The broadsides directed at the PGA Tour continued last week at the WM Phoenix Open where Charley Hoffman, a member of the PGA Tour Policy Board, took a blowtorch to the organization after receiving a ruling he didn’t like in the second round.
Hoffman’s online outburst came a week after Phil Mickelson ripped the PGA Tour for being too controlling while playing in the Saudi International.
The frustration was a result of Hoffman being assessed a penalty stroke after placing his ball outside a penalty area (his tee shot had gone into the water) only to see it roll back into the water after it had been put in play.
According to the rules, if a ball is moved by natural forces, it must be played from where it comes to rest. In Hoffman’s case, it went into the water, resulting in the penalty.
Afterward, Hoffman took to Instagram for a typo-filled vent calling the ruling "a joke" and calling out the rules makers and the tour, with a final call-out to commissioner Jay Monahan.
The most striking part of Hoffman’s rant may have been his reference to players considering joining the upstart Saudi-backed golf league. Interestingly, Mickelson and Bryson DeChambeau – two players rumored to have serious interest in joining the new league – offered their online support of Hoffman.
After his Saturday round, Hoffman again made his point that he believes he was the victim of a rule that needs changing, a rule that nearly cost Rickie Fowler a victory in Phoenix three years ago.
“I think I explained it fairly well, but obviously not a huge fan of the USGA and how they govern us all the time. I was under the impression that the rule had changed. And I was frustrated when the rule hadn't changed, why it hadn't changed,” Hoffman said.
As for his pointed comment suggesting it is another reason some players are intrigued by the purported Saudi golf league, Hoffman said he included that remark to draw attention to his post.
“If I just griped about a rule no one probably catches it. No one says anything,” Hoffman said. “So I put a jab in there on purpose just so that the media would catch it.”
Ron Green Jr.