19th Hole
Text message EXPOSES Greg Norman as Mickelson biographer is ‘physically removed’ from LIV presser
Alan Shipnuck shared via his Twitter account that he was physically removed from the first round of LIV Golf Series’ inaugural event outside of London on Thursday.
Well, a couple of neckless security dudes just physically removed me from Phil Mickelson's press conference, saying they were acting on orders from their boss, whom they refused to name. (Greg Norman? MBS? Al Capone?) Never a dull moment up in here.
— Alan Shipnuck (@AlanShipnuck) June 9, 2022
There has been plenty of controversy surrounding Shipnuck, who spoke with Phil Mickelson back in November 2021 ahead of writing his book titled “Phil: The Rip-Roaring (and Unauthorized!) Biography of Golf’s Most Colorful Superstar”.
During their conversation, Mickelson told Shipnuck that he wanted to take part in the new LIV Golf Invitational Series because he wanted to use Saudi Arabia’s interest in forming the league to leverage the PGA Tour into giving the players what he believes they are worth.
Mickelson claims that the comments were given to Shipnuck “off the record”, but Shipnuck has disputed that claim.
Shipnuck arrived to St. Albans with hopes of speaking to Mickelson prior to his round, but reported that Mickelson was unsurprisingly not interested in doing so.
I’m gonna live-tweet Phil’s round on the @firepitstories handle, starting in 20 minutes. Haven’t laid eyes on him since last year. (I just landed in London this morning.) I’ve been informed by tournament officials he doesn’t wish to speak to me; we’ll see how it goes post-round. https://t.co/Xcnx3xbxe5
— Alan Shipnuck (@AlanShipnuck) June 9, 2022
Despite being told Mickelson did not want him there, Shipnuck went to his press conference anyway before he was forcibly removed.
Later on Thursday, Shipnuck then revealed on Twitter how he sent a text message to LIV Golf CEO Greg Norman to let him know that he was removed by security.
Shipnuck texted: “Are you aware that I just got muscled out out of Phil’s press conference by a couple of your goons? Luckily for you guys I kept my cool and deescalated the situation. Please call me to discuss.”
Norman replied: “Did not hear. Thanks for letting me know.”
Shipnuck then sent Norman a photo that he had been sent of Norman standing behind him outside the media centre, revealing that Norman was likely very well aware of what was going on.
You cannot make this shit up! I texted Greg Norman before someone sent me this video – I had no idea he was lurking behind me. pic.twitter.com/thgdMlfTAR
— Alan Shipnuck (@AlanShipnuck) June 9, 2022
This is unbelievable https://t.co/YxJQgK64wE
— Matthew Chivers (@mgchivers) June 9, 2022
The drama and controversy surround everything LIV Golf continues to dominate headlines. Round two of the 54 hole event is set to take place at 2:15 local time for a shotgun start.
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Cameron Smith is the gift that keeps giving.
Outstanding winner of The Open Championship, the world number two has been catching the headlines not only with his golf, but talk of him having signed for LIV and the subsequent reaction from the crowd at the FedEx St.Jude Championship, the first of three events to find the FedEx Cup champ.
In between that, the Australian star has found himself the subject of a two-shot penalty, notified just hours before his final round yesterday, and on Monday he had to withdraw from this week’s BMW Championship with what his agent calls a “hip discomfort, ” something he has suffered with for “several months.”
- Related: Justin Thomas slams Will Zalatoris’ mentor for ‘egregious and aggressive’ tweets attacking NBC duo
Apart from winning the fourth and oldest major, the 28-year-old, also the winner of the Tournament of Champions and The Players Championship in this stellar year, has continued to face a barrage of questions from reporters keen to establish just where we are with all the news on his impending move.
Almost as if to deflect that story, Smith caught the headlines again when, after striking a Southwind patron during last night’s final round, he offered a most generous apology.
Present at the event, tweeter Tanner Dillard posted a photo of Smith chatting to the unharmed fan after he had unwittingly knocked his phone out of his hand.
Cameron Smith hit a patron @FedExChamp and knocked his phone out of his hand. He proceeded to write his number down and offered to buy him a new phone. Class act by a great player @leggodawgs @brut334 pic.twitter.com/vwh2jPioy7
— Tanner Dillard (@tanner_dillard5) August 13, 2022
As can be seen, Smith felt the need to go above and beyond the usual signed glove or golf ball, take the ‘victim’s’ number and offer to buy him a new phone.
Classy move.
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Last week, a report from The Telegraph that claimed Cameron Smith was joining LIV Golf for a contract north of $100 million took the golf world by storm.
- Related: Justin Thomas slams Will Zalatoris’ mentor for ‘egregious and aggressive’ tweets attacking NBC duo
And at the FedEx St. Jude Championship, the world No. 2 didn’t deny the reports.
“I’m ready to cop some heat. I understand that’s what I said, but like I said I’m here to win the FedEx Cup playoffs that’s my No. 1 goal and whatever happens after that will come from me.”
Smith also said, “I have no comment to that,” he said. “I’m here to play the FedExCup Playoffs. That’s been my focus the last week and a half, that’s what I’m here to do – I’m here to win the FedExCup Playoffs.”
Many of the rumors regarding Smith began with an interview that fellow Australian Cameron Percy did with the radio station RSN where he said “Unfortunately, yeah, they’re gone,” speaking about both Smith and Marc Leishman.
After a week of constant rumors and reports, Percy stood behind his comments in an interview with Australian Golf Digest.
“Look, I was just conveying what was said in the locker room during the many rain delays we’ve had on tour the past few weeks,” Percy said.
With both the reports of Smith’s joining LIV, Percy’s comments, and Smith’s lack of denial, it seems quite probable the Champion Golfer of the Year will be taking his talents to LIV Golf when the PGA Tour season concludes. That said, only time will tell.
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19th Hole
Justin Thomas slams Will Zalatoris’ mentor for ‘egregious and aggressive’ tweets attacking NBC duo
On Sunday, Will Zalatoris was able to outlast Sepp Straka in a three-hole playoff to earn his first PGA TOUR victory at the FedEx St. Jude Championship.
During the tournament, Zalatoris’ mentor and creator of DECADE Golf, Scott Fawcett went off on Twitter in regard to some comments made about Zalatoris by Dan Hicks and Brad Faxon on the broadcast.
Fawcett went on to delete the tweets, but Justin Thomas saved them and later called Fawcett out on his harsh words.
Hey Scott. Twitter saw your incredibly egregious and aggressive tweets. Congrats on your “win” but show some class and respect if you are as professional as you claim to be. Giving other coaches and those involved in golf a really bad look. Nobody likes a sore winner pic.twitter.com/AHeb0eldds
— Justin Thomas (@JustinThomas34) August 14, 2022
Fawcett has been working with Zalatoris for years and even caddied for him while he was an amateur.
Back in 2015, Zalatoris spoke about how influential Fawcett was on his golf game and at the time said he “has changed the way I play golf.”
“The first time he caddied for me, I told him I picked up 25 years of experience in four rounds. it’s kind of a new way of looking at things, and it’s really helped me.”
Zalatoris also raved about Fawcett back in 2020 saying, “He practically has been an older brother to me. I know a lot of other players have the same feeling about him considering the amount of time he invests in each player.”
Fawcett seemed to take issue with a few of the broadcast’s comments about the 25-year-old. Among them was one comment saying that Zalatoris was being “gifted the win” and another that said he had a “wobbly putter” due to the pressure-packed situation.
Fawcett replied to Thomas’ tweet shortly after.
Nice to hop on the bully train without the entire background…love it! I can assure you Brad has his hand in this…have a day, JT.
— Scott Fawcett (@scottfawcett) August 14, 2022
JT responded again, claiming Faxon wasn’t involved in Thomas’ decision to call Fawcett out.
Haha Scott I had another player on Tour send me it. Fax and I do not text. Had nothing to do with it. Enjoy your victory
— Justin Thomas (@JustinThomas34) August 14, 2022
Fair enough…I can't get out of my echo chamber to realize they were all mad I said what I said…and, as you know, I didn't win anything. I'm just here doing what I do. 😉
— Scott Fawcett (@scottfawcett) August 14, 2022
Amongst the chaos, Brad Faxon took to Twitter to denounce Fawcett’s comments saying: “So all you college coaches, and high school coaches this is the guy you want to hire to teach your players? Nice. Scott Fawcett credit to the game” before thanking JT for getting involved: “Thanks Justin Thomas, not sure how this is good for anybody. If Scott has helped Will Zalatoris, he will let everyone know.”
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Chuck
Jun 15, 2022 at 1:47 pm
After Shipnuck’s accurate, uncontested reporting…
After Mickelson’s admission/confession to having said a lot of things he regrets…
After Norman’s weird, impolitic and inexplicable management of LIV…
And now after Norman’s fundamentally duplicitous treatment of Shipnuck after Shipnuck was wrongfully removed from the LIV event…
The GolfWRX readers heap their scorn on… Shipnuck and the media??!!??
Shipnuck, just doing the job of a very senior golf writer and doing it very well.
I have to say; I really think this goes way beyond golf.
Gene Stevens
Jun 15, 2022 at 5:20 am
Hahaha!Good for the little trouble making queer..
Throat Puncher
Jun 12, 2022 at 5:13 pm
Shipnuck needs a good Throat Punch!
Laura
Jun 12, 2022 at 8:36 am
Is Greg holding a bonesaw?
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Kurtis
Jun 11, 2022 at 6:29 pm
Hes lucky Norman didnt beat his azz himself. F Shipnutts its his tournament he can kick you out if he wants to.
Jerry
Jun 12, 2022 at 10:46 am
Sleazy sports journalist and I do not like Greg Norman. Who even watches ESPN clowns and reads anything sports writers write anymore? The scummy Boston sportswriters for decades made Ted Williams life miserable. Shippy is a POS.
Rich
Jun 12, 2022 at 4:03 pm
If Greg was a man, he would have. He’s obviously not a man and hides behind hired meathead.
Golfwrx=Discovery=PGA=$2BB
Jun 12, 2022 at 7:42 pm
Greg would literally break shipnuts
Karma
Jun 11, 2022 at 10:40 am
This shipturd guy will get his.
Michael Constantine
Jun 11, 2022 at 9:12 am
So he can call the security names such as goons and neck less whatever? Those dudes are just doing their jobs. He’s a POS.
Mike
Jun 11, 2022 at 3:13 pm
What’s wrong with calling a spade a spade? Neckless goons who produce nothing need to eat too.
Jbone
Jun 10, 2022 at 11:17 pm
Just trying to be the story. Journalists don’t exist
Brian
Jun 10, 2022 at 7:53 pm
Shippy looking for any excuse to keep himself relevant in any golf conversation. If it’s “off the record”, it’s off the record. Nitwit
geohogan
Jun 10, 2022 at 5:39 pm
Shipnuts is lucky he was only kicked out.
“physically removed” had a different meaning to MBS.
Bob
Jun 10, 2022 at 3:22 pm
Watch for me at the US Open next week.
I’ll be the one saying BONESAW TOUR on Phil’s good shots!
Brian
Jun 10, 2022 at 7:55 pm
?
Tom Kay
Jun 10, 2022 at 3:10 pm
Soyboy got his feelings hurt by the mean man.
Brian
Jun 10, 2022 at 7:56 pm
Soyboy…… lol ?
Rich
Jun 10, 2022 at 11:46 am
Bonesaw Tour won’t be bonesawing Shipnuck. I’m donating an AR-15 to him if he’s interested. Has been proven in self-defense.
UvaldeKid
Jun 10, 2022 at 2:40 pm
Cute
Big Guy
Jun 11, 2022 at 7:46 pm
Stupid comment. Rest of the world will never understand the US’s insistence on those weapons being available to common (and, in your case unintelligent!) folk.
Shipnuck pushed his luck to be the story and got most of what he wanted. The dude is a POS
Rich
Jun 12, 2022 at 12:26 am
Spoken like a historically illiterate tard. Most of the rest of the world understands genocide under communists and tyrants and regrets ceding their right to self-defense.
Big Guy
Jun 12, 2022 at 3:53 am
Yeah, ok redneck. You win. My part of world has matured beyond that ‘need’
Let’s just stay golf related.
Brian
Jun 12, 2022 at 9:11 am
That didn’t work out so well for Ukraine, has it?
Chesty Puller
Jun 10, 2022 at 10:58 am
Typical media asshat trying to sell a book at someone else’s expense.
Gregg Matthews
Jun 10, 2022 at 10:33 am
Nothing to see here, Shipnuck is a troll
Brandel
Jun 10, 2022 at 8:33 am
Shipnuck is a tool and looking for any controversy.
Really you texted Greg instead of just turning around. How did you not notice someone standing 5 feet from you.
If he really has a problem with the ethics of LIV golf, why is he there covering it? Why give it any media attention at all?
Jon
Jun 10, 2022 at 9:03 am
Just another idiot trying to claim to be the victim of the chaos he created.
Joey5Picks
Jun 10, 2022 at 1:32 pm
Uh, FIGJAM created the chaos by calling Shipnuck (after repeatedly denying Shipnuck’s invitations to contribute to the book) and going scorched-earth on the PGA Tour and the Saudi Golf League. In typical right-wing fashion, Phil then claims to the be the victim and being “cancelled” (the new term for consequences for our actions).
It’s a golf reporter’s job to report on golf. That’s what Shipnuck was there to do. Does the Saudi Golf League NOT want reporters covering it? What are they trying to hide?
geohogan
Jun 10, 2022 at 9:47 pm
@joey5picks, LiV is trying to Make Golf Great Again.
Chuck
Jun 15, 2022 at 6:51 pm
He didn’t notice Norman because Norman was lurking 20 feet behind him, while bruiser security guards confronted Shipnuck face-to-face.
Now tell me why, when Shipmuck essentially confronted Norman in a text message, Norman didn’t own the whole thing like a man and either apologize (as he should have, on reflection) or told Shipnuck straight up, “ I was there. Security was acting on my orders and I will never again credential you for another LIV event. Don’t even ask. Because I am the boss here…”