Pride and Prejudice in Professional Golf
In 2014, PGA TOUR player Brandt Snedeker sat down with David Feherty on his self-titled Golf Channel series shortly after Michael Sam, now a former NFL player, came out as homosexual. Feherty opined that even as a man from Northern Ireland who is no stranger to “hatred,” the concept of any two people loving each other should be respected and the couple “left alone.”
Feherty later jokingly quips that “apparently we have no gay golfers,” which Snedeker implies he did not believe at all. “I don’t think a gay golfer is going to be that big of a deal,” Snedeker suggested. “I don’t think it’s going to affect my life in any way, shape or form. If there is one, I welcome him to come out.”
At the time this message of acceptance was the popular opinion for the talking heads in major sports despite knowing that many in this country couldn’t possibly disagree more. Now, eight years later, it’s difficult to admit that we appear to have regressed in many ways as opposed to following through on any promise to be more welcoming and progressive.
‘Feherty’ episode with Brandt Snedeker - Photo from Golf Channel.
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Earlier this year, PGA TOUR caddie Todd Montoya came out as the first openly gay man in his profession. According to an interview with Kira Dixon of the Golf Channel, Montoya — who has caddied for the likes of Ryan Blaum, Charlie Wi, Ryuji Imada, Billy Mayfair, Scott Gutschewski, Doug LaBelle II, Tag Ridings, Nicholas Thompson, Kevin Durkin and now Brian Stuard — was hiding a secret from not just his colleagues and peers, but his inner circle and family. It wasn’t until he found the courage to reveal his true self that he finally felt relief so many in the LGBTQ+ community seek.
“I feel 100 percent different. I feel like I’m walking on air. I feel like Brian [Stuard] has given me the greatest gift I could get, I feel like he’s given me my freedom,” he expressed to Dixon. You can watch his entire interview here.
Montoya’s use of the word “freedom” is an interesting one, especially in today’s social climate. Not to fall too far down a rabbit hole, but that word has recently been associated more with political ad campaigns or health misinformation than one’s pursuit of happiness.
In the spirit of transparency, my wife and I have long been strong advocates for the LGBTQ+ community. To say that we are biased on this topic would be an understatement; but this article isn’t about us.
Instead, it’s difficult for supporters and champions of LGBTQ+ rights to watch the current sociopolitical climate one minute, only to see a complete blindness to ongoing discrimination that continues in areas of the country where professional golf is most prevalent the next.
This was perhaps never more evident than in March of this year — the same month Montoya came out — when the PGA TOUR was in the middle of its three-event Florida swing. During that time Florida state legislature was days away from signing the ‘Parental Rights in Education’ bill into law, otherwise referred to as the ‘Don’t Say Gay’ bill by many. By now anyone reading this understands or is at least aware of the controversy surrounding this bill/law.
One of the tournaments in that span was the TOUR’s flagship: the Players Championship at TPC Sawgrass. Mild speculation circulated around whether a player would publicly comment on the goings-on in that state on the TOUR’s grandest stage, but nobody was holding their breath. Right, wrong, or indifferent, it is exceedingly rare for any golfer to make any statement on current events off the golf course, social, political, or otherwise. The tournament proceeded without commentary from any player.
However, this isn’t to suggest that some golfers have outwardly — albeit subtly — expressed their support for the LGBTQ+ community. Collin Morikawa, for example, sported a Pride Flag-inspired scorecard holder for multiple tournaments beginning in June 2021 and beyond. LPGA TOUR superstar Nelly Korda did the same, along with a small handful of other players as part of a Pride Month promotion.
Collin Morikama scorecard holder — Photo by SkySports.
Nelly Korda scorecard holder — Photo by SkySports.
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Despite these splashes of color and promotional support at the professional level for a community that reached nearly eight percent of the national population in 2022 (which is obviously underreported considering the backlash many closeted individuals fear should they self-disclose otherwise), there is still much room to grow.
On the LPGA TOUR, where the LGBTQ+ community appears to be embraced more fully, golfers like Mel Reid have stepped up to serve as examples of growth. As a member of the community, Reid described the magnitude of coming out publicly in an excellent piece published in 2019. In it, Reid expressed that “This is who I am” while acknowledging that normalizing all walks of life remains a challenge for many.
“The reason I did it was I feel like I’m on a platform where I can have some sort of influence and I have a voice,” Reid says about her decision to come out publicly. “This is my way of giving back. It’s a serious subject. People kill themselves over it. I just wanted to say, ‘Look, this is who I am. I’m very proud of who I am.’ I feel like it’s 2019 and it should be normalized. It doesn’t make me a bad person just because of the gender of who I love.”
LPGA TOUR professional Mel Reid.
Of course, there are other recent examples of how much growth is still needed in the game.
It would be shortsighted to not recall Justin Thomas’ horrific lack of self-awareness at the January 2021 Sentry Tournament of Champions. After missing what he might describe as an easy putt, Thomas uttered a homophobic slur to himself out of anger. Tournament microphones caught it, we all heard it, and Thomas was punished in multiple ways including the loss of key sponsors. Thomas would apologize shortly after and vowed to continue working on himself, which included a TOUR-appointed sensitivity training.
Now, over a year later and with a new flagship clothing sponsor, Thomas captured his second major victory at the 2022 PGA Championship. As the world turns…
To be clear: I do not know Justin Thomas personally and do not believe that he is homophobic. What I do know is that he is a human being prone to mistakes — as we all are — with some mistakes being worse than others. This does not excuse actions like what Thomas so freely expressed in the moment, but rather to highlight that we all could benefit from deeper introspection. Of course, this article isn’t about him, either.
Earlier this month, golf legend Greg Norman, the current CEO of the Saudi-backed LIV Golf tour, was asked about Saudi Arabia’s abysmal history of discriminating against homosexuals. Norman, never afraid of a sound byte, offered an interesting look into his ignorance.
After immediately dismissing the question, Norman followed with, “I’m not sure whether I even have any gay friends, to be honest with you.”
Of course, this article isn’t about Greg Norman. Not by a long shot.
LIV Golf CEO Greg Norman - Photo from Golf Digest.
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Deep introspection to understand one’s self and surroundings is a practice far too few embrace. This look within ourselves has to be more determined, intentional and autonomous rather than in response to a punishment or “getting caught.” There’s a difference between being truly apologetic for one’s actions versus apologizing for being found out. Each of us, as individuals, are the only ones who will know that difference for ourselves.
The same is true when being questioned about our own experiences with the LGBTQ+ community, or at the very least our awareness of its existence. To be dismissive of this community, as Norman so comfortably did, takes a mindset that isn’t established overnight.
I will never know the fear, anxiety, or nervousness a member of the LGBTQ+ community feels day-to-day. I’ll never know the disgust they might feel when scrolling social media comments from people accusing brands of “grooming children,” implying that one’s sexuality is something that’s taught as opposed to born with. I’ll also never know the anger LGBTQ+ individuals must feel as they realize how many of their own just try to live every day amid so much uneducated hatred at every moment.
What I do know, however, is how I feel when hearing comments like “keep this out of sports” or “I’m trying to watch this as a distraction” becomes the refrain for those who prefer to live in an imaginary world as opposed to embracing what’s in front of them. I know how my wife and I feel when we find our small Ally Flag pulled out of our front lawn and thrown on the sidewalk or bushes, seemingly by a passerby when no one was around. And, yes, I know how I feel when I take an intentional introspective look at myself and wonder what more I can do to help a community I care so much about.
But, again, this article isn’t about me.
It’s about all of us, including your friends, family, and colleagues. It’s about the single that gets paired with your threesome on the first tee. The barista at the coffeeshop you visit the next day. The physician or nurse you entrust with your health. The preacher at your church. Perhaps even someone in your own home.
Because whether you wish to believe it or not, the LGBTQ+ community is all around us, and it is one to embrace and celebrate. Yes, even in golf.
