Hoffman, a four-time PGA Tour winner, took to Instagram on Friday and blasted the PGA Tour and U.S. Golf Association over a penalty on the par-5 13th hole at TPC Scottsdale during the second round.
It all went wrong for Hoffman after his tee shot headed right and found the water. Hoffman had no complaint about that penalty stroke. But after he took a penalty drop, his ball rolled back into the water. He was assessed a second penalty stroke that led to a score of 7 on the hole en route to shooting 1-over 72 for the day. Hoffman blamed the PGA Tour for the location of the penalty area line and charged that the USGA, an amateur association that governs the Rules of Golf in the U.S. and Mexico, shouldn’t write the rules at the professional level.
After receiving another two-stroke penalty, Hoffman implied that it is situations such as his drop that is why players are interested in leaving the Tour for the proposed Saudi-backed Super Golf League. Here’s Hoffman’s Instagram post:
“What a joke. Dropped twice then place on a small tuff of grass. Turned around the ball started rolling into the water. I was under the impression that the USGA had changed that rule. I was wrong. Had to take another penalty for doing nothing wrong at all. Did everything by the book. It’s still mind blowing that a group of amateurs rule the professional game of golf. I also blame the PGA Tour rules officials for putting out a terrible penalty area line where this could even happen. No accountability at any level here. No protection for the players at all.
“You wonder why guys are wanting to jump ship and go play on another tour. Players need transparency, protection and consistency. We don’t have that under the current governing bodies.”
View this post on Instagram
Hoffman tagged the PGA Tour and USGA and various media outlets as well as the Saudi International, which was contested last week as part of the Asian Tour and lured more than 20 PGA Tour players to play there with lucrative guaranteed money.
But Hoffman, who is a player director on the PGA Tour Policy Board, wasn’t done ranting. Next he added PGA Tour Commissioner Jay Monahan to the conversation.
“Sorry Jay! We need to do better at all levels of the PGA Tour. Including myself who represent the players on the board of the Tour. If we don’t we won’t have a Tour any longer!” wrote Hoffman, who has won more than $32 million during his career. “Hopefully there will be a change soon.”
Some of those who responded in the comments supporting Hoffman were Phil Mickelson (“I feel ya”) and Bryson DeChambeau (“Agree wholeheartedly”). Mickelson called out the Tour last week for being “obnoxiously greedy” and DeChambeau reportedly was offered $150 million to join the Saudi rival league.
Just another Friday night on the PGA Tour.
Article originally appeared on: Golfweek.usatoday.com
Left-liberals really get triggered if you even indirectly hint at the Saudi Tour. Politics at full scale on PGA Tour now, no room anymore for disagreements & the SoCal “editors” are obviously part of the Left-liberals media mafia
@ESSM – What the hell are you talking about. You are a clown…
Charley, Charley, Charley…Ive always thought of you as a home town boy that made good on the PGA tour….Lets see…YOU hit a drive in the water then YOU make a bad drop that goes in the water then YOU criticize the PGA tour….OH MY, freedom of ur actions plus freedom of speech EQUALS freedom to sign up with the Saudi Tour….DONT let the door hit you in the arse when multi million $$$$, privileged athletes like you decide to leave thinking the grass is always greener on the other side of the World…..
Can understand Charlie getting Heated in the moment. He is an even guy!! Hopefully, The PGA & USGA heard what Charlie had say, He wasn’t wrong!! He did the Crime; He did the Time & Moved On!!