‘Cheat’ PGA Tour winner hits back at undercover tournament ‘joke’

Former Ryder Cup star J.B. Holmes has claimed stories spreading ‘inaccuracies’ about a recent golf outing are ‘hilarious’.

The five-time PGA Tour winner has gone viral after reports suggested he won a scramble event in Tennessee under a different name.

But the 41-year-old has provided his take on the bizarre proceedings and says he was entered as John Bradley, as a ‘joke’.

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Holmes tweeted: “I did play scramble under my real name… John Bradley. It was bring your best team… and we had the best team.”

He then said: “Lol these stories are hilarious! Keep them coming, no one has got it right yet.”

That was before Holmes had seen enough and decided to hit back and tell Twitter ‘what actually happened’.

Here is the Tournament rules and what actually happened. We were winning -21 after round 1 and that’s how they made the flights. pic.twitter.com/zCNUm0kNYY

— J.B. Holmes (@JBHolmesgolf) June 1, 2023

In the hope that no golfer sandbagged the scramble, called ‘Gangsome’, tournament organisers did not check anyone’s name or handicap, according to Holmes.

The American claims his team only had one plus handicapper, despite being allowed to have two, with Holmes noted as a plus four handicap.

That is what the PGA Tour player uses at his club as a member guest, while the rest of his team had golfers playing off one, four, 11, 12, and 14 handicaps.

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Holmes was also adamant to make clear the financial implications of his participation in the Calcutta, worth around $21,000 for the winner, before blasting the event for playing fairly.

He said: “Neither I nor anyone on my team bought or bid on our team at the Calcutta. I was not even present for the Calcutta.

“I was playing for fun with my friend and had no intention to, nor did I attempt to make money at the scramble.

“They did not let us participate in Calcutta even though no rules were broken. Unfortunately, what was meant to be a fun golf outing with a friend has turned into a compilation of inaccuracies.”

John Turnbull A graduate of the University of Stirling, John joined the bunkered team in 2023 as a Content Producer, with a responsibility for covering all breaking news, tour news, grassroots content and much more besides. A keen golfer, he plays the majority of his golf at Falkirk Golf Club. Top of his 'bucket list' is a round of Pebble Beach... ideally in the company of Gareth Bale.