When Billy Hurley III won last week we knew his life was about to change. But the unassuming former Navy lieutenant who has captured the hearts of many golf fans showed why so many have come to count him as one of their favorites. Hurley earned an invite to the Open Championship next month as one of the perks of winning the Quicken Loans National. But his sister had scheduled her wedding that same weekend so a tough decision faced the newly minted champion. (She showed little confidence in her brother by scheduling on the weekend of a major, but that’s another story.)
Well, turns out it wasn’t really that tough. Hurley put family first and officially withdrew from the Open in order to be there for his sister. “I’m not going to play the Open Championship. I wouldn’t miss my sister’s wedding for the world, and I think that at this point in time for me and my family and the trajectory of our family, it’s very important for me to be there to support her and her husband, new husband.
I mean, it was a pretty easy decision at the end of the day.” Of course it was…would we have expected anything less from Hurley? Absolutely not.
The Dustin Johnson Rules Snafu lives on. At the WGC Bridgestone Invitational yesterday world number two Jordan Spieth said the players were all behind DJ and the he would have thrown a fit if it had been him (just like I called it) and that the USGA did mess up. “And I think that it was unfortunate the way it then played out, and they agree, and they said that. And I think that what Dustin did was extremely special given that circumstance. I would have thrown a fit. I promise you, I would have thrown a fit. I wouldn’t have hit another shot. I would have sat there like this is not the way this goes. Let’s figure this out right now. You can’t have a potential penalty or not. You’ve got to know in that case.”
Spieth has also gone from “all in” for the Olympics in Rio to no so all in. “Right now I’m uncertain. Always been excited about the possible opportunity, but there’s quite a few different factors that would turn somebody away from going. It’s not just one, there’s quite a few factors.
I personally have not received enough information that would allow me to make a confident decision either way at this point, so it’ll be as we gather further information I’ll be able to lean one way or the other, and when I feel confident on either side, I’ll make the choice.
Well, there’s other bacteria stuff, whatever it’s called, that just came out, too. And then just the security threats that Brazil and Rio have. I’ve heard some stories on both sides, and I’m going to get answers soon on how we plan to be secured down there. Transportation is a big security issue down there, how to get from one place to another with the different kind of violence that we don’t see here.
And if I feel like there’s any significant threat, then is it worth it? Probably not. I don’t train my whole life — not train my whole life to play in the Olympics like some of those athletes, but now that it has presented itself, it is something very significant I’d love to be a part of.”
Hey Jordan…stop acting like the USGA and make a decision. Word is that Spieth’s big Coca-Cola endorsement contract may have some influence on him. For my money…it sounds like he’s out.
Jason Day’s withdrawal from Rio was a big hit and as of now three of the top ten players in the world have WD’d and more are wavering on their commitment. Let face it… the honchos at the IOC aren’t thrilled with the lukewarm attitude of the male golfers and I can’t see golf becoming a permanent sport in the games. And frankly, that’s not the end of the world. It’s majors, majors, majors. Always has been, always will be.
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