NO KNEELING IN GOLF
Prez Cup team backs Trump on anthem
Davis Love III took a hard line stance in support of President Trump Tuesday, when the Presidents Cup U.S. Team assistant captain veered in the opposite direction from the NFL players who knelt during the national anthem this weekend. “I think President Trump is right,” Love said on the Golf Channel’s “Morning Drive” show Tuesday. “There is a time for protest, and it probably isn’t during the national anthem. Our country has fought hard for that right.” U.S. captain Steve Stricker wholeheartedly agreed, as did his players, which is not surprising since the sports skews overwhelmingly conservative. “I just wanted to know what they wanted to do and how we wanted to proceed as a team,” Stricker said. “So we were going to do what we always do, and that’s take off our hat and put our hands across our chest and over our heart and respect the flag. So that’s what we’re planning on doing.” Some of the world’s best golfers will participate in the Presidents Cup in Jersey City, starting Thursday at Liberty National Golf Club. The U.S. Team — which includes Phil Mickelson and Rickie Fowler — will play against the International Team, comprised of players from non-European countries around the globe.
At the U.S. Women’s Open earlier this summer, when golf’s best female players teed off at the Trump National Golf Club in Bedminster, N.J., most of the women in the field avoided answering questions about the President. But Tuesday, Mickelson and Fowler offered different views on the events of this past weekend, with Fowler in agreement with Love’s remarks.
“Look, we have social injustices in this country and we should all strive to eliminate them. We’ve made great strides over the years, but we’ve got a ways to go,” said Mickelson, a five-time major champion. “But this week, I’m so proud to represent the United States, play for my country, play for my teammates, and participate in this great event.”
When asked if he supported the NFL players’ actions this past weekend, Mickelson began his answer before the reporter was finished asking the question. “I don’t know how else to add to it. I feel like I’ve answered that the best I can,” said Mickelson, 47.
Fowler, meanwhile, said that while he respects the NFL players for exercising their freedom of speech, he said there are more appropriate ways to protest than kneeling during the national anthem.
“I think the same reason that we have our flag, our freedom, the people that fought for our right to be able to do that, those guys (in the NFL) have their right and freedom of speech to do what they want,” said Fowler, 28. “Do I necessarily think it’s the right time to do it? No. It’s our national anthem. It’s our country’s flag. It’s a special time to, in a way, pay respect and remember what a great country we get to live in. It is free speech, and you can do what you want. But I just think it may be better at a different time.”
Love said in his interview that “there’s a little bit more restraint” in the sport of golf when it comes to golfers’ exercising their views, and Love said his sport was more successful as a result.
“There’s a time for us to protest, and it really isn’t during the national anthem. We ought to take a break during the prayer or during the national anthem to thank our country, to thank our forefathers who went before us,” said Love during the Golf Channel interview. “And then we can protest with our votes, with our letters to our congressmen or however we want.”
Australian Jason Day said questions about the national anthem and NFL players’ protests of Trump were “way above my pay grade.”
“My main focus is trying to beat the Americans. (NFL players) can do whatever they feel like they want to do. I’m just trying to make sure that our team is ready to take on this team that’s very tough,” said Day. “I’m just going to keep quiet on that one.” GETTY