News

Bryson DeChambeau apologizes after footage of him damaging the practice green at WGC-Mexico surfaces

Published

5 years ago

Feb 22, 2019

Bryson DeChambeau has issued an apology after damaging the practice green following the opening day’s play at the WGC-Mexico. DeChambeau failed to record a single birdie on day one of the tournament, and eagle-eyed viewers spotted his most recent meltdown during Sky Sports UK’s broadcast.

Bryson DeChambeau damaging a green in anger, yesterday in Mexico. ????????pic.twitter.com/HyT6PCC4tL

— National Club Golfer (@NCGMagazine) February 22, 2019

In a statement prior to today’s second round in Mexico, DeChambeau stated

“I want to apologize to my fans, fellow players and the staff at Chapultepec for my actions following the round yesterday. I am an extremely passionate player and I am always working on ways to be better. I am certainly not perfect but I respect the grounds staff and the game of golf and am focused on working harder on this just like I do on my golf game.”

The source of irritation for the five-time winner on the PGA Tour looks to have been from his performance on the greens themselves. DeChambeau finished 71st in the 72 man event for strokes gained-putting for Thursday’s round, losing 3.6 strokes to the field with the flat-stick.

The incident follows DeChambeau’s outburst last week at the Genesis Open where he slammed his wedge into a bunker.

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LPGA Tour pros embroiled in backstopping controversy

Gianni Magliocco

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

30 Comments

john

Mar 1, 2019 at 1:28 pm

Everything I see and read about this guy tells me he’s a dick. The game seems to be full of them right now.

Reply Report comment
Tom

Feb 25, 2019 at 5:41 pm

DeShamebozo like, “its just Mexico, who cares?”

Reply Report comment
Just_said_it

Feb 25, 2019 at 2:56 pm

For all you pencil pro’s out there. These guys are in the spotlight 24/7, who cares if they show a little emotion on the course. He is not spoiled, he is not a brat, he is human and he cares about being successful, and he immediately fixed the damage. This is no different than a baseball player that smacks his bat into the turf after striking out, stop criticizing people because some joke of a magazine, no one outside of the UK has heard off, tried to be relevant for 30 seconds by posting this on social media. 99% of the jokers on here have never experienced pressure or pukes all over themselves when they are faced with a 2 footer to clinch a $5 nasa.

@Josh smalls, thank you bringing some prospective
@Geoff, @Rory O Donnell @youraway and @Rich, go get your participation trophies, because you don’t care about passion for success!

My 2 cents!

Reply Report comment
Jamie

Feb 24, 2019 at 2:01 pm

Self-centered knowitall only sorry that he got caught.

Reply Report comment
JP

Feb 24, 2019 at 1:56 pm

Where are the people crying that Bryson “owes” the underprivileged Mexican grounds staff 10% of his earnings?!?

Reply Report comment
Dave

Feb 24, 2019 at 8:48 am

as a former professional (in another sport) I get the intensity and drive to perfection; to be the best. But with comes a responsibility because as a pro you are in the limelight and under intense scrutinization on a constant basis. Many younger pros, while athletically talented, just aren’t mature enough to realize their actions are under a microscope. Its time Bryson grows up (as well as some other golf pros). When he does and channels his emotions into his game, he will be hard to beat. His talent is there, he just needs to find another way to release his emotions..The greens and bunkers are not the way.

Reply Report comment
- Doug
  
  Feb 24, 2019 at 10:23 am
  
  Prove it!
  
  Reply Report comment
geohogan

Feb 23, 2019 at 11:22 pm

There was the incident in France and now we see his narcissistic behavior is a pattern.

Self centered, self absorbed, may qualify for POTUS but should be suspended from PGA.

Reply Report comment
Josh smalls

Feb 23, 2019 at 10:57 pm

It’s funny watching people get mad. It’s also funny when fans justify bad actions by the amount of money someone has made.

Bryson is a good golfer… but who cares? Its golf lol. Golf… lol.

Oh, and telling people how smart you are shows how dumb you actually are. Somebody has some issues!

Reply Report comment
- Jojo dontknow
  
  Feb 24, 2019 at 3:33 pm
  
  Saying how smart you are or good you are at a thing typically displays a need for approval or insecurity about that thing. Some of the most beautiful people in the world are horribly insecure about their looks. Some of the people who are the absolute best few people in the world at what they do are insecure about their skill level, and that applies to all fields, sports, language, mathematics, etc. There is little to no truth to what you are saying.
  
  Reply Report comment
AAA

Feb 23, 2019 at 8:21 pm

Is that an apology? It reads I, I and I. You just don’t do that, period. I have heard that pga players get fined for saying the f-word. This is a lot worse.

Reply Report comment
Rich Douglas

Feb 23, 2019 at 5:18 pm

There’s a certain amount of built-in animus towards BDC; a lot of people are looking for an excuse not to like him. I’m sure it’s because he’s smart and they’re not. So given that, it’s important for him not to give anyone any excuse. Unfortunately, he seems to have an anger management issue that needs to be addressed. I hope he does because his innovations–and winning–are great for the game. But not when he acts like this.

Reply Report comment
A

Feb 23, 2019 at 9:43 am

Look, I get that he’s a pedantic child, a nerd, a geek, playing golf in a scientific way, but acting out like this isn’t going to endear him to any fans in any way. He must have a really crap team of people around him who have no idea how to help him with his poor behavior, regardless of how good a player he is. He needs to quickly assemble a better team of people around him to help him thru his career on Tour, if he plans on surviving the attack from media and fans everywhere

Reply Report comment
Chris Wirthwein

Feb 23, 2019 at 7:58 am

If you ask me, this all started in the 2nd round of the 2005 U.S. Open at Pinehurst when T. Woods angrily gouged the putting surface after missing a short putt on the 9th green. N.Y. Post reporter Mark Canizarro described it as “a clear gash more than a foot long in the surface.”

I recall watching it live on TV and presumed at the time he would be DQ’d. It was replayed once, then never again. Does anyone know where video footage can be found? My guess is that’s it’s been permanently destroyed. See link for the story in NY Post: https://nypost.com/2005/06/18/tigers-claws-come-out/

It was also reported in the Chicago Tribune, but appears few other “journalists” were willing to cross the unspoken line of non-criticism of Woods.

Hey Gianni, how about tracking down some photo and video evidence? You’d be doing something for the good of the game. What DeChambeau did on a practice green in the blah, blah, blah Open pales in comparison to the behavior of Woods in our national championship.

Reply Report comment
Rich

Feb 23, 2019 at 4:07 am

This guy is a peanut, just like Sergio. One of these days, he’ll wake up and realise there will NEVER be a time that he will be able to work everything out and account for everything that goes wrong on the golf course. You can never beat the game of golf. It will always beat you. Sometimes it let’s you have some good days but in the end, it will always win. The sooner these peanuts learn to accept this, the better.

Reply Report comment
- Johnny Penso
  
  Feb 23, 2019 at 2:43 pm
  
  Several wins on tour and many millions of dollars say he’s on the right track…for him. May not work for you or anyone else.
  
  Reply Report comment
Riiiiite

Feb 23, 2019 at 2:54 am

Oy vey.
Now people are gonna be up his are every time he tees it up, and rightly so.

Reply Report comment
Rory O Donnell

Feb 23, 2019 at 2:54 am

This behaviour should be stamped out immediately, by bans if necessary. My main concern is that we’ll see this replicated at our local course by young brats (who happen to be good players)

Reply Report comment
Richard

Feb 23, 2019 at 1:46 am

Phew, glad it was an American and not a Spaniard doing this. Saved a lot of vitriol.

Reply Report comment
Theo

Feb 22, 2019 at 9:49 pm

I’d like to see how the damage caused by his tantrum compares to the average divot from an approach shot. Definitely not a good move, but it appears that he immediately fixed the green.

I’ve seen videos of grown men jumping golf carts over sand traps and I’ve seen pictures of the president parking a golf cart on a green. Nobody cared. Nobody holds themselves to the same standard that they expect from these professionals. This guy is a 25 year old with a more mature disposition than most of the doctors you’ll meet at Mayo Clinic. Yes he had a fit, but if my kid ends up anything like Bryson I’ll be thrilled.

I don’t know the purpose of this comment. Maybe look at your own behavior before judging someone else.

Reply Report comment
Phil D. Snuts

Feb 22, 2019 at 5:49 pm

This hasn’t affected my life in any way, shape, or form.

…………In other news………….

Reply Report comment
- Fritznw
  
  Feb 24, 2019 at 7:18 pm
  
  It must, you took time to post…something?!
  
  Reply Report comment
youraway

Feb 22, 2019 at 5:40 pm

Last week a bunker and this week a green. Spoiled and no respect for those who labor to make the greens in their best condition. Fight the rain, fight the weather changes, diseases, etc, and now have to contend with golfers who can’t control their emotions and damage the course. Step aside Sergio, you have competition.

Reply Report comment
Geoff

Feb 22, 2019 at 4:46 pm

How on earth does this guy not get any kind of reprimand for his infantile fits that are causing damage to the courses? Beyond me…

Reply Report comment
- Sherwin
  
  Feb 23, 2019 at 12:21 am
  
  It was the practice green not the course. And he fixed the damage right away.
  
  Reply Report comment
  - Geoff
    
    Feb 23, 2019 at 2:09 pm
    
    And the week before? When he takes a chunk out of the side of a bunker? Those are only the last 2 weeks and the only ones caught on camera…my guess is that these are not isolated incidents limited to just these last couple weeks.
    
    Reply Report comment
  - Mums
    
    Feb 24, 2019 at 8:50 pm
    
    +1. It was a butthole move, but he fixed it asap. Let it go.
    
    Reply Report comment
Ray Neese

Feb 22, 2019 at 4:45 pm

Any player damaging the course in fit of anger should face immediate 90 day suspension. I love golf and disappointed in the behavior of guys playing the best courses and getting catered to all the time. New shoes, clubs, clothes, balls, food, vehicles and the list goes on. Not just damaging course but integrity of the game of GOLF. Majority of these guys MILLIONAIRES. Maybe let them work on maintenance crew and perspective would change. Apologies mean nothing other than damage control for their image. PGA Tour is losing control of small amount of rich crybabies.

Reply Report comment
- Simms
  
  Feb 22, 2019 at 5:49 pm
  
  There is a cure for these rich crybabies…force PGA tour to pay every single person working at the tournaments…every marshal, every gate keeper, every parking lot attendant etc. Then you would see players winning MAYBE $200,000 at most and the last place cut maker maybe $3,000…
  
  Reply Report comment
C-murda

Feb 22, 2019 at 4:15 pm

What an ass, this kid needs some golf zen. Your emotions affect your play and being on tour you’d think they should hold a higher standard of etiquette.

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News

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

Published

2 days 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

3 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

3 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.