In an astonishing outburst, Charley Hoffman has taken to social media to tear into his PGA Tour employers over a ruling during Friday’s round of the WM Phoenix Open.
Hoffman was forced to take two separate penalty strokes after his drive on the 13th hole at TPC Scottsdale found water. Hoffman claimed he had no choice but to drop his ball on the side of the hill with no grass but having seemingly successfully placed it, and proceeding to asses his approach shot, Hoffman turned around to see his ball trickling back into the water.
He would sign for a double-bogey ‘7’ and make the cut at three-under par, but the 45-year old was far from done with the incident.
“What a joke @usga@pgatour today on the 13th hole I hit my drive in the water and took a drop on a side of a hill that no grass,” Hoffman wrote. “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 @usgahad 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 @pgatour 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.”
Then, in an eye-opening decision as the rant continued, Hoffman tagged Saudi International Golf, evidentially “the ship” Hoffman believes has come to save him and provide the “protection” players crave:
“@golfchannel @golfdigest@dpworldtour @saudiintlgolf@barstoolsports @riggsbarstool@espn @foxsports @cbssports@nbcsports
“Sorry Jay! We need to do better at all levels of the @pgatour. Including myself who represent the players on the board of the Tour. If we don’t we won’t have a Tour any longer!
“Hopefully there will be a change soon.”
If you guys want to go to Saudi Arabia just be big boys and say you want the money. But, holy hell, this shit ain’t it. @PhilMickelson @b_dechambeau (Charley isn’t on Twitter so please send my regards). pic.twitter.com/dpJv6goFAf
— Big Randy (@BigRandyNLU) February 12, 2022
Both Phil Mickelson and Bryson DeChambeau were amongst the first players to message their support. Go figure.
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