Leadership Run Amok at The Masters

The Masters Golf Tournament, America's most important golf tournament, began in Georgia today. As is customary, the Augusta National Chairman, Billy Payne, held a press conference kicking off the event.

After discussing the roles legends Jack Nicklaus and Arnold Palmer will play at the opening, Mr. Payne used his annual press conference to publicly admonish Tiger Woods.

See for yourself:


(Video from www.Telegraph.co.uk)

As an observer and commentator about leadership, Mr. Payne's admonishment struck me for several reasons:

1. Piling On. Was it necessary for Tiger's immoral behavior to be spotlighted at this opening event? Did Mr. Payne think his was the lone voice the world needed to hear from on the subject? We get it. He failed in his personal life. If Mr. Payne felt the need to discuss Tiger at all, he could have discussed Tiger's return to golf. Mr. Payne is, after all the leader of a golf tournament, not the leading moral compass for America.
2. False Outrage. Did Mr. Payne express disappointment in Tiger's behavior prior to Tiger's fall from grace? His outrage appeared tardy and phony.
3. Misplaced Outrage. When is Mr. Payne's concern about how women and minorities are treated in golf in general and at Augusta specifically going to be expressed? When asked about this as the press conference, Mr. Payne said the club was private. He is more upset about the world's greatest golfer's private life than he is about supporting discriminatory membership of a private club. Mr. Payne feels it is acceptable to proclaim outrage over a golfer's private life but not over a club's.
4. Errant Expectations. "Our hero did not live up to the expectations as a role model we sought for our children." Mr. Payne said during the press conference. As others have said over the last five months, proclaiming an incredible golfer a "hero" is just silly. If Mr. Payne set Tiger up to be a "hero" for his children, it is his own fault the expectations were not met.

While he did go on to discuss other topics, Mr. Payne came across like an executive who couldn't wait to have his moment in the spotlight, rather than as a leader with the tournament top-of-mind. When leaders put ego ahead of purpose, they tarnish the purpose. Mr. Payne tarnished the prestigious tournament because he considers himself more important than the tournament. He is a leader run amok, and the tournament has barely begun.