash GC player has followed his investment in a Professional Bull Riders franchise with the purchase of a Sport Fishing Championship team
By Mike Hall Published
-
Rory McIlroy Gym Routine... Revealed!
In this Rory McIlroy Gym Routine article we discover how the Northern Irishman keeps himself so fit
By Neil Tappin Published
-
What Is Tiger Woods' Net Worth?
Tiger Woods became the first billion dollar athlete in 2009
By Elliott Heath Last updated
-
The Masters Live Stream: How To Watch The Major
Here are all the details on how you can watch the Major wherever you are in the world.
By Sam Tremlett Published
-
Five Outsiders Who Could Win The Masters
We consider five players who might surprise the favourites and claim victory at Augusta
By Fergus Bisset Published
-
Who Is Tiger Woods’ Girlfriend?
Find out more on who the American professional golfer is going out with here.
By Matt Cradock Last updated
-
Bermuda Championship Golf Betting Tips 2021
Who is the GM Tipster backing to win this week in Bermuda?
By Jeremy Chapman Published
-
Jeff Winther Claims Maiden European Tour Title
Jeff Winther Claims Maiden European Tour Title
By Matt Cradock Published
-
Fredrik Andersson Hed Passes Away Following Battle With Cancer
Fredrik Andersson Hed Passes Away Following Battle With Cancer
By Matt Cradock Published