Some things aren't elementary

It was good to see Tom Watson make the cut at the Dubai Desert Classic this weekend playing against many of the world's top-ranked players.

Entering today's final round in an eight-way tie for 29th at 2 under, he has no shot at winning. But it remains an amazing performance by a 60-year-old golfer who lost a playoff against Stewart Cink in last year's British Open and opened the Champions Tour season with a one-shot victory over Fred Couples.

But something Watson said about the Tiger Woods scandal before the start of the Dubai Desert Classic rubbed Oldgolfdawg the wrong way.

“Tiger has to take ownership of what he has done," Watson said. "He must get his personal life in order. I think that’s what he’s trying to do. And when he comes back he has to show some humility to the public."

Oldgolfdawg is in perfect agreement with Watson on that statement. But then Watson also said that Woods should clean up his on-course behavior in order to be considered among the true greats of the game, saying: “I feel that he has not carried the same stature that other great players that have come along like Jack (Nicklaus), Arnold (Palmer), Byron Nelson, the Hogans, in the sense that there was language and club throwing on the golf course.”

Apparently this is something that has been gnawing at Watson for some time.

“You can grant that of a young person that has not been out here for a while," Watson continued. "But I think he needs to clean up his act and show the respect for the game that other people before him have shown.”

Oldgolfdawg can't help but think Ol' Tom seems to being piling on or kicking a cat when he's down to criticize Woods' on-course behavior at this point in time.

To suggest that Woods can't be considered among the true greats of the game because he has exhibited a potty mouth during moments of frustration in his career is ridiculous. Woods' game speaks for itself. The passion he has demonstrated with his salty language or the slamming of a club during his career has played a big part in helping him become a 14-time major winner. It also made him interesting to watch as television ratings over the years have overwhelming proven.

Granted, Watson is adding a filter of what he deems to be socially acceptable in forming his "true greats" list. Oldgolfdawg would include Woods in any such list despite his current fall from grace or past on-course behavior issues.

Up until his car accident Nov. 27 and subsequent revelations about his extramarital affairs, Woods was the best thing that ever hit the PGA Tour. Nine PGA Tour pros made $1 million or more in official money winnings the first year Woods teed it up as a pro in 1996. Last season, 91 of them earned $1 million or more. And Woods has made concerted efforts to recognize the contributions of golf legends who paved the way for his success. For Watson to suggest that Woods hadn't been showing respect for the game is a bit over the top.

If hearing Woods drop an occasional F-bomb puts Watson's panties in such a bunch, Oldgolfdawg can only assume Ol' Tom doesn't have a vast collection rap CDs. That's OK. To each his own. But not all people are caught up in the superficial illusions that "correct decorum" can construct.