Former University of Arizona star and 2002 US Amateur champion Ricky Barnes decided that, when the going gets tough, the best course of action is to lay down on the course and throw a tantrum. Since that would be only slightly more over the top, Ricky opted for the ever-popular “Bruce Banner” school of golf.
During last week’s Australian Masters at Huntingdale Golf Club, Melbourne, Ricky entered the final round three shots off the lead. After watching a tee shot fly a little too far off-target, Ricky decided to actually hit a fairway by smashing his club into the ground. On the 17th, with a repeat performance off the tee, Ricky decided that golf was too difficult a sport, and took up a new sport: Hit the Earth with Golf Clubs.
We’ll let you know if it catches on.
Barnes was paired with eventual winner Richard Green, who was able to ignore the outstanding three-year-old impersonation and win on the first playoff hole.
“From the word go, from the first shot he was blowing up. It was a shame that that sort of behavior was going on.”
Barnes was fined after several spectators complained about his conduct. Tournament Director Andrew Langford-Jones said that he’d fined Barnes a “substantial” amount of money, after which Barnes apologized for his unacceptable conduct.
To top it all off, Barnes finished the tournament tied for 40th.
Will Ricky be allowed back in the great country / continent of Australia? Says Langford-Jones:
“Certainly. He’s been great for the game out here. He’s an exciting young player and the crowds love him.”
Evidently, it’s the kind of love a parent has for a kid who’s misbehaving…
I’m grateful that stories like this are written. It lets us say “we knew him when.” Let’s hope Barnes grows up enough for us to say that of him.
He’s kind of got the look of someone who eats “Wheat-a-Steroids: for breakfast. Perhaps he was just having a bad mental health day…