PGA TOUR Players Unite After ‘Cheap Shots’ Controversy Against Veteran Patrick Cantlay Sparks a Strong Response

Patrick Cantlay is your regular golf guy on the tour. A silent work of art, the 31-year-old usually goes about his business quietly, sometimes culminating with a trophy in one hand. However, a golf journalist has exploited this trait to disclose a hard-hitting allegation about the golfer, which has hurt many in the golf community.

Indeed, a legion of strong reactions is emerging from the PGA TOUR, led by golfers such as Justin Thomas and Max Homa. But what is the story behind the headline act?

Journalist makes belittling claims about Patrick Cantlay

While Cantlay didn’t put in a shabby performance last week, he woke up to chaos as an experienced journalist, named Eamon Lynch, wrote a scathing article on the golfer. The piece caught fire from the word go, which significantly hampered the eight-time PGA TOUR winner’s reputation.

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An excerpt from Lynch’s piece claimed: “It hardly needs to be stated that his objections aren’t based on the morality of dealing with human rights abusers. Existing PGA Tour incentives won’t much benefit Cantlay. He won’t get rich from the Player Impact Program that bonuses stars on fan engagement since the only needle he moves is the gas gauge on his car. So the logic of Cantlay’s coup d’etat is that if LIV disappears as a threat – a likely occurrence under the deal – then players like him have no options, no leverage over the Tour, and no prospects for the lucrative payday to which they feel entitled.”

The words didn’t sit well with Cantlay’s colleagues. Soon enough, 2023 Player Advisory Council (PAC) Chairman Adam Scott posted a rebuke through his social media, which took a swipe at the journalist’s report.

PGA TOUR players show support for Cantlay

In their defense, Scott posted a picture of Lynch’s article and criticized the baseless claims. “These are serious times for golf and there are many serious matters. Should articles like this form part of the debate?” he wrote. “Putting aside personal barbs and fluffy adjectives would be helpful, dealing with facts presented with integrity far superior.”

“Talk of a Cantlay coup d’état—really? Perhaps some proof rather than faceless speculation? Cheap shots at players “value charisma”? Clearly, many companies value the players. Those players must be entitled to some time and information to decide what is palatable and what is not, after an about-face of Tour management policy.”

“The process will likely be best served with objectivity and truth,” he further wrote in the post.

The strong statement was backed by fellow PGA TOUR pros Justin Thomas, Max Homa, and Will Zalatoris. The golfers put up Scott’s post on their Instagram stories, which circulated widely in the golf community.
A player director at PAC himself, Cantlay finds himself amidst a wave of support against a flammable piece of writing. Do you think there will be legal repercussions from this incident? Let us know your thoughts in the comments section below.

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