Rory Sabbatini and Sean O’Hair, who were paired together in the first two rounds, along with Pat Perez, had a heated exchange (limited to words — sorry, no punches thrown) during the second round of last week’s Zurich Classic of New Orleans. Both players will likely receive disciplinary action — determined at the discretion of the PGA Tour — but the severity of their punishments is expected to differ, according to sources who spoke on the condition of anonymity.
O’Hair, whose friends describe him as “non-confrontational,” will probably be slapped with a lighter punishment than Sabbatini, whose infamous temper has led to multiple run-ins (to his credit, he’s significantly simmered down). Word is Sabbo may face a multiple-week suspension, which he then has the option to appeal.
According to the handbook, players have up to 14 days from the time they’re notified of the punishment to respond with “facts or evidence of mitigating circumstances.” If he’s suspended and subsequently appeals (assuming the wheels have yet to turn), the (alleged) disciplinary action does not go into effect while awaiting for a response from the Tour. The handbook reads, “An appeal shall stay the effective date of any penalty, except from a tournament then in progress or scheduled for the calendar week in which the alleged violation occurred, until after the final decision on the appeal.” (Tournament officially begins once the pro-am starts, to my understanding.)
Per the Tour’s policy of not disclosing fines or suspensions, a media official declined comment on Tuesday.
Details to what actually transpired, verbally, are still hazy. Sabbatini could not be reached for comment at the time this was published. Perez chose not to discuss the incident. (A fellow player joked, “(Perez) was actually the calm one [of the group] in this situation.”)
The incident in New Orleans isn’t the first time this year that Sabbatini has lost his temper. At the Northern Trust Open in February, Sabbatini, who also happened to be playing with O’Hair (and Stewart Cink), made a scene when he berated a 16-year-old Shotlink volunteer, sources say. Sabbatini hit an errant drive in the rough and the volunteer marked the spot with an empty container of soda instead of a flag.
When Sabbatini found his ball embedded (conditions were soft and wet at Riviera during the first two rounds due to heavy rain), he blamed the volunteer for the poor lie, saying he caused the ball to plug when he put the soda bottle on it. The teen said it wasn’t the case — he found the ball embedded and just marked it. Then, evidently, Sabbatini lost his temper and berated the kid. O’Hair intervened and tried to get Sabbatini, who eventually missed the cut after shooting 70-76, to back off.
The volunteer wrote a long, detailed letter to the Tour about the encounter. Sabbatini presumably received disciplinary action, but again, a media official would not comment.
Andy Pazder, the Tour’s Chief of Operations, had a discussion with Sabbatini and O’Hair on Tuesday at Quail Hollow, the site of this week’s Wells Fargo Championship. It was not behind closed doors. The evening prior, O’Hair, who won the event in 2009, withdrew. And then on Tuesday, O’Hair called it quits with his swing coach of nearly three years Sean Foley. A spokesperson at IMG, the management agency that represents O’Hair, told this site in an email the withdrawal was due to “personal reasons.”
As of Tuesday evening, Sabbatini is still in the field. Sources say whether or not that continues to be the case is yet to be determined. Stay tuned…
(More on this story: Sabbatini Denies Looming Disciplinary Action)
Do you know what they were arguing about this time, or were they just rehashing Riviera?
Now that is more like journalism Stephanie but the article implies there was a more recent altercation.. What ,when , where ??? Or was all this still associated with Riviera?
Steve = self-important douchebag
Steve, why do you always ask this writer to add details for which she is not sure? She wrote what she knows at this time and is the only journalist on the case as far as I know. Your rant about her not explaining the Els penalty at Hilton Head made no sense because she mentioned the penalty breach. You wanted her to explain an incident she did not see, now you want her to give details of a conversation that she did not hear. At least be fair when criticising.
I think this is a great post and obviously Stephanie is going to try hard to provide more details as she learns them, not as she assumes them.
[...] Sean O’Hair and Rory Sabatini got into a fight in the second round of the Zurich Classic? (Wei Under Par) [...]
Sabbo needs to be taught a life lesson. He has silver spoons oozing out of all his orifices, and disrespects everyone else. He should have to BE a Spotter/Volunteer for 6 months, and live on minimum wage for that time. He may learn to appreciate the life he has.
@KR1 – wow, touchy. The article says there was an altercation at Zurich last week. But there is nothing about that altercation. Seems like a reasonable question in terms of details on that.
Sabo should be sentenced to pairings with Webb Simpson and Ben Crane for the rest of the year. “He’ll Quit the Game” – Carl Spackler
Considering O’Hair’s history with his father I can see how he especially would hate to see a kid getting berated (he has been there done that). Good for Sean…
Great piece.
Seems like there’s a lot going on around O’Hair right now
Steve, it sounds like there were two altercations and a meeting.
Altercation #1: as described at Riviera, with Cink as the third player in the group. That’s the one about berating the volunteer.
Altercation #2: last week while the two were playing with Pat Perez (probably also bad scheduling by the PGA tour to pair these two again, but that’s neither here nor there). No one is talking about that one, so we don’t know what it’s about.
Meeting: This week at Quail Hollow, presumably to discuss the altercation last week.
Rory has a good heart, as evidenced by his charity work and support of troops. He also is a hothead, as evidenced by his repeated confrontations with other players. He really needs to get the temper under control, or the negative public perception of him is going to be too much to overcome.
i used to think that sabbo was a douche. then i thought he had changed his ways and was all right. now he’s back to being a douche.
Surpised to hear about this with respect to Sabbatini after all the talk a couple of months ago about how he reformed himself after some life impacting events.
I wonder if Bubba Watson is going to follow the same pattern and go back to his hothead temperament when his stretch of good play cools off? (He went nuts on some fan that was following him during the semis at the Accenture – so is anger condition is really in remission rather than cured).
I am surprised the altercation didnt involve Ben Crane, “The human rain delay”
or Vijay “The Cheater” Singh
Fire Sabbo I want his hat.
Hey Stephanie – looks like you were way out front with this story. Well done!
I agree with M. Douche- undouche-douche is about my history with Sabbo also. Will Perez be fined as “third man in?”
Speaking of hockey WUP, your old college friend , Chris Higgins, scored for Vancouver in their play-off win in Nashville last night. Long way from New Haven (or the MSG for that matter.)
The PGA should hold a disciplinary auction to sell Sabbo’s hat.
Its because Sabatini has small hands and smells of cabbage,thats why he has an anger problem.
This is exactly right. I’ve mentioned the diminutive nature of his hands on multiple occasions in the past, but had no idea that he’s also ham-strung by smelling of cabbage. Thanks for sharing this (very) interesting information!
Indeed, Sabbatini is an angry looking mofo. Always red faced and is there a more sour puss on the PGA Tour i don’t think so.
Sabatini still obviously has a long way to go as far as his temperament is concerned. Golf is a gentleman’s game and these sort of things shouldn’t be happening.
I watched Stephanie working this story first hand yesterday in Charlotte at the Wells Fargo…She’s doing a great job in an environment that’s not easy…
Rory is an ass.
He wears that stupid hat because he had skin cancer. But his attitude is that of a douche.
Is Sabo a foreigner? Enough said!
I don’t care what the circumstances, yelling at a kid volunteer? What a complete & utter assmunch.
ps: Stephanie – great story, great smile.
Sabbatini was once described in a caddie poll as one of the most undesireable people to have in a group of players. One remarked that Sabbatini gives the impression that he resents having the breathe the same air as the others. The man is undoubtedly a jerk, but based on my thirty years of volunteering in other tournaments, I can tell you that there a whole lot of jerks out there who never get called out – players who take every opportunity to scream and berate volunteers and spectators as though they are dirt. I once watched Fulton Allem berate a volunteer who was at least fifty feet away from him for making the keys or change in his pocket rattle while Allem was on the green – not a polite, “Can you be quiet please?”, but an all out attack that looked like it would be the beginning of a physical confrontation. Nice guys? Most, but as to the rest of them? Narcissistic jerks.
Cheers Joey (re May 8th) TV commentators & the like generally like to give the viewing public the impression that all tour players are real gentlemen at all times & that the sun shines out of their a**. Lets face it, they’re pampered, they earn a lot for hitting a ball round a field with a stick, & feel that they can do & say what they want. Some of the “icons” have been held up a shining examples but off camera are the worst. Granted there are exceptions, but very few. What about some real “reality TV” showing players at their normal behavour, might need an X rating.
Could I remind Carl that he is probably not a native North American, unless decended from an origonal Indian tribe, and that moronic racist comments like that are worse than the incident with Sabatini.
Bet you’re the first to shout “get in the hole”
great story and awesome site. some really classic posts!
i love rory `never a dull moment` sabbatini. not sure if i`d want to play golf w/ him, but seriously, always something going on with him and he`s not afraid to absolutly melt down, right on live tv, sometimes. but yelling at kid? come on! lame. he was probably trying to get a ruling. and good going o`hair, people need to stand up to abuse in the moment. unfortunately, o`hair had to take a little(more…?) abuse in the process. and carl, you`re going to discard the rest of the world because of one hat wearing, ass munch? really? lol
First of all… Carl Wambold: “Is Sabo a foreigner? Enough said!” Seriously? Ignorant people like Carl will be the downfall of this nation.
Moving on: I’d been impressed at how quiet Sabbatini had been…. This incident doesn’t surprise me. His temper mars the Tour, and he really needs to get some help (maybe he has schizoid personality disorder). Just because you play decent golf and are on TV doesn’t mean that you can act however you want.
It seems Sabbatini has an O’Hair trigger…
As a South African, I was going to respond to Carl’s comment, but I note with satisfaction that some of his (presumably) countrymen have already done so appropriately.
I’ve been embarrassed by Sabbatini’s antics for a long time, but luckily there are plenty South Africans on tour to do us proud (Ernie, Charl, Louis etc).
Golf is really starting to explode as a global game, especially in places like Asia, and this is largely thanks to the US Tour and people like Mr Finchem. But I really feel that the US should ease its grip on world golf a bit by doing two things:
1. encouraging more players to travel internationally to play tournaments abroad.
2. Letting the PGA Championships be a roving tournament that is held outside of the US or Britain. Spread the love. I think America should be satisfied with 2 of the 4 majors.
Very interesting , thanks
[...] Sabbatini and You This ill-tempered South African has had his share of enemies: from Sean O’Hair, to Ben Crane, to Vijay Singh, and even an innocent tournament volunteer. But he reserves his [...]