Golf isn’t called a gentleman's game for nothing! It’s known for its tradition of respect, quiet competition, and precision. But beneath the calm exterior, the sport has had its fair share of drama!
You might be surprised to learn that the history of the great game is full of moments that almost came to blows, divided fans, and landed themselves in the history books, not always for the right reasons. Let’s check out some of the most memorable and debated controversies in the game.
Historic Rules Controversies
Arnold Palmer’s 1958 Masters Victory
Palmer played a second ball on the 12th hole and made par. He ended up beating Doug Ford and Fred Hawkins by one stroke, which cemented his place in golfing history but also sparked off a big debate about Palmer’s own interpretation of the rules of the game and the fairness of the decision.
Anchored Putter Ban (2013)
A little more than a decade ago, the USGA and the R&A made the decision to ban anchored putting strokes. This decision was received badly by many players, with multiple golfers threatening to bring lawsuits against them as the decision changed their game unfairly so.
This new rule changed the way many players approached putting and even led to some players dropping out of the game. Today, though, the ban isn’t enforced much anymore, with golfers using anchored putting freely with no repercussions.
Rory McIlroy’s Free Drop at the 2023 U.S. Open
In the final round of the game, Rory McIlroy was incorrectly allowed a free drop. However, officials admitted later that he shouldn’t have been allowed the drop, which created debates around the rules. McIlroy was never penalized as it was considered to not have made a difference to his game, and he came in second behind Wyndham Clark.
Feuds and Personal Rivalries
Brooks Koepka vs. Bryson DeChambeau
In modern golf, the feud between these two guys has become high-profile both on the course and on social media. It started with Koepka making comments about DeChambeau’s pace of play and quickly morphed into sillier things like comparing physiques and eye rolls. However, the two have since patched things up and aren’t at each other’s throats anymore.
Fuzzy Zoeller and Tiger Woods (1997)
Fuzzy Zoeller was known for being a joker, but his ‘97 comment about serving Tiger Woods fried chicken or “whatever they serve” was construed as being racially insensitive. While the rest of his comment was complimentary towards Woods, he received plenty of backlash. Zoeller ended up making a public apology, and he and Woods sat down over lunch.
Sergio Garcia’s 2013 Comment about Tiger Woods
In a strange throwback moment, Sergio Garcia repeated a very similar comment to Zoeller about serving Tiger Woods fried chicken. He made a vague apology about his “silly comment”, to which Woods responded by saying it was clearly wrong and inappropriate, but he’s moved past it and was focusing on golf.
Gender and Inclusion Issues
Annika Sorenstam at the 2003 Colonial Tournament
Annika Sorenstam became the first woman in 58 years to compete in a men’s PGA Tour event, but it wasn’t received well. Various male golfers were quite vocal about their disapproval, stating that they didn’t believe women should compete against men. Sorenstam missed the cut, but the incident did spark plenty of controversy about gender equality in golf.
Muirfield Golf Club’s Ban on Female Members
In 2016, Muirfield voted to ban female members. The club, one of the oldest in the world, received a LOT of criticism and ended up being removed from the Open Championship’s rotation roster. The following year, the club reversed their decision, but they’ve been tainted ever since as a club that doesn’t value inclusivity.
Casey Martin’s Supreme Court Case
In 2001, Martin, a professional golfer with a condition called Klippel-Trenaunay-Weber syndrome, sued the PGA Tour for the right to use a golf cart during competition. The Supreme Court ruled in Martin’s favor, but many critics were disapproving, including Arnold Palmer, because walking is considered an integral part of the sport. Martin ended up winning his case, which was a big moment for inclusivity in the sport.
Notable Cheating Incidents
Roberto De Vicenzo’s 1968 Masters Scorecard Mistake
This was one of the most unlucky incidents, although it could hardly be considered cheating. De Vincenzo signed off on an incorrect score without noticing. The error cost his place in a playoff, and although it was verified to be a mistake, the damage was done! Unfortunately, the rules were stringent, and he was unable to undo them despite them being an obvious mistake.
Doris Chen’s 2018 Q-Series Scandal
During an LPGA Q-Series event, Doris Chen’s mother was caught kicking her daughter’s golf ball back into play. The young golfer was disqualified after she played the next shot. There was plenty of controversy after Chen’s story about not knowing didn’t match up with her caddie’s story. Chen now works as a golf coach.
Ethical and Behavioral Scandals
Patrick Reed’s Bunker Incident (2019)
Reed was caught improving his lie in a sand trap during the Hero World Challenge. He received a two-stroke penalty, and his reputation took a big hit. Many fans lost respect for their hero after this cheat.
Bryson DeChambeau’s Compass Controversy (2018)
This one is interesting. DeChambeau took to using a compass to check in positions because he felt it helped improve his accuracy. The PGA Tour decided this unusual golfing aid was not permitted. DeCheambeau and officials fought over it, but he eventually had to give up using the compass.
Tiger Woods’ 2009 Personal Scandal
The Tiger Woods affair scandal became big news in 2009 and led to him temporarily withdrawing from golf. It cost him multiple endorsements and had a negative impact on his reputation, and it’s still one of the biggest scandals in the sport.
Doping and Performance-Enhancing Drugs
Vijay Singh’s Deer Antler Spray Incident (2013)
In 2013, Vijay Singh admitted to using a spray containing IGF-1, which is a banned substance. Singh apparently had no idea the deer antler spray had illegal substances in it, and when he was punished, he sued the PGA Tour, and they later dropped the charges. Something good did come out of this, though, as there was a call for more stringent regulations over doping.
Player Conduct and Sportsmanship
The 1999 Ryder Cup Incident
After Justin Leonard made a critical putt, the U.S. team stormed the green to celebrate with their teammate. However, José María Olazábal still had a chance to tie the hole, so this preempted celebration was seen as being extremely rude and was widely criticized.
Phil Mickelson at the 2018 U.S. Open
Mickelson deliberately hit a moving ball on the green to stop it from rolling off the putting surface. He was penalized 2 strokes, but many golfers and fans felt like he’d been disrespectful towards the ethos of the game.
Sergio Garcia’s 2019 Saudi International Meltdown
Garcia has always been a chill player, which made his meltdown in 2019 even more striking. During a particularly frustrating round, Garcia damaged multiple greens by smashing them with his club in annoyance. He was disqualified after this was brought to the attention of the officials, and he later apologized.
Conclusion
Golf may have a reputation as an elegant, sophisticated kind of game, but it’s not immune to drama! These are just some of the many incidents that have happened on and off the fairways over the years.
But what is a sport without a bit of controversy every now and then? Thankfully, none of these incidents have taken away from the game—if anything, they’ve helped steer the sport in the right direction, maintaining its reputation as a sophisticated sport played by gentlemen and gentlewomen.
About the Author
Jordan Fuller is a retired golfer and businessman. When he’s not on the course working on his own game or mentoring young golfers, he writes in-depth articles for his website, Golf Influence.
