Rory Sabbatini is Modern Golf's First True Villain

           Golf finally has its villain: Rory be thy name.

           A sport that has long prided itself on being a game of gentleman who show the utmost respect for their competition seems to have had that tradition undermined by the exploits of South African golfer Rory Sabbatini.

           Sabbatini first alerted the world to his disrespectful attitude at Congressional Country Club in 2006, when he walked off the 17^th green because he felt his partner, Ben Crane, was playing too slowly.  This act drew the ire of many in the golf community including ABC analyst Paul Azinger who said that he would like to, “Take Rory out to the wood shed,” as he called the action during the telecast.

           The South African made much larger waves earlier in the 2007 season when he decided to tug on Tiger’s tale saying he was more beatable than ever before the final round of the Wachovia Championship.  And though Tiger easily defeated Sabbatini in that very tournament, the South African stood by his comments a few weeks later at the U.S. Open.

           While these were more likely acts of cockiness rather than true malice, Sabbatini’s behavior at last weekends Target World Challenge rose to the ranks of pure villainy.

           The Target World Challenge is a Silly Season event hosted by the world’s #1 golfer.  Its intent is to benefit his charitable foundation and he invites 15 other golfers to Southern California to play golf for four days.  He pays them handsomely for their attendance.

           Surprisingly enough, Woods’ benevolence saw him extending an invitation to Sabbatini despite the hostile attitude he’d shown towards the world’s #1 all year long.  Rory complied and teed it up with the other fourteen invitees at Sherwood Country Club.  He did not, however, finish the 72-hole event.

           Sabbatini withdrew from the charity tournament after the third round, citing “personal reasons” for his departure.  These personal reasons appeared to be a desire to begin a Hawaiian vacation and a nasty case of being more than 20 strokes off the lead.

           Despite his early exit, Sabbatini still pocketed the $170,000 guaranteed to last-place finisher of the tournament.

           This act drew a fury from Tiger seldom seen when he isn’t reacting to errant tee shots.  A cold stare was his only response to reporters who asked if he minded Rory’s leaving early.  Tiger also added, "I'd like to try and get to the bottom of it when I'm done here, and we'll see what happens.”

           Even the laid-back Fred Couples expressed his discontent saying, “He should give [the money] back to the foundation.”

           Whether or not you agree with Rory’s defiant attitude towards Tiger, it is hard to admit that this may be the exact storyline golf needs heading into 2008 after the anti-climax of the Fed Ex Cup.  While Phil, Vijay, and Ernie may have always rivaled Tiger’s ability, none have ever become a true nemesis for the world’s #1, carrying on an uneasy relationship at worst with Woods.

           Rory, however, is completely different.  He seems to revel in the public’s distaste for him, particularly as it relates to his disrespect towards Tiger Woods.

           Now if only his game could catch up with his mouth.