Major champions and a Korn Ferry Tour pro jumped to the defense of Vijay Singh’s decision to compete in his first KFT event in June.
Shots were fired on Thursday when Korn Ferry Tour pro Brady Schnell attacked World Golf Hall of Fame member Vijay Singh for signing up for the Korn Ferry Challenge, June 11-14 at TPC Sawgrass’s Dye’s Valley Course.
Schnell tweeted that Singh, a 34-time PGA Tour winner, was a “turd” and a “true piece of trash” for entering the event and taking a spot from one of the lower-level circuit’s players. Schnell has since deleted his tweets.
Singh has largely been skewered on social media for being “selfish” and “tone deaf.” On Friday, several major champions jumped to Singh’s defense.
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World Golf Hall of Fame member Phil Mickelson jumped into the fray via Twitter.
“It’s no secret VJ and I aren’t close,” Mickelson wrote, “but I’d like to say on his behalf that in addition to being a member of the Hall of Fame, he’s a big part of the PGA Tour’s success which financially subsidizes, and always has, the KFT. He has earned the right to play when and where he wants.”
That led 1995 PGA champion Steve Elkington to chime in and say, “Phil’s right, of course, you can’t stop someone from going to work.”
When 2001 British Open champion David Duval was told the news and asked for his reaction to Singh playing, Duval said, “Why not? He gets to be at home and play a competitive event. What’s wrong with that?”
Singh lives in Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida, and practices at TPC Sawgrass regularly.
Duval also noted that Singh, who has earned more than $70 million on Tour, hasn’t been able to compete, either, since professional golf hit the pause button during the Players Championship in March. Singh, 57, splits time between the PGA Tour, where he is a life member, and PGA Tour Champions, which has canceled its tournaments due to the COVID-19 Pandemic until the Ally Challenge, beginning July 31. Singh is eligible for the Korn Ferry Tour start since his status on the PGA Tour doesn’t get him into the Charles Schwab Challenge, which is an invitational.
Duval compared the situation to a tournament director’s use of a sponsor exemption, such as Tony Romo competing in the Safeway Open or when Annika Sorenstam played against the men at Colonial.
“You don’t take a spot away from someone who doesn’t have one,” said Duval, who works as an analyst for Golf Channel. “You either have a spot or you don’t. I’ve never agreed with the argument you’re taking away a spot. You’re either exempt or you’re not and if you’re not exempt you’re in the same boat as everyone else.”
Duval, 48, who still competes occasionally on the PGA Tour via past champion’s status, dropped down to play in the KFT’s inaugural TPC Colorado Championship at Heron Lakes last summer and missed the cut.
“I enjoyed it. I kind of remember my days playing on the Nike Tour. You forget how many really good golfers there are,” he said.
Singh also received support from current KFT pro Erik Compton, who has played on the PGA Tour in the past.
“I would imagine it’s nice for him to get his feel and be at home. It’s like being a host to the event. It’s also scary times and I’m sure everyone would like to compete in their own backyard with very little risk of travel,” he said.
Compton said that it is important to look at the big picture.
“The players should be glad they have a chance to play with a legend,” he said.
Singh declined to explain his reasons for playing. His son, Quass, responded via text, “We feel like it’s not worth it.”
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