It is nothing new, really, but that doesn't make it any less annoying.
Monday was the day of reckoning for those hoping to land a spot in the most democratic tournament in America, the US Open, with sectional qualifiers loaded with PGA Tour players and amateurs staged across the land.
As ever, as scores soared, so did eyebrows. At the qualifying sites loaded with tour players hoping to secure a last-ditch spot in the Open, including Columbus and Memphis, player defections were nearly as notable as the few who survived the 36-hole march to earn a place on the tee sheet at Merion next week.
Indeed, 22 players quit midway through the Memphis qualifier after realising they would not earn one of the nine available spots in the Open field, a list that included the American tour winners Chris DiMarco, Brian Gay and John Rollins. Show some semblance of respect, boys.
Sure, poor morning rounds ensured they were not going to make it, but quitting in the middle of a round looks awful and can create hardships for pairings partners. Golfweek magazine called for the host US Golf Association to institute sanctions for those lacking the fortitude to finish the task, suggesting that tour players be forced to endure both tiers of Open qualifying the following summer if they quit early.
That idea warrants a polite golf clap. As far as qualifying holes, tour members would either play them now or play them later.
Or better yet, don't bother signing up at all.
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