Overton's Takes To Twitter To Highlight (Well, Complain Vigorously About...) PGA Special Exemptions

An unbylined AP story on Jeff Overton, first alternate in the PGA Championship, reveals the since-deleted Tweets railing against the PGA of America for exempting questionable invitations that went largely uncriticized.

Overton has a point since he plays the PGA Tour, is a former Ryder Cupper and lost out to some European (Challenge) Tour players and Ryo Ishikawa, who is behind Overton in the world rankings. I'm not sure about the money making part, but the overall point is a fair one.

One tweet mentioned the PGA Championship had two sponsor's invitations. "Who did you give your invites to? Not the guy that helped make you 50 million in Wales," he tweeted.

He followed that with two more shots at the PGA of America.

- "(at)PGAChampionship I'm just saying. Ill play ur political picks whenever for wherever."

- "So. In other words u help make a corporation 50 to 100 million dollars. 3 years later they put u on a chair n treat u like a piece of ..."

Overton eventually deleted the series of tweets.

Comments

[Ryan]

...not to mention Tom Watson who had no business being in the field. Nevertheless very petty by Overton

[FT]

Qualify on your own merit, Jeff!

[mehstg]

Dave Hill, whither thou? Pesky forinnuh's, takin' out munny, our gals, our jobs...

[No Longer Used to be Former Stack & Tilt Convert]

Jeff is taking credit for making the PGA $50 million in Wales? They would have made the same amount if I had played.

When you are pointing to something that happened 3 years ago it really exposes the current state of you game.

[D. maculata]

Then next time get your limo, a case of brew and park by the front door with one wheel in the flower bed. Guaranteed they'll notice you.

[Cheeks]

Jay Overton wasn't in the field this week? I didn't even notice.

[The Pro from Dover]

Play better, then you won't have to depend on a sponsor's exemption. Wonder how many brews he had had before he started tweeting?

[tlavin]

An alcohol-related injury to a journeyman's ego. At least he didn't send out a junk shot selfie!

[Boobcat]

@tlavin,

Michael Jordan's son recently did just that!

[elf]

Obviously playing better takes care of the problem. But the idea that a major championship (and it's not just the PGA) is essentially giving sponsor invitations still seems wrong to me

[ol Harv]

Not a fan of how he did this, and obviously if he played better then he wouldn't have to worry, but as someone who has been an alternate at tournaments it is always nice to understand exactly the criteria for filling the field. I have no qualms with a regular tour event giving a sponsor exemption to whomever they want. But this was a major championship that brags about having the strongest field in golf. I had never heard of giving out "special" exemptions, especially to two players playing on the Challenge Tour in Europe. These guys are probably going to be stars, but IMO they were suspect exemptions given late in the game. I have heard rumblings that this has occurred at the Women's US Open this year when certain alternates got in ahead of other alternates based on name recognition instead of alternate standards in place.

[PA PLAYA]

Daly suddenly has company in the pathetic department. This is the card one typically plays when he no longer seems capable of obtaining one.

[DTF]

Why do any of them use twitter? Harmon, Westwood, Overton, Elkington, Poulter, Bubba, Webb, etc...seems like it's only a matter of time until the screw up.

[Chris in NoVa]

Play better.

[johnnnycz]

Aw poor Jeff, he must've been the only one in history who was a first alternate that didn't get "the call". Play better or go do what d.mac said...LOL!

[RM]

He may have a point, but...there is nothing remotely likeable about Jeff Overton so no credit is earned.

[John C]

Looks like the PGA of America made the correct choices.