Contributed by Jim McCabe - Gussied up by GolfWashington

Myths that take decades to build are not easily crumbled — unless, of course, you have TV cameras and microphones.

That was the case Friday in the second round of the Zurich Classic in New Orleans when the Golf Channel was in the right place at the right time to pick up Bubba Watson’s obscenity-laced outburst. It was directed at playing competitor Steve Elkington (and it’s here that we get definitive proof as to why writers should never use the phrase “playing partner” during stroke-play events, because it’s the ultimate individual quest and never does the concept of “partner” enter the equation) and while childish and petty concerns were at the heart of the incident, it certainly offers proof that golf isn’t quite the 100 percent genteel sport that many profess it to be.

No, golf surely has its share of combative personalities who from time to time will drag the game down a few notches, though in many cases it can be glossed over with the simple removal of hats and the extension of hands.

In their case, Watson and Elkington didn’t care for fake diplomacy. Forget the handshake and to heck with the removal of hats; they simply marched into the scoring trailer like they were Obama and Clinton.

No doubt, some people were stunned by such behavior, for while NBA games may be filled with trash-talking and undignified louts, golf has always enjoyed a more pristine reputation. Ah, but the reality is, confrontations happen, even in golf, and while they’re never as unruly as hockey games involving the Philadelphia Flyers, there’s enough of a history to dispel the myth that the sport never faces behavioral issues.

Who knows what set off the Elkington-Watson confrontation, though consider the combatants. (Actually Elking was walking in Bubbas' line of sight while ol' Bubba was tryin' to take a hack)

C'mon Elk…Stand Still!

See what you made me do!

Elkington, 45, has forever been one of the stiffer personalities on tour, though no one has ever disputed his pedigree, which is supported by a distinguished resume (10 Tour wins, including a major and two Players Championships).

Watson, 29, on the other hand, has missed nearly as many cuts (29) as he’s made (35) in his brief career and when you throw in the facts that he’s never won and he’s made the cut in just one major championship, there’s nothing to support the massive ego that he has, which is why he rubs colleagues the wrong way.

One can just imagine the exchange between the two.

Watson: “Has anyone ever suggested that you don’t wear soft blue shirts with brown pants?”

Elkington: “Kid, win some tournaments — hell, just win one — and then you can stick your chest out, swing pink clubs, and have your own clothing line.”

For a tournament that had just four of the world’s top 15 players (and two of them, Steve Stricker and Jim Furyk, missed the cut, while a third, Stewart Cink, was disqualified), there was good flavor to the Zurich Classic — and not all of it came from the Cajun cuisine.

No, Watson vs. Elkington added spice, too, though don’t think for one second that it’s the first time pro golfers have created friction.

To the contrary, there’s a pretty good list of past incidents, starting with one that still elicits laughter. It involved the cantankerous Fulton Allem and the methodical Bob Estes. Moving at a pace that could keep a tortoise in the race, Estes infuriated Allem. Thus, when the round was over, in addition to the required signature the feisty South African added to his playing competitor’s scorecard the comment: “You are too slow.”

Estes was stunned, but Allem explained that the rules of competition were being compromised by slow play.

“Etiquette,” said Allem, “is not a small city in France.”

Allem - The Geography Major

Zzznnnxxx. Bob roll over!

Most confrontations don’t produce such levity. Instead, players rarely talk about them, a practice that is endorsed by PGA Tour officials who would love to perpetuate the myth that the game is devoid of ill will. But there’s a decent history of confrontations that dispel that notion. For instance:

Vijay Singh and Phil Mickelson at the 2005 Masters.

Singh: “You might want to fix your spike marks, you big klutz.”

Mickelson: “You might want to go back and fix that scorecard from that tournament in Asia.”

Or

Mark Wiebe and Fred Funk at the 1999 Colonial:

Wiebe: “Move your little body out of the way while I putt.”

Funk: “Make it a good one, because it’s the last week anyone’s ever going to hear of you.”

Or

You have freakishly big feet lefty!

Iffy scorecard there in Asia - huh Veej?

Mark McCumber and Greg Norman at the 1995 World Series of Golf.

McCumber: “Honest, Greg, I was picking up a dead bug, not patting down a spike mark.”

Norman: “My good man, I know bugs and that was not a bug. I also know turf, fine wine, aged beef, cigars, jets, ships, helicopters, golf course architecture, and real estate, and would be willing to enlighten you on any of those topics.”

Or

Ben Crane and Rory Sabbatini at the 2005 Booz Allen Classic.

Crane: “I’m sorry if my pace of play offends you.”

Sabbatini: “Your pace of play does offend me, but don’t take it personally. Everything offends me. I’m just a miserable person. When I’m done with you, I’ll go and be miserable to the next person, even Tiger Woods. Now, hurry up and hit.”

Your'e about to piss me off Ben!

Crane: The human rain delay

How about …

Sergio Garcia and the cup at the 13th hole at the 2007 CA Championship.

Garcia: “No big deal. It did go in the middle. It wasn’t going to effect anyone else.”

The cup: “Sure, it’s no big deal to him. He doesn’t have spit all over him. Of course, he does often wear that banana costume, so he’s got bigger worries than me.”

Jim McCabe writes occasionally for Golfbrief.com

Class act El Nino - NOT!