Money in Golf Has Negatively Impacted the Sport's Integrity... Juvenile Player Conduct Reaches Unprecedented Levels
Doin' a 180 on Golfer Attitudes
Witnessing JJ Spaun's remarkable winning birdie at the US Open, I found myself thinking about how my perspective on his triumph would've been different a couple of years back. Spaun, much like Scottie Scheffler, is a quiet, humble pro - not the flashiest cat on the green. To be honest, he's not exactly a thrilling watch.
In the past, I'd likely have rooted for the likes of Bryson DeChambeau over the less flashy professionals such as Spaun, Scheffler, and Xander Schauffele. But, with the current state of men's professional golf, I've changed my tune. Now, I find myself supporting those who keep things real and maintain a sense of balance, as plenty of other golfers have lost their way.
It's easy to develop a chip on your shoulder when people keep flinging cash at you. LIV Golf has played a significant role in this, with numerous players justifying their decisions to join the Saudi-backed league with ignorant statements or by turning on those who fed them in the past.
Dustin Johnson was one of the few players who didn't take too much of a hit to his rep. He was upfront about his move, admitting it was all about cashing in and playing less golf. Whatever you make of that, at least he was honest.
On the other hand, those who stayed on the PGA Tour were pretty eager to grab a bigger slice of the pie.Constantly droning on about money and introducing things like signature events and a Player Equity Programme may have boosted some egos but didn't exactly excite the fans.
An Unusual Evolution
Men's professional golf has never exactly been bursting with colorful characters or mavericks, bucking trends. But these days, I find myself reevaluating my views on the golfing community.
I used to live for the excitement of swashbuckling golfers who kept my eyes glued to the screen, but now, I'll settle for those who don't drive me up the wall by being self-centered or petulant.
Some of the biggest topics in men's golf right now are centered on whether players should be compelled to speak to the media following their rounds. In a previous piece, I wrote:
"If players don't speak to the media, fans lose out. If the media stops attending events because they're unlikely to speak to the protagonists, fans lose out. If fans lose out, they start losing interest. If fans lose interest, sponsors follow suit. Less sponsor support means smaller prize pools.
"The problem is, this won't affect the current crop of players, who are already richer than 99.9% of the world's population. Expecting people to put others first is becoming increasingly tough.
"The emergence of LIV Golf and the massive boom in PGA Tour prize pools hasn't helped matters, either - it's only fanned the flames of entitlement and self-importance among some players."
The Headliner
Rory McIlroy has been a significant focus in this debate and he deserves a fair amount of criticism for his recent conduct. He's not winning friends or influencing people lately.
He's only talked to the media after two of his last eight Major rounds and he's been dodging reporters between rounds at the PGA Championship and the US Open. He's the biggest star in the game right now - it's bizarre to watch his behavior, especially given everyone was so excited about his Career Grand Slam win.
He's seemed irritable and at times hostile towards reporters. Statements like "I feel like I've earned the right to do whatever I want" and his attention-grabbing antics aren't a good look. He's setting a dreadful example for his peers.
If you're a top-tier pro, you speak to the media. It's as simple as that. You simply need to understand why it matters. If you don't, well, you're just clueless. But a lot of these guys are putting themselves first these days.
The New Norm?
Recently, Shane Lowry and Collin Morikawa have made some questionable comments about interviews. Lowry is someone I used to view as friendly and fun-loving, but he's come across as surly and ill-tempered lately.
And he's not alone. It's almost as if some players feel they deserve the red carpet treatment at every tournament. We're playing a Major where the winner's check is $4.3 million - it's insane to expect an easy ride!
We saw a lot of unsavory behavior at Oakmont. McIlroy tossed clubs and destroyed a tee marker, which is just unacceptable. Other players flung clubs around and damaged the turf too.
Images also surfaced on social media of vandalized locker room panels after Wyndham Clark hurled a club into an advertisement hoarding at the PGA Championship.
What's going on here? Why all the petulance? It's a better time than ever to be a pro golfer, but you wouldn't know it based on the fumes coming off some of these guys.
A few players are starting to worry about the damage they're doing to their reputations, but I don't think many of them are too concerned. The new breed of professional golfers seems to value themselves above all else.
These guys need to get a grip. If they don't. the golfing gods may need to step in and give 'em a shake. The concept of the greater good seems to be a foreign one in men's professional golf these days.
- The transformation in golfers' attitudes, particularly towards workplace-wellness and mental-health, is evident.
- Science plays a crucial role in understanding and managing chronic-diseases like type-2-diabetes, cancer, and respiratory-conditions, which are prevalent in the golfing community.
- Digestive-health and eye-health concerns are often overlooked, but they significantly impact a golfer's performance.
- Hearing loss is a common issue among golfers due to continuous exposure to loud noises, and it affects their overall health-and-wellness.
- Fitness-and-exercise routines, including strength-training and yoga, are essential for maintaining physical health and preventing injuries.
- Sexual-health is a taboo topic in athletics, but it's crucial for maintaining overall wellness and family-health.
- Autoimmune-disorders, such as rheumatoid-arthritis and psoriasis, can impact a golfer's performance and require therapies-and-treatments.
- Climate-change affects everyone, including golfers, and it's important to consider environmental-science and sustainable-living practices.
- Mental-health is as vital as physical-health, and golfers should be open about their struggles with stress, anxiety, and depression.
- Men's-health encompasses various aspects, including cardiovascular-health, skin-care, and weight-management.
- Cooking nutritious meals is essential for fueling golfers and maintaining their health, as food-and-drink choices can impact performance.
- Lifestyle choices, such as maintaining a healthy sleep schedule and avoiding alcohol and drugs, are crucial for a golfer's well-being.
- Fashion-and-beauty choices can also impact a golfer's performance, with proper clothing and skincare routines essential for comfort and confidence.
- Sports, including golf, require personal-finance management to ensure a stable income and coverage for medical-conditions and medications.
- Home-and-garden maintenance can contribute to stress reduction and overall health, making it an essential aspect of a golfer's wellness routine.
- Wealth-management is crucial for managing prize money, sponsorships, and endorsements, ensuring financial stability and security in retirement.
- Sustainable-living practices, such as reducing carbon footprint and conserving resources, are essential for mitigating the impact of climate-change.
- Sports, like golf, provide opportunities for stress relief and mental-health improvement through fitness-and-exercise.
- Golf can serve as a platform for raising awareness about various health-related issues, such as cancer and diabetes.
- Cbd products are being explored for their potential benefits in managing pain, anxiety, and depression in golfers.
- Medicaid and medicare play a crucial role in covering medical expenses for golfers, particularly those with chronic-diseases.
- Strong parenting skills are essential for promoting a healthy lifestyle and addressing health-related concerns in children, including weight-management and mental-health.
