PGA tour intentionally kills hawk with golf ball

[Yankee23]

Heard of birdies and eagles on the course but never hawks

http://sports.yahoo.com/golf/pga/new...v=ap&type=lgns

ORLANDO, Fla. (AP)—PGA Tour player Tripp Isenhour was charged with killing a hawk on purpose with a golf shot because it was making noise as he videotaped a TV show.

Isenhour was with a film crew for “Shoot Like A Pro” on Dec. 12 at the Grand Cypress Golf course. The 39-year-old player, whose real name is John Henry Isenhour III, was charged Wednesday with cruelty to animals and killing a migratory bird.

The charges carry a maximum penalty of 14 months in jail and $1,500 in fines.

Isenhour apologized in a statement and said he was only trying to scare the hawk away.

According to court documents, Isenhour got upset when a red-shouldered hawk began making noise, forcing another take. He began hitting balls at the bird, then 300 yards away, but gave up. Isenhour started again when the hawk moved within about 75 yards, Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission officer Brian Baine indicated in a report.

Isenhour allegedly said “I’ll get him now,” and aimed for the hawk.

“About the sixth ball came very near the bird’s head, and (Isenhour) was very excited that it was so close,” Baine wrote.

A few shots later, witnesses said he hit the hawk. The bird, protected as a migratory species, fell to the ground bleeding from both nostrils.

“As soon as this happened, I was mortified and extremely upset and continue to be upset,” Isenhour said in a statement issued through his management company, SFX Golf. “I want to let everyone know there was neither any malice nor deliberate intent whatsoever to hit or harm the hawk. I was trying to simply scare it into flying away.”

Isenhour said his family has adopted three cats from a local shelter.

“I am an animal lover,” he said. “We ask that everyone accept my sincerest apology, and please be respectful of my family’s privacy.”

Isenhour has spent two full years on the PGA Tour, both times failing to keep his card. He has won four times on the Nationwide Tour, including twice in 2006.

“He just kept saying how he didn’t think he could have hit it, which I think is a stupid thing for a PGA Tour golfer to say,” said Jethro Senger, a sound engineer at the shoot. “He can put a ball in a hole from hundreds of yards away, and here he is hitting line drives at something that’s, I don’t know, a couple hundred feet away?”

Senger said it was “basically like a joke to (Isenhour).” He said no one in the roughly 15-person crew intervened, and many later regretted it.

“It was one of those cases where there’s some trepidation on whether or not they should speak up and do something,” Senger said.

Senger said the killing was not captured on video. The bird was buried at the golf course and later dug up by Florida investigators.

[Caddyman]

What a doucebag. How about you let me tee off his face.

[guzzi]

im mortified...im going to adopt a billionz catz...i dont care what my neyburz say...im an animal luver...

[alby]

all that for a bird??? you gotta be shitting me.

I would've tried to hit it too, its a friging bird its not like a dog or a cat.

where do you draw the line? is it cruelty to kill an ant or swat a fly?

[Ron Mexico]

Frikin birds got no place on a golf course anyway.

[revnecro1273]

Originally Posted by alby

all that for a bird??? you gotta be shitting me.

I would've tried to hit it too, its a friging bird its not like a dog or a cat.

where do you draw the line? is it cruelty to kill an ant or swat a fly?

you are right....people kill those creatures because they are annoying and bothersome...no different here either

[skippy]

Originally Posted by revnecro1273

you are right....people kill those creatures because they are annoying and bothersome...no different here either

There is a big difference!!!

Over there, they kill them because its a food source.

[revnecro1273]

Originally Posted by skippy

There is a big difference!!!

Over there, they kill them because its a food source.

dude...here was meant in the case of the bird...not in where i am located at the present time

[ZIGGYSTARDUST]

Maybe its just me but after the "I'll get him now " comment makes it tough for Zig to swallow the spin .. Does he think people are morons.. He must... Man up... You killed a bird ... You adopted 3 cats ... all square in my book.. Obvious he was just trying to scare the bird but hit the kill shot.. Man up... Move on... Donate 10,000 grand to some shelter .... No more PC spin ...

[Romanowski]

Originally Posted by guzzi

im mortified...im going to adopt a billionz catz...i dont care what my neyburz say...im an animal luver...

lol

[westcoastO]

Probably the biggest animal guy on the mall here, but if he did 14 months in jail and $1500 in fines, I'd probably go kill a hawk for this guy myself lol.

[dhunter]

i think the fact that it was a hawk is why people are making a big deal out of it. if it was a pigeon...no big deal

[westcoastO]

Originally Posted by dhunter

i think the fact that it was a hawk is why people are making a big deal out of it. if it was a pigeon...no big deal

yeah no kidding. where do you draw the line?

[Yankee23]

When Dave Winfield was arrested in Toronto in 1983 the charges were later dropped.

I'm sure if the charges aren't dropped he'll do a little community service and it will all go away.