Pat Dollard

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Devil Ball:

In his February public apology, Tiger Woods vowed he would show more respect to the game of golf. No more fist pumping, no more club tossing and no more profanity-laden outbursts after bad shots.

He made it about 42 holes.

During Saturday’s third round of The Masters, Woods repeatedly cursed at himself loudly enough for television microphones to pick it up and air it live on CBS. The mini-temper tantrums came during a stretch on the front nine when Woods made three bogeys in four holes.

After a poorly-struck tee shot on the par-3 6th hole, Tiger closed his eyes in disgust and loudly said, “Tiger Woods, you suck.” He followed that with a Commandment-breaking expletive and a shake of the head.

Photos: Tiger Woods at Augusta National

With impeccable timing, CBS announcer Verne Lundquist chimed in, “I don’t think he’s pleased.”

Woods’ shot failed to stay on the top slope of the green and trickled 70 feet away from the pin. He ran his birdie putt nearly 20 feet past the hole and ended up with a bogey four. On the next hole, Woods cursed again after a wayward approach shot. He would go on to card another bogey.

It seems that Tiger still can’t control his emotions on the golf course, which isn’t too big of a deal. It was silly that he ever thought he would be able to instantly change years of reflexive golf habits or that doing so would have any bearing on his other issues.

It’s also silly that television networks continue to put live microphones on athletes and expect them to speak like choirboys. To their credit, Jim Nantz and Nick Faldo of CBS Sports later addressed Tiger’s outburst during a sit down in Butler Cabin. Nantz, in particular, seemed embarrassed, while Faldo attributed the salty language to Tiger’s usual on-course temper.