‘They screwed me’ – Major champion slams PGA of America

Former Open champion Mark Calcavecchia was furious with the PGA of America after he withdrew midway through the first round of the Senior PGA Championship.

Calcavecchia, who lifted the Claret Jug at Royal Troon in 1989, was baffled by the major’s governing body’s policy on golf carts at Harbor Shores.

The 63-year-old was seven-over through 13 holes when he decided to pull out from the tournament and then took to social media to question his contrasting treatment with fellow competitor Bernard Langer.

Langer has made a remarkable recovery after rupturing his Achilles in February and the two-time Masters winner was eligible for a cart in Michigan.

But Calcavecchia, who has had back and knee surgeries in recent years, wasn’t approved one.

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“Welp the @PGA screwed me,” he wrote on X after withdrawing. “Langer got a cart. Not me. Nothing against Langer. Love the guy. He’s got repaired Achilles and came back too soon. I get it. I’ve got repaired back and knees. No cart for me. What’s the difference @PGA.”

Calcavecchia then agreed with a fan who suggested that everybody in the field should be able to ride a cart, or nobody can.

Players are unable to use carts in the senior majors, unless they have an ADA [Americans with Disabilities Act] exemption.

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Langer, who went on to finish T34, claimed before the tournament that he simply would not be able to compete without the ADA.

“I can’t walk 18 holes,” he stressed. “It’s not just this week; it’s every week for a few more months. You can put me on the flattest golf course anywhere in the world. I can’t walk that long. Standing for five hours and walking is not on right now.”

Meanwhile, Richard Bland claimed victory on his first ever senior major start with a thrilling eight-under-par final round.

The 51-year-old Englishman, who plays on the LIV Golf circuit, finished three shots clear of Australia’s Richard Green and banked a winner’s cheque of $630,000.

Ben Parsons joined bunkered as a Content Producer in 2023 and is the man to come to for all of the latest news, across both the professional and amateur games. Formerly of The Mirror and Press Association, he is a member at Halifax Golf Club and is a long-suffering fan of both Manchester United and the Wales rugby team.