The year 2023 was a roller coaster ride for the PGA Tour. From rule violations to pranks gone wrong, from new rivals to old legends, the golf world witnessed some unforgettable moments. But the most controversial moment came on June 6.

The tour has been in the news throughout the year since the PGA Tour commissioner announced the ‘historic’ merger with PIF that stirred up debates. Here are the five most controversial moments of 2023 on the PGA Tour.

5. Collin Morikawa was penalized after Matt Fitzpatrick reported him

At the Hеro World Championship in Düsseldorf, Collin Morikawa was hit with a two-stroke penalty for violating rule G-11, which restricts the use of green-reading material during official tournaments. Matt Fitzpatrick and Collin Morikawa were grouped for the third day of the event. Morikawa’s caddie was seen writing down the sloping readings on his yardage book. Notably, the violation was tipped off by Matt Fitzpatrick to PGA Tour chief referee Stephen Cox. 

The 2x major winner later said he was unaware of the rule as he said, “From our understanding, it was fine to use a level on the practice green and see how putts break and write that down. Obviously, it’s not.“ He further continued while accepting the mistake, “At the end of the day, we made the mistake, and it’s on us. Thankfully, it only happened that one time.”

4. A Canadian PGA Tour pro confessed his cheating

In July, PGA Tour Canada pro, Justin Doeden shocked the golf world by admitting to cheating on X. He was accused of manipulating and faking his score after people noticed that he had a score of three under after 36 holes while they were having lunch. This put Doeden in a better position than he should have been.

The 28-year-old took his ‘X’ account and wrote, “I am here to confess the biggest mistake I have made in my life to date. I cheated in golf. This is not who I am. I let my sponsors down. I let my competitors down. I let my family down. I let myself down. I pray for your forgiveness. John 1:9”.

3. Rory McIlroy and his controversies

This year was dedicated to Rory McIlroy and his unconventional views on certain things. One of them was his view on the rollback policy. The USGA and the R&A announced a new tasting standard for golf balls that would reduce the distance by 9–15 yards. The golf ball rollback rule sparked a heated debate among golfers, fans, and manufacturers. Many oppose this change and argue that it would hurt the game’s popularity and diversity.

Howеvеr, onе of thе most vocal supportеrs of thе rulе was Rory McIlroy, who said hе wеlcomеd thе rollback and bеliеvеd it would bеnеfit thе gamе in thе long run. McIlroy said, “But for elite-level play, I really like it. I really do. I know that’s a really unpopular opinion amongst my peers, but I think it’s going to help identify who the best players are a bit easier.”

Another one was when he resigned from the PGA Tour policy board. The 34-year-old joined the board in 2022, and in November 2023, he resigned from the board, citing personal and professional commitments. He said, “I just didn’t feel like I could commit the time and the energy to doing that. I don’t mind being busy, but I just like being busy doing my own stuff.”

2. Prank gone wrong

Tigеr Woods and Justin Thomas tеamеd up for the Gеnеsis Invitational. The event was also a chance for Woods to show off his sense of humor as he pulled a hilarious prank on his compatriot Thomas. In the first round, Woods handed Thomas a tampon, leaving him shocked and embarrassed. However, the prank didn’t go well with many people.

Later, the 15x major winner apologized saying, “It was supposed to be all fun and games, and obviously it hasn’t turned out that way. If I offended anybody, it was not the case; it was just friends having fun. As I said, if I offended anybody in any way, shape, or form, I’m sorry”.

1. Jay Monahan announcеd mеrgеr with LIV Golf

One of the most controversial moments happened in June. The PGA Tour commissioner, Jay Monahan, dropped a bombshell by announcing that the PGA Tour would merge with LIV Golf. Monahan said the move was a strategic move that would create a global golf platform that would benefit the players, the fans, and the game.

Also Read: Best of PGA Tour 2023: Player, Rookie, Event, Sponsor, and More

He said, “After two years of disruption and distraction, this is a historic day for the game we all know and love.” However, the news was met with fierce opposition and criticism from many PGA Tour loyalists, who accused Monahan of betraying the tour.

What is your take on the PGA Tour’s most controversial moments of 2023? Let us know in the comments below!

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