The Villains of Golf Exposed – But Are They Really That Bad?
Batman wouldn’t be as entertaining without the Joker. In fact, villains are what make a hero worth rooting for.
While most of us don’t root for the villain in movies and sports, they’re needed to stir the pot and keep us entertained.
Every sport has their own set of villains, including golf. But are they really that bad?
Let’s review the biggest villains in the game …
Patrick Reed
Golf is a game of integrity. So when a player cheats, we all take notice and don’t let them forget it. Patrick Reed is a repeat offender, and this reputation has followed him around since college golf.
Personally, I think he loves playing the villain role, though. Just look at the 2018 Ryder Cup when he went head-to-head with Rory McIlroy and was silencing the crowd.
He played some high level golf, despite thousands of people cheering against him. I just wish he could avoid the rules gaffes and cheating debacles so he could let his game do the talking… because he’s a phenomenal player.
Sergio Garcia
Another player who is easy to hate over the past two decades is Sergio Garcia. From his excessive waggles at Bethpage Black or his meltdowns that lead to destroying the golf course – he’s easy to hate at times.
Is he really that bad of a guy? I don’t think so, but his child-like attitude is pretty annoying to watch (and it’s happened for 20 years now).
But you have to give him props by winning the Masters in 2017.
Brooks Koepka
Brooks Koepka is another polarizing guy who has about as many haters as he does fans. With his recent comments including, “I’m 31. I have another 14 years left. If I win one a year, I get Jack (who has a record 18 professional major wins).”
I’m all for self-belief in yourself, but making it seem easy to break Tiger and Jack’s all-time major records is a bold move.
Is he really a villain, though?
I don’t think so, he just does things his way and doesn’t care what anyone else thinks. You have to respect his ability to just focus on him and not care what the rest of the world thinks.
Bryson DeChambeau
Bryson has taken a lot of heat in 2021 and I don’t think it’s helping his game. I bet he hears “Brooksy” more than he hears his own name.
While some guys like being the villain, I don’t think this label fits Bryson DeChambeau. At the end of the day, he’s just a guy who is too smart for most golfers and just his own thing.
Love him or hate him, you should respect his body and swing transformation that happened during the pandemic. Most of us were sitting around getting fat while Bryson was packing on muscle which led to winning the 2020 US Open.
Brandel Chamblee
Finally, let’s not forget about Brandel Chamblee either. Some people love him, while others can’t stand his negativity toward the best players in the world.
I don’t think he’s actually a bad guy, just one that wants his opinion known. Plus, he knows that it’ll get his brand attention and get people talking (which is what he really wants).
While these five can be a pain in the golf world, I wouldn’t consider them true villains of the game like Shooter McGavin in Happy Gilmore.
Who’s your least favorite person in the golf world?
Let us know in the comments below!
Written by Michael Leonard
