Paul Azinger Torched The European Tour On Live TV And People Were Offended
- Updated: March 2, 2020
Paul Azinger set the golf world on fire on Sunday with a take so hot, you needed oven mitts to watch the Honda Classic on NBC.
Tommy Fleetwood was battling eventual winner Sungjae Im down the stretch, BOTH in search of their first PGA Tour win, when the camera cut to Azinger and Dan Hicks in the booth.
Here’s what Azinger said when he attempted to compare winning on the PGA Tour to the European Tour:
Is paul Azinger a complete moron??? ‘THAT’ tour…. and a wobble of the head at @WestwoodLee s amazing wins on the #europeantour .
— Stuart Hanson (@HansonStuart) March 1, 2020
Who the hell is Mark Wilson also.??? pic.twitter.com/l2G1niQ5bX
“There’s a lot of pressure you know, you’re trying to prove to everybody you’ve got what it takes and these guys know you can win all you want on that European Tour, the international game and all that, but you have to win on the PGA Tour. Westwood took offense to that actually yesterday when asked about that. Two wins on the PGA Tour but he’s all, ‘Oh I’ve won 44 times all over the world,’ but it’s not the PGA Tour, though. And they know that and I think Tommy knows that. It puts a little pressure on Tommy — but this is where they want to be, isn’t it? They want to come here, they want to prove that they can win at this level.”
Lot to unpack here, but it was the “THAT European Tour” reference that really seemed to piss people off the most, more specifically Europeans, understandably.
Fleetwood, who is from England, has 5 European Tour wins which is the same amount as Rickie Fowler has on the PGA Tour. He’s known as one of the best ball-strikers in the game. He’s no slouch, but the fact is he’s never won on the PGA Tour. There is no debate.
It’s not really what Azinger said.
It’s how he said it, which could easily be considered smug, brash, ignorant, choose your adjective.
The thing is that he’s the one with a microphone in his hand and is being paid to say whatever the tour wants him to say, per Peter Kostis.
Let’s also not forget Azinger has a history of saying super ignorant things like the time Francesco Molinari was about to win the 2019 Arnold Palmer Invitational:
[Frankie Molinari rolls in a bomb for birdie and the lead on 18 at Bay Hill]
— Two Inches Short (@TwoInchesShort) March 10, 2019
Paul Azinger: I don’t think he’s had a bigger moment in his career than this..
Dude won the Open Championship last year. Just saying…
If we’re being honest, Azinger isn’t wrong.
But he’s not exactly right either. The PGA Tour is deeper than the European Tour on a week to week basis (strength of field, etc.) This is a fact.
Lee Westwood, who was in contention earlier in the week, has won 2 times on the PGA Tour. He’s won 44 times worldwide (25 on European Tour), has TWELVE TOP-5s in majors and is considered the active best player to never win a major. Also a fact.
If Azinger’s logic was true, PGA Tour players would waltz across the pond and win every single time they teed it up. News flash: they don’t.
“I wasn’t trying to be malicious. I didn’t mean to disrespect anyone,” Azinger said in defense of his comments according to Golfweek. “But professional golfers choke for two things: cash and prestige. And the PGA Tour has the most of both.”
Lee Westwood gave his thoughts on the matter on Twitter twice (!!!), or as Zinger would call it, the number of times he’s won on the PGA Tour. So did Ian Poulter and 2018 Ryder Cup captain Thomas Bjorn. SPOILER ALERT: they were offended!
I think Paul sometimes thinks he has to be controversial to be relevant. It’s a little disappointing that Dan sits there and looks to be agreeing and then doesn’t question his comments. @PGATOUR is a great tour but in the current golfing climate we shouldn’t be creating divides.
— Lee Westwood (@WestwoodLee) March 2, 2020
One minute Paul walks down the range wishing you good luck before you play the next he’s condescending to the tour you play on and disrespects the tournaments you’ve won around the world. I’ve won in 19 different countries over 4 decades. That is disrespecting a lot of people!
— Lee Westwood (@WestwoodLee) March 2, 2020
I like @PaulAzinger a lot. And get on with him great. But Paul please do not condescend or disrespect the @EuropeanTour and our players like that. We have slapped your arse in Ryder Cup for so long 🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆I know you captained a win but seriously that was embarrassing today.
— Ian Poulter (@IanJamesPoulter) March 2, 2020
It was so easy for @PaulAzinger to say that @TommyFleetwood1 has won around the world and is a world class player. Now the time has come for him to prove that on the strongest tour in the world.
— Thomas Bjorn (@thomasbjorngolf) March 2, 2020
He was at best ignorant, at worst arrogant in delivering that.
Bring on September !
What’s the point in trying to divide the world tours anyway?
Are the PGA Tour and European Tour in direct competition with each other? The only exception we can think of is the Ryder Cup.
Plus with the potential formation of the Premier Golf League, it’s only going to create more competition. Every tour wants to be the “best.” But who cares?
The common goal of all of the leading organizations (USGA, R&A, PGA, PGA Tour European Tour, etc.) should be to try and grow the game worldwide, not divide it. It just seems like common sense if we want the sport to survive well into the future.
If you don’t like Azinger talking shit about how European Tour wins don’t count as much as PGA Tour wins, you’re going to love the Premier Golf League
— Two Inches Short (@TwoInchesShort) March 1, 2020
All credit to Paul Azinger and his view of world golf. pic.twitter.com/mgxeqbbPRU
— Darth Monty (@Darth_Monty) March 2, 2020
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