SINGLE-MINDED TWIT Pepperell slams DeChambeau but US star blasts ‘tell me to my face’
the game, I’m doing this and that to the game, that is complete and utter you-know-what.
“When you start personally attacking people on Twitter, it’s like, ‘Come on, dude’. Let’s have some more balls and speak to me to my face about that.” Slow play has been a major topic of conversation recently, with world No1 Brooks Koepka and fellow fourtime Major champion Rory McIlroy among those speaking out and pleading with tour officials to do something about it. DeChambeau has a physics degree and, critics say, a habit of over-analysing shots.
At one point in the Northern Trust in New Jersey yesterday, he paced off a 70-yard approach shot, taking a couple of minutes. Ian Poulter was another one not impressed with DeChambeau’s behaviour on the course, saying: “There are a few players who continually disrespect their fellow pros and continue to break the rules without a conscience.
“It should be self-policed but clearly this won’t happen. It’s so disappointing that it hasn’t been stopped.”
And Rich Beem, the 2002 USPGA Championship winner, rounded on his fellow American when he said: “This has got to stop. PGA Tour, if you don’t do something about this, shame on you.
“As a member, I’m outraged you can tolerate this. You talk about protecting the field, then protect it by penalising or disqualifying this type of behaviour. Enough.”
Pepperell, who is not playing the Northern Trust – the first of the PGA Tour’s play-off events – added: “When it’s as egregious as Bryson was [yesterday], and if they’re already behind, then shot penalties should be handed out.
“Fines don’t mean anything to these guys.You’d only need to hand out a few penalties and things would improve quickly.”