Golf, like the rest of the world, made big strides to returning to normal in 2021.
The crowds came back to the PGA Tour, the usual tournament schedule played out and even Jordan Spieth looked more like, well, Jordan Spieth. But while there were a lot of things to celebrate, there were also plenty of regrettable actions as well, ranging from bad decisions to bad tempers. And as it is Thanksgiving in the US, our Golf Digest colleagues in the US have highlighted the turkeys of the year. So grab a plate and eat up:
Justin Thomas
We start with one of the best golfers on the planet, who muttered a homophobic slur to himself after missing a putt that was picked up by a microphone. To JT’s credit, he owned up to his mistake and apologised profusely—but it didn’t keep longtime sponsor Ralph Lauren from dropping him. And it didn’t keep us from giving him a big turkey.
Definitely not the point, but keep wondering why Rudy called this a joke. What is the punchline? pic.twitter.com/VNKgoq92KS
— Christopher Cadelago (@ccadelago) February 19, 2021
Yikes. Wie would respond by calling Giuliani’s comments “unsettling” and “highly inappropriate.” Here’s a tip we didn’t think we’d have to provide to such a public figure: If you’re not sure whether to tell a “joke”—especially with the cameras rolling—then you probably shouldn’t tell that “joke.”
Wayne Player
It’s really, really hard to mess up a special moment like the one we saw at this year’s Masters with Lee Elder, the first black golfer to tee it up in the tournament back in 1975, getting the nod as an honorary starter with Jack Nicklaus and Gary Player. But Wayne Player, the nine-time major champ’s son who was working as a “caddie” for the ceremony, used the opportunity to do some not-so-subtle guerilla marketing for OnCore golf balls:
Wayne Player (second caddie from left).
There’s tacky and then there’s that. “The only thought from that point was that it would be cool for fans to know what ball my dad was teeing off with,” Wayne told Golf Digest. Yeah, Wayne, because that’s what everyone cared about in that moment. Amazingly, this wasn’t Wayne’s first rodeo when it comes to Masters controversies, but it could be his last because he’s reportedly been banned from the tournament.
The NCAA
No stranger to being a villian, this governing body really stepped in the stuffing with its decision to cancel one of the four women’s D-I golf regionals. There’s only so much you can do when seven inches of rain pelts a golf course, but doing nothing and automatically ending 12 of the 18 teams’ seasons? Not good.
So here it is, the LSU regionals at Baton Rouge has been cancelled due to the course being “PLAYABLE BUT NOT AT A CHAMPIONSHIP LEVEL”!!!!! Disgraceful how this whole week has been handled!!!! Every player worked so hard for this week and this is how we are treated!!! SHAMEFUL!!! pic.twitter.com/Z8FGrfYKLN
— Sara Byrne (@sarabyrne01) May 12, 2021
Bryson DeChambeau
DeChambeau did a lot of cool things this year, but he finds himself on our naughty list yet again. There are a number of directions we could take this from some really odd social media posts to that whole, “The driver sucks!” outburst. But we’ll focus on the fact that he continued to not shout “FORE!” on errant tee shots—and that he denied not doing it when asked by our John Huggan. Again, when a just about every piece of VIDEO evidence before and since suggests otherwise. Well, listen up, Bryson, because we’re yelling, “TURKEY!” at you.
Brooks Koepka
We’re as guilty as anyone of getting wrapped up in the whole Brooks-Bryson feud this year, but Brooks crossed the line when he promised beer to fans heckling his rival.
Capping off a long day with @MichelobULTRA! Thanks for all the support today. Also, we’ve got something for you… pic.twitter.com/kwtwXg3Kqb
— Brooks Koepka (@BKoepka) June 4, 2021
The fan who dressed up like Borat
That’s certainly not the case at the Waste Management Phoenix Open. Those fans are absolute animals for the most part. And this year, one dressed like Borat stole the show by trying to interact with Jordan Spieth by making a bet during Saturday’s third round. He was eventually arrested, which caused fans to start chanting, “Jordan, pay his bail!” We’re pretty sure that didn’t happen.
Everyone letting this random dude just waltz up and take Rory’s club:
— Nicole Rae (@NicoleRaeGolf) July 9, 2021
Erik Van Rooyen finds the water then decides to obliterate a tee marker, losing a club head in the process.
pic.twitter.com/xRiizg0wl1
— By The Flagstick (@ByTheFlagstick) May 21, 2021
Wallace's caddie just full snub for EVR (rightfully so) for almost getting decapitated by a tee marker. pic.twitter.com/nU0DvW7duu
— Monday Q Info (@acaseofthegolf1) May 22, 2021
Monday qualifier fight in Wichita
We’re giving out a pair of turkeys to a father-son combo involved in a scrap during a Korn Ferry Tour Monday qualifier in Kansas. After Austen Dailey got upset that his playing partner didn’t help him look for his golf ball, Oliver Smith, who was caddying for son Luke, went off on him. And then Luke actually went off on him with his fists. When a third player tried to intervene, Oliver reportedly waved a putter to keep him away. Eventually, both players were DQ’d and transported back, with Dailey saying he would press charges. We’re pressing charges on these guys as well. You get a turkey! And you get a turkey! AND YOU GET A TURKEY
Hope this doesn’t get me in trouble…. pic.twitter.com/wuG5ENlNWT
— Brad Faxon (@BradFaxon) May 5, 2021
The post Fan who stole Rory’s driver among golf’s biggest turkeys in 2021 appeared first on New Zealand Golf Digest.