News

Justin Thomas rips USGA for new rule, which saw yet another Tour pro controversially penalized

Published

5 years ago

Feb 2, 2019

Gianni Magliocco

Update 2/3: The USGA has reversed the penalty assessed to Denny McCarthy

Official Statement on Denny McCarthy: pic.twitter.com/PpcPl9rHiF

— USGA PR (@USGA_PR) February 2, 2019

If the USGA thought that updates to the rules of golf would help modernize the sport and keep themselves out of the headlines, then 2019 has been a rude awakening.

Haotong Li’s penalty on the European Tour caused controversy in Dubai last week, and on Friday at the Waste Management Phoenix Open, a penalty called on PGA Tour pro Denny McCarthy had the golfing world enraged.

McCarthy received a two-stroke penalty on the 15th hole, after violating Rule 10.2b (4), which states that when a player begins taking a stance for the stroke and until the stroke is made, his caddie cannot deliberately stand in a location on or close to an extension of the line of play behind the ball for any reason. Despite re-setting, the 25-year-old was deemed to have breached the rule and was subsequently given a two-stroke penalty.

What followed, was a mini-mutiny amongst PGA Tour professionals, led by one of the game’s best, Justin Thomas. Despite being right in the thick of things at the Waste Management Phoenix Open, Thomas took time to call out the USGA for their latest rule change, in a manner which is almost unheard of in modern sports. Thomas was outraged by the ruling, and on social media, the 25-year-old called it “ridiculous” and stressed how he felt the new rule “NEEDS to be changed asap”.

This is ridiculous… the fact this is a penalty is mind blowing. @USGA this NEEDS to be changed ASAP… there is nothing about this rule that makes the game better https://t.co/wtPmPOcss4

— Justin Thomas (@JustinThomas34) February 2, 2019

Thomas’ post is no doubt going to court controversy, but the American received backing from fellow pro’s Brandt Snedeker and Eddie Pepperell, who soon after joined the rebellion. The former tagged the USGA in his tweet and sarcastically stated “Good job simplifying the rules,” while Pepperell brutally slammed the entire ethos behind the rules of golf, with this ruthless tweet.

Astonishing really, that a game that appears so odd, to so many, has within it some of the most bizarre rules one could fathom. If grey areas, cantankerous old men and contradictions are your thing, then take up the game of golf. https://t.co/wP1XhfLy3H

— Eddie Pepperell (@PepperellEddie) February 2, 2019

The USGA has been under fire for several high-profile blunders in recent years, especially in regards to its handling of U.S. Opens. With the new rules in place designed to simplify matters, the idea was apparently to keep themselves as just a backstory while letting the game of golf shine. But it has all gone pear-shaped yet again for the organization.

The audacity shown by one of the elite players in the game like Justin Thomas to call out the USGA proves that whatever patience had by the top professionals in the game has just about worn thin with regards to the governing body’s handling of the sport.

The decision to penalize players and their caddies for innocuous incidents, who possess no incentive to gain an advantage, is surely only going to lead to more controversy as we head towards major season. Just take a look at Rickie Fowler’s caddie here, who is wholly focused on his job and then becomes fearful of unintentionally infringing the latest rule implemented by the USGA.

Joe out there trying not to get Rickie Haotong Li’ed in PHX. cc: @the_woke_yolk @NoLayingUp pic.twitter.com/jHXchdAeRt

— Matthew Galloway (@matthewgalloway) February 1, 2019

Golf may be a gentleman’s sport, laced with history and tradition, but Friday night showed that, when feeling justified in doing so, Justin Thomas and his fellow pros are clearly not afraid to call out the powers that be. One can only wonder how the folks in Far Hills feel about such high-profile criticism.

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Gianni Magliocco

Gianni is the Managing Editor at GolfWRX. He can be contacted at [email protected].

50 Comments

Rich

Feb 23, 2019 at 4:13 am

Justin Thomas is a whinger. He thinks he’s a hero because he plays golf well. Plenty of you out there mate. You haven’t got the market cornered on that. Hell, even JB Holmes can beat you down the stretch at Riviera. The rule is simple. Just play to it. Don’t have your caddie anywhere near you like of play when your anywhere near the ball. How hard is that!!!

Reply Report comment
- FeelFreeToPunctuateProperly
  
  Feb 28, 2019 at 12:09 pm
  
  I’m confused as to how sticking up for a lesser-known player is whining. I get it, you don’t like the guy, but try and form a coherent thought, rather than just jumping at any opportunity to grumble about a player. This sort of comment adds nothing to the conversation.
  
  Reply Report comment
Shotmark

Feb 15, 2019 at 4:34 am

Contrary to their supposed intention, the way the new rules have been dumbed down seem to have the express intention of slowing down play. This rule is however spot on in my opinion.

It puts the onus back on the player to line up shots/puts using their own skill and judgement rather than that of their caddy.

The fact the new rule is causing so much consternation and debate suggests it was necessary. If the change had been seamless then that would suggest it hadn’t gone far enough.

As to the entitled Justin Thomas being upset by the change, heaven forfend that anyone should do anything to offend this delicate snowflake. No doubt the fist person he hears defending the rule will be ejected from the course.

Reply Report comment
- Rich Douglas
  
  Feb 17, 2019 at 3:04 pm
  
  No, it suggests that it is confusing and applied in a manner inconsistent with its intended purpose and outcome.
  
  The rule is aimed at players who have their caddies check their club face alignment at address. This is almost exclusively an LPGA tour thing. So the new rule is designed to have the caddie get out of their before he/she can align the player. Fine. But what constitutes being out of there is really vague. Hence, the confusion.
  
  Reply Report comment
Tim

Feb 13, 2019 at 9:34 am

This is a really old game.

Really old.

At its inception, the game was simple. The rules were essentially self evident. There were no issues. The objective was to get the ball in the cup in as few strokes as possible. The player with the fewest strokes wins. THAT IT.

Sitting in a room and brainstorming situations like caddie helping a player line up.. This type of thinking will result in these types of moronic situations. Whatever minuscule damage that may come from a caddie helping a player line up his next stroke, pales in comparison to the chaos that comes from making rules to prevent it.

Count every stroke, play it as it lies, OOB is OOB and dont worry about the conversations that the caddies are having with the players. Its just two humans talking. It has nothing to do with the objective of the sport: THE PLAYER WITH THE FEWEST STROKES WINS.

Reply Report comment
Jd78

Feb 8, 2019 at 6:56 am

Will the pga tour please say to hell with the incompetent buffoons at the USGA and create their own rules. How many more golfers are they going to screw over with their ridiculous rulings, and how many more US opens will they ruin before it happens?

Reply Report comment
CJ

Feb 4, 2019 at 8:08 pm

I love that JT is speaking his mind and they are taking notice!

Reply Report comment
- Joe Damiata
  
  Feb 5, 2019 at 3:15 pm
  
  It’s good to see a tour pro with some stature voice his opinion. Previously, pros were afraid to speak up, worried by the threat of a fine. If something is wrong, then these guys are the ones who will cause the USGA rules makers take notice. Well done JT.
  
  Reply Report comment
Art Williams

Feb 4, 2019 at 2:02 pm

I was under the impression that if the golfer backs off the putt and then resets, no penalty occurs. I read above, I think, that that is what ultimately happened. As to RicKie’s penalty it seems absurd. He did everything correctly. The ball was in play and through no action of his gravity or something (wind?) took over and the ball trickled down the embankment into the water. He needed to reset it again with another penalty? Crazy. It should be like a ball on a green that moves. Replace it and play on.

Reply Report comment
- geohogan
  
  Mar 4, 2019 at 9:28 am
  
  @art williams
  Your looking for equity and justice in a sport invented by Scots.
  Explained by, Robin Williams:
  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pcnFbCCgTo4
  
  Reply Report comment
BallBuster

Feb 4, 2019 at 1:08 pm

I think Thomas and all should quit whining about the rule. It’s a good rule. No outside influence in the actual stroke. Just like 99.9% of golfers do every day. Thomas wonders how it makes golf better? It makes it more dependent on your individual talent and ability to perform on your own and not be pampered. What if your caddy has a better sense of aim than the other guy but you as a player suck more under pressure?

Doubt Ben Hogan or Jack Nicklaus ever had his caddy give him the “roger all systems are go” call before he hit the ball.

As far as backing off after he had his caddy behind him then readdressing the ball to play… geez, just another F’n thing we need to slow down play.

Reply Report comment
- Scooter6
  
  Feb 5, 2019 at 8:04 am
  
  Well said! It is a legit rule that takes care of a problem that was getting out of hand, particularly in the LPGA.
  
  Reply Report comment
  - OnInTwo
    
    Feb 7, 2019 at 8:02 pm
    
    I agree, it’s a good rule. These pampered pros just basically need to play like the other estimated 60 million golfers play. Why don’t those folks have to worry about incurring that penalty? Because they don’t have a caddy. Surely the men and women, who are now “pros”, played the game without the advantage of a human tool in their early development and while they are “off”/playing leisurely with friends. How difficult is it for the caddy to give advice, encouragement, sustenance, pyschoanalysis, and assurance that a participation trophy will be issued to the player while standing to the side of the line of play? Unless of course there is some advantage to having all of that presented from behind the player. Yea, ah huh, kinda what I thought.
    
    Reply Report comment
Ron Garland

Feb 4, 2019 at 12:38 pm

Who cares what the USGA thinks? When you’re wrong, you’re wrong. And they are dead wrong.

Reply Report comment
Joro

Feb 4, 2019 at 12:29 pm

As usual the “Rulers of the game” have stuck their size 20 foot in their big mouth, are continuing the phuqing up of the game. New rules are stupid rules and not many get them, other than the geniuses in here. Face it when Riickies ball rolled into the water after he placed it, thought it was done and walked up to the Green only 2 see Gravity take over and the Ball rolled into the water. Okay, so it rolled by it self, but a Penalty? that is totally ridiculous, yet that is the rule, which is total USGA Bull****.

Golf should be hit it, go find it and hit it again. No freebies, no drops, nothing. Hit it in the water or OB take a drop, add a stroke and hit it again, and most of all add a big penalty for being slow. They don’t need a watch to see if a player is slow, if they are fine em with a meaningful amount that they will remember.

Hit, find it, and hit it again.

Reply Report comment
- 9Lb. Hammer
  
  Feb 4, 2019 at 1:16 pm
  
  Return to troll school dude. You have failed miserably. All you have succeeded in doing is making a laughing stock out of yourself.
  
  Reply Report comment
- REGIS
  
  Feb 4, 2019 at 8:43 pm
  
  The only people who actually play by the rules are professionals and top amatures in tournaments. Most avid amatures don’t understand the rules and that’s fine. Play whatever rules your regular 4 some or group is comfortable. How many times has someone in your group actually gone back to the tee and reloaded after a ball is lost in the rough? How many groups play a breakfast ball or Mulligan. Most charity tournaments sell them to raise money.
  
  Reply Report comment
  - Peter
    
    Feb 5, 2019 at 4:16 am
    
    What, the other groups in my Saturday comp aren’t following the rules?? Well, that explains a lot!
    
    Reply Report comment
Guia

Feb 3, 2019 at 2:03 am

Read the rules, follow the rules, quit whining.

Reply Report comment
- Antonio
  
  Feb 3, 2019 at 1:46 pm
  
  +1. IS it so difficult to understand the rule? These guys are getting spoiled
  
  Reply Report comment
- Tartan Golf Travel
  
  Feb 3, 2019 at 4:48 pm
  
  You clearly don’t understand what happened. The tour has already reversed the ruling!
  
  Reply Report comment
  - Antonio
    
    Feb 4, 2019 at 5:59 am
    
    If it were up to me I would change several rules. In the meantime if I break a rule, whether I believe it is a stupid one or not, I just assume it. Now these guys can brake a rule simply because they have not taken the time to read them and then make a lot of noise and influence changes as it has happened.
    Nonetheless I think any pgatour pro proposal to modify any of the rules has to be heard but not once you have broken it. I have not heard or seen JT proposing specific changes to the new rules up until now
    
    Reply Report comment
- B
  
  Feb 4, 2019 at 10:35 am
  
  He did follow the rules, that’s why the tour overturned the ruling. Pay attention man.
  
  Reply Report comment
Tartan Golf Travel

Feb 2, 2019 at 8:26 pm

The ruling was moronic as are most things the USGA does. The spirit of the rule is fine. Make the player line himself up but Li’s Penalty was terrible and this one was just absurd. The tour and USGA have already backed off. Don’t get use to the new rules. The USGA will update them very soon. Guarantee the drop will be amended to say above the knee. This one with lining up is just very subjective but the only way you can do it is I’ll know it when I see it. The only people abusing this anyway was the LPGA.

Reply Report comment
- Robert
  
  Feb 4, 2019 at 11:47 am
  
  You’re already being penalized. How about simply being allowed to place the ball. Would save a lot of wasted time dropping, then re-dropping.
  
  Reply Report comment
  - smarterthanusga
    
    Feb 13, 2019 at 11:12 am
    
    amen…..so dumbass that they bend over and drop from knee height and it still always rolls anyway.. what is really dumbass is that they play lift-clean-and PLACE about a quarter of the time anyway so what’s the big deal about placing the ball???
    
    ps..still say the usga should have put in place driver drop zones…to save the morons in front of me from hitting 3 drives each. there’s drop zones by ponds so what is the difference? put the driver drop zone say 200 yards out or whatever from the white tees if they want to add a bit of a distance penalty too.
    
    Reply Report comment
A. Commoner

Feb 2, 2019 at 3:24 pm

Major professional sports organizations make their own rules of competition; why not professional golf? The tours need to totally direct their own affairs. ‘Seeds of discontent’ have been slowly germinating over some years among professionals and amateurs alike. It is inevitable the “governing bodies” will, in time, extinguish themselves. Ineptitude and irrelevance will not save tradition.

Reply Report comment
- Regis
  
  Feb 4, 2019 at 8:50 pm
  
  The PGA tour does have its own rules.(like the one ball rule) They supplement the USGA/R&A rules. If they chose to the PGA tour could always adapt a separate set of rules governing play in their tournaments
  
  Reply Report comment
Phil

Feb 2, 2019 at 2:10 pm

It would probably be easier, and fair, if the “reset rule” applied to the entire golf course or, did not exist at all. It does not make sense that this rule’s application depends on where the player is on the course.

Reply Report comment
Lovejoy

Feb 2, 2019 at 1:31 pm

Thomas,Pepperell and gang need to grow up and shut up.
The rule change has been made and as ‘professionals’ you would assume that all caddies have also been informed and told that under no circumstances should they encroach on the stipulated area.
The situation was highlighted in Dubai but Mr McCarthy has either not taken it on board or believes it doesn’t apply to him.
The player and caddie were stupid not the penalty.

Reply Report comment
- 9Lb. Hammer
  
  Feb 4, 2019 at 1:21 pm
  
  The player and caddie failing to observe the rule are stupid. Contrary to what you seem to thing that has less than nothing to do with the fact THE RULE IS STUPID. STUPID, STUPID, STUPID.
  
  Defend the rule leaving this particular violation out of it.
  
  Reply Report comment
15th Club

Feb 2, 2019 at 1:27 pm

Oh bring it on! Nice that Eddie Pepperell when ageist and complained about “cantankerous old men.” No sure what a millennial douchebag like Eddie Pepperell knows about administering the Rules of Golf.

Reply Report comment
- Shallowface
  
  Feb 2, 2019 at 5:45 pm
  
  The perpetrators of ageism will have to get old themselves before ageism is treated with the same much deserved disdain as racism is treated today.
  
  Reply Report comment
Dan

Feb 2, 2019 at 12:21 pm

How about the premadona pros just play the game with the rules . Rules are rules. Sick of all kinds of so call pros dictating what a what should not be. You make ridiculous amounts of money don’t like it find another sport. Plenty of new young pros behind you that don’t need to listen to the big boys wine.

Reply Report comment
- 9Lb. Hammer
  
  Feb 4, 2019 at 1:26 pm
  
  “premadona”, “so call pros”, “dictating what a what should not be”, “big boys wine”
  
  I bet those “so cal pros” can wrote and speak English a lot more proficiently than it seems you can from behind the anonymity of your keyboard and an internet connection.
  
  Reply Report comment
- OnInTwo
  
  Feb 8, 2019 at 5:09 pm
  
  Totally agree with you Dan. It’s incredible, but typically millennial. Whiners. Play like we play (don’t want to hear, but they play better, you know what I mean- pre troll comment), that’s why the rules aren’t bifurcated. So we can see how well experts do it.
  
  Reply Report comment
dat

Feb 2, 2019 at 11:59 am

No one outside the pro level on TV enforce this crap. And you wonder why people view golf as a masochist game.

Reply Report comment
- antonio
  
  Feb 3, 2019 at 1:53 pm
  
  Are you serious? Most of the people I know (low, mid and high cappers) play by the rules. That’s golf
  
  Reply Report comment
Mike

Feb 2, 2019 at 11:41 am

If it was Phil Michelson they wouldn’t have assed a penalty. Total bs!!!

Reply Report comment
- Eddie
  
  Feb 2, 2019 at 7:02 pm
  
  Yeah….that’s not true, but your hyperbole surely hides a point in there somewhere.
  
  Reply Report comment
Travis

Feb 2, 2019 at 8:33 am

Seems like the caddie was just talking to the player about the shot. If the player backs himself out and realigns himself then there shouldn’t be a penalty. The caddie wasn’t there telling him his aim was perfect and he’s good to go. The game of golf can be so dang simple it is unbelievable, yet somehow the morons at the USGA find a way to screw it all up. They should give the rule book to a committee of 20 or so professional golfers across all Tours and I guarantee those guys could come up with a simple and universal rule system that would benefit all golfers Pros and Ams.

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News

Morning 9: Rory: I’m not joining LIV | Masters ratings | Nelly: We just need a stage

Published

24 hours ago

Apr 17, 2024

Ben Alberstadt

By Ben Alberstadt with Gianni Magliocco.

For comments: [email protected]

Good Wednesday morning, golf fans, as we gear up to this week’s RBC Heritage.

1. Rory: I’m not going to LIV

ESPN’s Mark Schlabach…McIlroy said neither he nor his agents have ever discussed a potential deal to lure him to the LIV Golf League, which is being financed by Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund (PIF).

“I honestly don’t know how these things get started,” McIlroy told Golf Channel while on the practice range at Harbour Town Golf Links in Hilton Head, South Carolina, the site of this week’s RBC Heritage. “I’ve never been offered a number from LIV, and I’ve never contemplated going to LIV. Again, I think I’ve made it clear over the past two years that I don’t think it’s something for me.

“It doesn’t mean that I judge people who have went and played over there. I think one of the things that I have realized over the past two years is that people can make their own decisions for whatever they think is best for themselves, and who are we to judge them for that? But personally, for me, my future is here on the PGA Tour, and it’s never been any different.”

Full piece.

2. Masters ratings down

Yahoo’s Jay Busbee…”Ratings for the full Masters week are now out, and 2024’s version ranks as the lowest since the COVID-impacted years of 2020 and 2021. There was a brief moment when four players shared the lead at the 2024 Masters, but Scottie Scheffler took care of business quickly enough and strolled to what qualifies as an “easy” Masters victory — a four-stroke triumph that wasn’t in doubt for most of the second nine.”

“Perhaps as a result, Sunday’s final round averaged 9.59 million viewers on CBS, according to Sports Media Watch, a 22.8% decline from last year’s 12.06 million. Scheffler’s win two years ago averaged 10.17 million viewers. Worth noting: Sunday’s final round was down 20 percent against last year’s victory by Jon Rahm, but last year’s final round fell on Easter Sunday, which created a significantly higher out-of-home percentage of viewers — 21 percent in 2023, as opposed to 9 percent this year.”

Full piece.

3. Chevron gets purse boost

Golfweek’s Beth Ann Nichols…“Chevron’s commitment to the LPGA went a step higher on Tuesday with the announcement of a purse increase to $7.9 million in 2024. The move brings the tour’s first major in line with the purses of other championships. The U.S. Women’s Open purse of $12 million paces the tour, with the KPMG Women’s PGA second at $10 million. The AIG Women’s British Open purse checks in at $9 million while Amundi Evian is $6.5 million.”

“Chevron, which moved the event away from Mission Hills Country Club in Rancho Mirage, California, to Texas, last year, has increased the purse by $4.8 million since assuming title sponsorship in 2022. The company has committed to title sponsor the event through 2029.”

Full piece.

4. Shipley on “notegate”

Alex Myers for Golf Digest…”So what was up with “notegate”? During his hilarious spot with McAfee, Shipley reiterated there was no note from Woods, and that he was only looking at the moderator because he was so confused where the question was coming from:

“I looked over at the moderator like ‘Who the hell is this guy?'” Shipley says in the clip. “Because it just didn’t happen. I was so confused and so shocked in the moment.”

Full piece.

5. Nelly: We just need a stage

Iain Carter for the BBC…”Korda is the first American to win four consecutive tournaments on the LPGA since Lopez won five straight 46 years ago. This astonishing streak made the then rookie front page material for Sports Illustrated.

“Korda’s feats have yet to transcend the golfing village, and perhaps that suits her as she “tries to stay in my bubble”. But the American Solheim Cup player does recognise that more could be done to tell the increasingly compelling story of women’s golf.”

“I feel like we just need a stage,” she told reporters here at Carlton Woods just north of Houston. “We need to be put on TV.

“I feel like when it’s tape delay, or anything like that, that hurts our game. Women’s sports just needs a stage. If we have a stage we can show up and perform and show people what we’re all about.”

Full piece.

6. Photos from the 2024 RBC Heritage

Check out all of our galleries from this week’s event!

Full piece.

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Tour Photo Galleries

Photos from the 2024 RBC Heritage

Published

2 days ago

Apr 16, 2024

GolfWRX Staff

GolfWRX is on site this week at Harbour Town Golf Links on Hilton Head Island for the RBC Heritage. Plenty of golfers who competed in the Masters last week will be making the quick turnaround in the Lowcountry of South Carolina as the Heritage is again one of the Tour’s Signature Events.

We have general albums for you to check out, as well as plenty of WITBs — including Justin Thomas and Justin Rose.

We’ll continue to update as more photos flow in from SC.

Check out links to all our photos, below.

General Albums

WITB Albums

Pullout Albums

See what GolfWRXers are saying and join the discussion in the forums.

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News

Morning 9: Aberg: I want to be No. 1 | Rory’s management blasts ‘fake news’ reports

Published

2 days ago

Apr 16, 2024

Ben Alberstadt

By Ben Alberstadt with Gianni Magliocco.

For comments: [email protected]

Good Tuesday morning, golf fans, as we look back at the Masters while looking ahead to this week’s RBC Heritage.

1. Shane Ryan: Appreciate Scottie’s greatness

Golf Digest’s Shane Ryan…”This is what’s called generational talent, and we haven’t seen it in almost 20 years. Steve Stricker read the tea leaves when he picked Scheffler for the 2021 Ryder Cup—a decision that was richly rewarded—and starting in 2022, he was off to the races. The only hiccup was a few putting woes last year, but even that only served to highlight how remarkable his ball-striking had become—instead of winning, he was finishing third. When he fixed the putting, with help from a new coach and a bit of equipment advice from Rory McIlroy, he soared yet again to the top of the game, but this time he seemed more indomitable, more inevitable, more brilliant.”

“The sustained success of the last three years has officially made him the best professional golfer since Tiger Woods, a conclusion supported by analytics, the eye test, and every other metric you could dream up. With fewer majors, he has nevertheless leaped past Spieth, McIlroy, and Koepka in terms of pure ability. He doesn’t have their legacy, yet, but if we’re talking about peak performance, he’s already surpassed them.”

“He’s so much better than everyone else, which is a sentiment that is both commonplace—I saw it on Twitter over and over again—and revelatory. It’s the thing you say because there is nothing else to say. You’re left with the wild truth, which words can describe but never capture.”

Full piece.

2. Aberg: I want to be No. 1

The AFP’s Simon Evans…”The 24-year-old finished second, four strokes behind winner Scottie Scheffler, after carding a final round 69 but he certainly won many admirers among the patrons at Augusta National and beyond.”

“And his performance has filled Aberg with self-belief.”

“Everyone in my position, they are going to want to be major champions. They are going to want to be world number one, and it’s the same for me, that’s nothing different,” he said.

“It has been that way ever since I picked up a golf club, and that hasn’t changed. So I think this week solidifies a lot of those things are there, and we just need to keep doing those things and put ourselves in positions to win tournaments, ” he said.

Full piece.

3. Homa’s honest answer on double bogey

Golf Channel staff report…”But Homa’s tee shot at No. 12 bounded off the putting surface and into a bush. After a healthy search, Homa found his ball and had to take an unplayable lie. He made double bogey, effectively ending his bid at a maiden major title.”

“Homa tied for third, seven shots back of Scheffler. Asked about what happened on the fateful 9-iron, Homa offered two replies.”

“The honest answer is, it didn’t feel fair. I hit a really good golf shot, and it didn’t feel fair. I’ve seen far worse just roll back down the hill,” he said.

“The professional answer is, these things happen.”

Full piece.

4. Harbour Town ahead

RBC Heritage field notes, via Adam Stanley of PGATour.com…”Scottie Scheffler is, for now, set to tee it up at the RBC Heritage. He was clear to say that if his wife, Meredith, would go into labor during the Masters, he would head home to be with her, so it’s safe to assume that same rule will stand at Harbour Town. Scheffler has not shot an over-par round all season and has three victories (and one runner-up). He made his debut at Harbour Town last year and finished T11… Matt Fitzpatrick looks to become the first golfer to go back-to-back at the RBC Heritage since Boo Weekley in 2007-08. Fitzpatrick, a playoff victor last year, has two top-10 finishes this season. He has just one missed cut at Harbour Town over the last six years and he finished fourth in 2021 to go along with two more top-15 results in a three-year span (T14 in 2018 and 2020)…”

“Jordan Spieth is hoping to continue his run of fine play at Harbour Town after a playoff loss last season and a playoff win the season prior. Spieth has five top-25 finishes at the RBC Heritage in seven starts… Justin Thomas earned a spot in the field after remaining in the top 30 (he’s No. 30) in the Official World Golf Ranking despite a missed cut at the Masters. Thomas, who finished T25 last season at Harbour Town, has two top 10s on the season… Ludvig Åberg, who is tops in the Aon Next 10, will head to Hilton Head for the first time. Åberg has had a fabulous 2024 campaign thus far with four top 10s (including two runner-up results) and is knocking on the door for a victory… Hideki Matsuyama was the only eligible player who did not commit to the RBC Heritage, while Viktor Hovland – after a missed cut at the Masters – withdrew from the field on Saturday.”

Full piece.

5. Reed’s caddie’s needle

Our Matt Vincenzi…”After a particularly bad drive during his third round on Saturday, Reed’s caddie, Kessler Karain, also his brother-in-law, made a snide but factual comment to Patrick.”

“Your driving has cost us a lot this week,” Karain remarked.

“Reed didn’t disagree and told reporters after the round that there was nothing good about his round…

“A reporter then asked: “It’s a good thing he’s a family member, right?”

“Yeah, exactly. I’d probably be dragging him up that last hole,” Reed said. “I swear.Just what you want to hear as you’re looking at the ball in the tree, and he goes, ‘You need to drive it better.’ Thanks, Kessler. I appreciate it. Great words of wisdom. Drive it better.”

“This may be the last major for Reed for a while, as the 33-year-old has not been invited nor qualified for next month’s PGA Championship.”

Full piece.

6. LIV wants Hovland next?

Ewan Murray for the Guardian…”Rising speculation that Viktor Hovland will be the next high-profile golfer to be coaxed to the LIV tour will increase the need for Ryder Cup Europe to apply a simple qualification process for golfers on the Saudi Arabian-backed circuit.”

“LIV is forging ahead with plans for 2025, which include new events and the recruitment of more players from the PGA and DP World Tours. The rate of turnover is likely to be increased by the number of golfers who had three-year contracts when joining LIV, which will expire at the end of 2024.”

“Chatter on the range at the LIV event in Miami this month and again at the Masters largely surrounded Hovland, the world No 6 who starred for Europe in the defeat of the United States in Rome last year. Jon Rahm and Tyrrell Hatton, who also played in that team, have subsequently joined LIV. Hovland missed the cut at the Masters and promptly withdrew from the PGA Tour’s $20m stop in Hilton Head this week.”

Full piece.

7. Rory’s management: LIV reports are ‘fake news’

Brian Keogh for the Irish Independent…”A report that Rory McIlroy was on the verge of an $850million move to LIV Golf has been slammed as “fake news” by his management.

“Fake news. Zero truth,” McIlroy’s manager Sean O’Flaherty said in an email.

London financial paper “City AM” reported today that sources have told them that McIlroy “could” join LIV Golf

The paper reported that “two separate sources have told City AM that they believe a deal is close. It is claimed that LIV Golf chiefs have offered world No2 McIlroy an eye-watering $850m to join, plus around two per cent equity in the competition.”

Full piece.