Fellow PGA pros speak out on Tiger Woods: 'A phony and a fake'This is how bad it's getting for Tiger Woods: even his fellow pros are now starting to speak out against him.
First it was Jesper Parnevik expressing his frustration and disappointment, saying he "probably thought [Woods] was a better guy than he is." But Parnevik's outrage is understandable, given that he was the one who initially introduced Elin Nordegren to Tiger Woods.
Now, however, two players with no apparent direct connection to the scandal are taking their shots at Tiger. Ben Crane, an eight-year pro with two wins on the PGA Tour, and Charles Warren, a six-year veteran of the PGA Tour, each sharply criticized Woods, on the record, in the current issue of Life & Style magazine. (Visor tip: Sports By Brooks)
"This is no surprise to anyone who knows Tiger," said Crane, pictured above. "He's a phony and a fake and he can't retain that squeaky-clean endorsement deal any longer."Crane also hinted that Elin Woods could have known all about Woods' alleged extramarital activities. "She's no fool," he said, and speculated that she possibly "turned a blind eye because of the money and the kids and the lifestyle he provides."
Warren also had a bit of advice for Elin, with uncompromising words for Woods. "She was very young when Jesper introduced them," Warren said. "She had stars in her eyes and maybe dollar signs too. But no, she should not stay with him. What kind of message would that send to her sister and mother and all the women out there? That your husband can be a bastard but as long as he makes the deal worthwhile, you'll stay?"
Today's PGA pros owe at least a quarter of everything they've earned to Tiger, who raised the game's prominence and, in turn, their paychecks. But Crane's comments indicate that Tiger's alleged proclivities were an open secret among Tour players.
Crane and Warren will no doubt catch grief for their comments, but what's the bigger transgression (to coin a phrase) -- speaking out against the PGA's golden goose, or keeping a secret to preserve your own good fortune?
