Graeme McDowell has announced that he will be missing from the next LIV Golf event having being handed a suspension from the tour.
McDowell has taken to social media to explain how an oversight in using a Vicks nasal spray has seen him fall foul of LIV’s anti-doping policy.
The Irishman will now miss the next LIV event in Greenbrier and both he and his team will have the points and winnings they gathered at LIV Nashville removed.
It is, of course, a bitter blow for McDowell, who has come out open and transparent in his statement.
However, while there is honesty and openness in his words, there’s also something else in there that a lot of golf fans are picking up on.
Golf fans notice subtle dig at the PGA Tour from Graeme McDowell
Within his statement, McDowell used the words ”Unlike some tours, LIV enforces these rules rigorously, which made this situation particularly challenging for me.’
While he said he respected the situation and decision entirely in ‘maintaining the integrity of the sport’, golf fans noted the subtle dig at other tours, likely the PGA, in his statement.
And as usual on social media, golf fans were all over that particular element of his statement in the replies.
A couple of fans immediately picked up on it and called McDowell out on the phrasing.
Another fan, @jlittleton42, also had a dig at McDowell for an apparent lack of class.
“Messes up and takes a veiled shot at others. Rich and classy lol.”
While @podgeMurphy95 labelled his statement as ’embarrassing’.
Clearly not impressed with what McDowell has posted, some fans took it as a chance to suggest they’d even forgot McDowell was still playing.
Clearly, then, McDowell has made a small mistake that has repercussions for both he and his Smash GC team.
An honest error here, but like with all sportspeople, the public have been quick to jump onto them on the socials.
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