Why Are Otherwise Nice Pro Golfers So Cranky These Days?
Another week of broken clubs, weird outbursts and media hostility despite more money, amazing agronomy and straight-flying golf balls. That and a weekend wrap with Open repercussions.
The obvious theory for all of the crankiness we’re seeing from well-compensated golfers? Must be heat-related. Stemming from the temperature and pressure-related varietals that don’t usually pop up until late July.
But the PGA Tour’s impending reduction in fully exempt players for the 2026 season seems to have expedited some of this year’s crankiness. (BTW a move prompted by today’s speed-driven athletes taking too long to play full-field events.)
Still, what’s making male pros so miserable when they have it so good?
They’re playing for more money than ever.
They enjoy incredible course conditions pretty much every week.
They play with the most forgiving equipment in the history of the game, with some of it juiced to bend, if not break, the Rules that players once took seriously.
They get to eat wild-caught salmon at Signature events, a vital replacement for the horrors of eating farm-raised salmon.
They have been given the freedom to mash down behind the ball without repercussion. Even in hazards penalty areas.
Every week, it’s all-you-can-tap-spikemarks, manicured bunkers, free drops, backboarding grandstands, course records galore, post-round recovery to their heart's content, and, when the week finishes and they’ve stiffed the locker room attendant?
They’re not hopping into a ‘49 Cadillac and driving two days across a desert to get home while facing oncoming Greyhounds.
Yet it seems like every time I look up during a pro event, some (male) adult is slamming a club, hurling it, cussing, blaming the butterflies, and rushing off after signing for a 68 to avoid kids or answering a few questions from all two writers. And when they do stop for questions? They’re acting as if hanging softballs about tgoals, plans, dreams, nagging injuries, and club selections is libelous slander.
Consider last week:
Collin Morikawa made a non-story into a story after a reporter asked him about his latest caddie switch during—horror alert—a pro-am around. The offending quote ran in Golfweek to the apparent annoyance of Morikawa—“ask me anything you want in my press conference later. I’m with my pro-am partners now”—was included by writer Adam Schupak for this fancy thing called context. Most would say the (since removed) quote reflected well on Morikawa by showing devotion to a dreary pro-am round and saying he’d talk about his on-course luggage handling situation a little later. But instead, he continued his strange trend of prickliness. Morikawa took the contextual reference another way. And after jousting in his Rocket Classic press conference with Schupak when he followed up (as instructed), the two-time major champion doubled down following his opening round the next day. “I have to stand up for myself because I'm not going to let someone throw little jabs at me and just make me into someone I'm not.” Oy. Vey. Get a grip, dude.
Padraig Harrington was upset at NBC on-course reporter Roger Maltbie for apparently not helping with a lost ball search when the Irishman drove into The Broadmoor’s woods. So, for starters,(A) don’t hit it where it might get lost, (B) don’t take the lack of crowds who could have spotted your crappy drive out on the legendary “Rog,” (C) remember that Maltbie’s there to report on live television to viewers, not to work as a forecaddie. That said, most golfers and media help when there is a lost ball unless they have good reason to observe. Turns out, Rog had to stay in an open-air location for his reception to work and tried to explain this to Paddy after the round. Yet the normally well-adjusted three-time major winner would have none of it in an exchange seen on video. Therefore, Maltbie explained what happened to Golf.com, and it all made sense because it’s Rog. He’s a broadcasting legend for a reason. Thankfully, two days later, Harrington came to his senses and apologized before going out and winning the U.S. Senior Open. But not before he acted like a total jackwagon.
Brooks Koepka withdrew after 12 holes at the LIV event in Dallas due to “illness,” but not before recording two triple bogeys and swinging away at a tee marker toward fans. A second angle showed he was lucky not to have seriously injured someone. In many jurisdictions, this behavior would at least warrant a chat with local detectives about intent and the sheer stupidity of endangering people because you’re a total brat.
Stephan Jager decided he’d add some character to the teeing ground at Detroit GC. Playoff-chase pressure! And a really embarrassing tantrum. I mean, one swat? Sure. But the rest just looked like some dimwit with an oversized gavel in hand who’d lost brain and reflex control.
Tyrrell Hatton…well, he played golf this week so excessive, somewhat entertaining whining ensued. And he won’t win a major until he cleans up his act. Such a waste of energy for such a talent.
I know what you’re saying: we saw the ornery stuff at Oakmont. That doesn’t count because the course and U.S. Open setup have always made players behave in strange ways. This does not excuse Wyndham Clark taking his rage out on historic monuments. But at least he apologized so that the club could move on from the damage he created.