Ian Poulter and Lee Westwood have rounded on Paul Azinger after the former United States Ryder Cup captain played down the relevance of the European Tour.
Azinger was accused of showing โdisrespectโ to the European competition in television commentary for NBC at the PGA Tourโs Honda Classic, which was also broadcast on Sky Sports.
In his role as the American networkโs lead golf analyst, Azinger said English golfer Tommy Fleetwood had yet to prove himself, effectively claiming his European Tour victories counted for little.
I think Paul sometimes thinks he has to be controversial to be relevant. Itโs a little disappointing that Dan sits there and looks to be agreeing and then doesnโt question his comments. @PGATOUR is a great tour but in the current golfing climate we shouldnโt be creating divides.
— Lee Westwood (@WestwoodLee) March 2, 2020
โThere is a lot of pressure here (on Fleetwood),โ he said. โYou know you are trying to prove to everybody youโve got what it takes.
โThese guys know, you can win all you want on the European Tour, the international game and all that, but you have to win on the PGA Tour.โ
Fleetwood, the world number 10 who has five professional wins and two major runner-up spots to his name, was leading at the PGA National before going on to finish third, two behind winner Sungjae Im, after finding the water on the 18th.
Westwood, who finished tied for fourth, said on Twitter: โI think Paul sometimes thinks he has to be controversial to be relevant.
It was so easy for @PaulAzinger to say that @TommyFleetwood1 has won around the world and is a world class player. Now the time has come for him to prove that on the strongest tour in the world.
— Thomas Bjorn (@thomasbjorngolf) March 2, 2020
He was at best ignorant, at worst arrogant in delivering that.
Bring on September !
โItโs a little disappointing that Dan (Hicks, NBC golf presenter) sits there and looks to be agreeing and then doesnโt question his comments.
โThe PGA Tour is a great tour but in the current golfing climate we shouldnโt be creating divides.โ
Poulter, who can boast 14 wins, six defeats and two halves in the Ryder Cup, also called Azinger to account on social media.
He wrote on Twitter: โI like @PaulAzinger a lot. And get on with him great. But Paul please do not condescend or disrespect the @EuropeanTour and our players like that.
โWe have slapped your a*** in Ryder Cup for so long. I know you captained a win but seriously that was embarrassing today.โ
Europeโs victorious 2018 Ryder Cup captain Thomas Bjorn also weighed in, and seemingly cannot wait for the 2020 event in Wisconsin.
The Dane posted: โIt was so easy for @PaulAzinger to say that @TommyFleetwood1 has won around the world and is a world class player. Now the time has come for him to prove that on the strongest tour in the world. He was at best ignorant, at worst arrogant in delivering that. Bring on September!โ