Why are people so mad at Jake Owen, and should they be?
Country music star Jake Owen played the Web.com Tour event this week, and some people are not happy about it.
Jake Owen is one of the top country music performers, but this week he tried his hand at another endeavor.
Owen was given a sponsor’s exemption into the Nashville Golf Open Benefitting the Snedeker Foundation, a Web.com Tour event. His participation in the tournament, however, was not supported by everyone.
Critics called out Owen for being undeserving of his entry into the tournament. They allege he was taking the spot of another, more worthy, player.
Don't stop reporting now. He's now +10 through 9. Good use of a sponsor exemption instead of someone trying to make a career for themselves
— Doug Walker (@DougWalker21) May 24, 2018
Owen responded to his critics during his first round.
No prob Doug. I’m +11 now and tweeting during my round. I’m playing as hard as I can. I have 8 holes left if you want to come out and kiss my ass. https://t.co/UMeFWFKLVP
— Jake Owen (@jakeowen) May 24, 2018
His playing partners were quick to support Owen. Steve Wheatcroft, a veteran with two Web.com wins, defended Owen after the first round.
For anyone throwing hate at @jakeowen for playing this week, just stop. I watched all 18 holes today, and dude has game. It didn’t take a spot away from anyone, and brought tons of fans out. And on a side note, loved his mid round tweet. Ha!
— Steve Wheatcroft (@wheatiePGA) May 25, 2018
The target of Owen’s Twitter rage offered to donate $50 to Owen’s charity for every birdie he made. Owen, however, failed to make one in either round. He shot 86 in both and finished in last place, 16 shots behind the next closest player.
Owen is no stranger to golf. He grew up playing the game in Vero Beach, Florida. He even planned on going to Florida State to play and turning pro. A wakeboarding accident ended his golfing dreams.
“I probably would have just continued to golf, that’s why I’m still playing it,” he told Golf.com in 2016. “I love it so much. It’s something that I really enjoy, but I’m happy the way life worked out.”
Owen still maintains a three-handicap and is active in PGA Tour pro-ams, including partnering with Jordan Spieth at the AT&T Pebble Beach National Pro-Am the last four years.
“As a kid I played to scratch or below. But when you don’t play and you spend a lot of time on the road, I can still get a round in and play ok. I can shoot 68 or I could shoot 88, it’s one of those things.”
A celebrity participating in a professional golf event is not new. NBA All-Star Stephen Curry played a Web.com Tour event last season, while MLB Hall of Fame pitcher John Smoltz played in 2011. Former Dallas Cowboys quarterback Tony Romo took part in a PGA Tour event in Puerto Rico in March. Each of these players received an unrestricted sponsor exemption, meaning they didn’t take a spot from another player.
Owen’s latest album, American Love, reached #1 on the US Country chart and #4 on the Billboard 200 in 2016.