Patrick Cantlay set the opening round lead at the Genesis Invitational on Thursday, but one fellow professional was left unimpressed by his lack of ‘fore’ shouts towards the end of play.
Tony Johnstone, a former Presidents Cup vice-captain, has expressed his disappointment in Patrick Cantlay’s behavior during the opening round of the Genesis Invitational.
Cantlay, who performed exceptionally well with a seven-under-par 64, failed to shout “fore” after two wayward shots on the final hole. Johnstone believes that Cantlay should face a “huge fine” for breaking one of golf’s unwritten rules.
On the par-four 18th, Cantlay’s tee shot veered off course and hit one of the course ball-spotters, followed by another off-target attempt towards the green-side crowd.
Cantlay neglected to issue a warning by saying “fore” after his wayward tee shot, and it seemed that he did the same with his second attempt as well, until a late warning came from a member of his group. Johnstone was unimpressed and took to X (formerly Twitter) to criticize the leader of the tournament. “Consecutive shots and Cantlay hits a ball-spotter and then spectators around the green.
“Would it be too much to ask for a shout of ‘fore’?” He then added in a subsequent comment: “[He] should be heavily fined.” Cantlay has been no stranger to controversy in recent months, as he played the role of the antagonist at last Autumn’s Ryder Cup.
Reports indicated that the 38-year-old caused division within the Team USA locker room in Rome, allegedly being dissatisfied with not receiving payment for representing his country. Just a few weeks later, Cantlay’s name was once again involved in controversy, as it was claimed that he was attempting to assert control over the PGA Tour’s Policy Board.
The current world No. 5 is actively serving as a Player Director on the board during this crucial time for the PGA Tour. They are currently engaged in negotiations with the Public Investment Fund of Saudi Arabia (PIF) to resolve their ongoing dispute with LIV Golf. Cantlay himself addressed these allegations towards the end of 2023, downplaying any rumors of a coup.
“I believe it’s important to approach information on the internet with caution,” he shared with Golf.com in December. “If we examine the facts that are available, it becomes clear that no single player can seize control. Even if all the players were to unite, it would still be impossible.
“We only hold half of the board seats, and any significant decision requires a two-thirds majority. Additionally, considering that the Tour has enlisted the expertise of Allen and Co., a renowned investment bank, and has been leading the discussions since before the framework agreement was announced, it becomes evident that such claims are simply impossible.”
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