Professional golfer Retief Goosen missed his early morning tee time for a Pro-Am tournament Wednesday because he overslept. As a result, he was disqualified from playing in the $4.8 million Nissan Open that started play today.
Wednesday golf?!? Can’t these guys get a day off?
They’re already working Thursday through Sunday. Ok, well not every week, and some weeks they miss the cut and only play two days, but still they have to walk the course! Carts are not allowed on the PGA tour.
Goosen is currently the number 5 ranked golfer in the world, behind Vijay Singh, Tiger Woods, Ernie Els and Phil Mickelson. When it comes to the money ranking though, he falls behind. While the other member of the top 5 ranking are also in the top 5 money leaders, Goosen is at number 69.
This mistake will not help his bottom line. More from Slam! Sports:
Even though the Pro-Am officially is not part of the tournament, a PGA rule instituted last year to deter players from taking the Pro-Am too lightly provides for disqualification for players who fail to show on time for the Pro-Am.
Ironically, Goosen had hosted a cocktail party the previous evening at Riviera on behalf of Grey Goose Vodka, a product he endorses. The connection between the reception and Goosen’s late arrival on the tee 13 hours later was cause for some mirthful circumstantial speculation sadly unsupported by the facts.
“Retief Goosen is a model citizen who simply didn’t get a wakeup call,” said Mark Russell, a PGA official who made the call. “I told him I wished there was something I could do, but it’s right there in black and white. He had requested that time but he just didn’t get a wakeup call.”
Eric Anderson at 8:45 pm
