“F*** you, Sarah.” If you’re an avid LPGA follower, those three words likely ring a lot of bells for you, especially after the KPMG Women’s PGA Championship in 2024. American pro golfer Sarah Schmelzel was caught on a hot mic uttering these exact words after a disappointing shot during Saturday’s third round. She had begun the day tied for the lead with Amy Yang at 6-under par, but a frustrating round saw her finish tied for ninth place.
Now, if the same had happened on the PGA Tour, we all know what the consequences would have been. The PGA Tour has a code of conduct that includes fines for various offenses and even Tiger Woods isn’t safe, with fines for offenses like slow play being publicly known – $50,000 for 10 timings in a season and $5,000 for each subsequent timing, doubling to $100,000 and $10,000, respectively starting next year. While the exact fine for swearing isn’t disclosed, golfers would likely face penalties for using foul language on live TV, but that was not the case when Schmelzel did it.
Speaking on the latest episode of The Subpar on Spotify, LPGA star Schmelzel revealed she actually got praised by the Commissioner after her viral moment on live TV after a disappointing shot. Schmelzel said she wasn’t fined for the incident, and instead, the Commissioner seemed to appreciate her personality. “I think if I stay channeling it where it’s like… I like this. Like channeling it in a way where it fires you up and it’s like, hey, you’re better than that,” Schmelzel said, explaining how she likes to use her frustration to fuel her game.
Schmelzel’s brother even texted her after the incident went viral, initially scolding her for swearing on national TV, saying, “I can’t believe you would say f*** on national television.” But after seeing the positive feedback, he jokingly suggested she make it her thing, saying, “You should do it again.” To which the host replied, “Yeah, make that your thing.” Schmelzel laughed about the Commissioner’s reaction, saying she seemed to enjoy her authenticity, noting the Commissioner said, “We could use more personality like that.”
But again, that is something you will not hear the PGA Tour commissioner or even the DP World Tour stakeholder say.
Tyrrell Hatton’s viral 2024 outburst is still a memorable moment in golf
Cursing and having a hot mic moment is the PGA Tour is not uncommon, as Tiger Woods himself was very well known for littering the course with f bombs. However, there are two notable instances of players who stood out for the immediate repercussions for cursing on the course. One is Tyrrell Hatton and the other, Justin Thomas.
Tyrrell Hatton’s frustration boiled over on Saturday during the third round of the 2024 DP World Tour Championship in Dubai, resulting in a fine from the DP World Tour. The English golfer snapped a club in two and cursed loudly after shots, drawing criticism from commentator Ewen Murray, who said, “It’s time for change, I’m afraid. That’s a terrible influence on the next generation.” Hatton’s behavior was erratic throughout the round, starting with a missed tap-in at the fourth hole and ending with him throwing his ball toward the water guarding the green at No. 18.
Hatton’s most notable outburst came at No. 14 when he pulled his third shot and pressed his iron so hard into the ground that it snapped. He also took a swipe at a divot after missing the green with his approach to No. 8 and slammed his putter down on the green after missing a five-foot putt for birdie on the 11th. The DP World Tour confirmed that Hatton’s behavior breached its code of conduct, stating, “He will be fined as a result.” The English golfer was also seen visibly cursing on the 13th after his tee shot had run into the fringe.
Another instance would be the infamous homophobic slur that Justin Thomas had spewed in the 2021 Sentry Tournament of Champions. While the PGA Tour did not exactly fine Thomas, he did lose out on a lot of sponsors, which is a huge penalty in itself. So, do you think this is a behaviour that should be encouraged? Considering that people of all ages and groups come to watch these events. Or should there be a limit on what can be allowed to be spewed and whatnot? But what would be that limit? Let us know what you think about it in the comments below!
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