US Open: Golfer gets upset about being put in ‘heavyweights’ group
The U.S. Openi s going on this week in what is supposed to be celebration of and golf’s history. But there’s a few people who are unhappy with the USGA and it’s rules, particularly because they seem to single out golfers who are on the larger side.
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The USGA has always organized groups with intention. They’ve had a “nice guy” group and three-man band of former Masters winners. The Master group serves nicely for television ratings. But it’s hard to know what incentive a “heavyweights” group provides. Perhaps, just this: A little press on an event that plays second fiddle to the much more exciting World Cup.
The 2014 group in question includes 230-pound Brendon de Jonge, 225-pound Shane Lowry and 250-pound Kevin Stadler. Two of those golfers expressed their dissatisfaction with the USGA.
“I think the USGA is a little mean and insensitive, but that’s just the way it goes,” Stadler told Jason Sobel of the Golf Channel. “They’re invoking their 5-year-old sense of humor.”
The good intentions of the fun pairings brought a little life to what can be a boring part of tournament planning. And it provides buzz when there is nothing to write about. But in this case, the USGA pretty clearly transgressed the line between joking and bullying.
Lowry took to the Irish Times, where he wrote a column, calling the grouping “mockery.”
"“To be honest, I am also annoyed about something. I don’t mind saying it, but I think it is a bit cheeky of the USGA in making the draw the way they did. I’m with Brendon de Jonge and Kevin Stadler for the first two rounds. Someone’s bright idea!! Put the three big guys together!! I think it is unfair on the three of us. It is definitely not drawn out of the hat, that’s for sure. And I just hope we don’t get stick from the galleries. What they did is making a mockery of the three of us. I spoke to Graeme McDowell, and he thinks I should say something to the USGA about it.”"