06/18/2025
Reposted from Carrie Williams, Executive Director
Illinois PGA:
“On the heels of the U.S. Open, I just have to ask—why do TV broadcasts and social media continue to glorify poor on-course etiquette?
Wyndham Clark damaging lockers in the Oakmont locker room was out of line—and it’s been called out as such. But Rory’s behavior at the U.S. Open deserves the same scrutiny.
Multiple club tosses. A tomahawk-style throw. And banging a club into a tee marker to break it.
Fueled by passion or not, these moments sent the wrong message—on one of the most visible stages in golf. And yet, they became highlights. Clipped, shared, and amplified across social media—circulating far more than any great shot or moment of sportsmanship.
In addition to highlighting Rory's behavior during the championship, painstakingly deliberate pre-shot routines and extended AimPoint reads are now standard features in broadcasts, reinforcing the idea that slowing the game down is just part of being a top player.
Here’s the problem: kids are watching. So are new golfers. And when this behavior becomes what we spotlight, it becomes what they emulate.
Golf has always prided itself on respect—for the course, for your playing partners, and for the traditions of the game. And in light of this, broadcasts of tournament golf should be edited with intention—to model proper pace of play, and to highlight—and celebrate—what true sportsmanship looks like.
Instead of spotlighting the wrong behaviors, let’s elevate the right ones—and teach the next generation how golf should be played.”
