Which golfers receive the most online abuse?
By Matt Chivers
Professional golfers have been under the spotlight more than ever since the inception of LIV Golf, but which players take the most heat on social media?
In this era of social media, it is easier than ever to send messages and posts to your sporting heroes and favourite public figures.
Unfortunately, it is also easier than ever to send abuse and negative comments and new data from AceOdds has discovered which golfers currently suffer the most online abuse.
AceOdds measured the sentiment of tweets mentioning 25 of the biggest names who played at last week’s US Open and found that the six-time major champion Phil Mickelson holds the unwanted place at the top of this particular leaderboard.
Lefty currently generates 60% of negative sentiment in tweets sent his way.
During the first round of the US Open last week, Mickelson was forced to step away from a putt as he was heckled by a spectator wearing a sombrero and a stick-on moustache.
Golf is still enduring a sustained period of polarisation and hostility, despite the groundbreaking announcement of the PGA Tour’s merger with the Public Investment Fund of Saudi Arabia.
Since the inception of LIV Golf, opinion has been divided among golf fans and players as a number of PGA Tour stars chose to hop over to the rebel league led by Greg Norman.
Players such as Rory McIlroy have vocalised their opposition to LIV, with Norman often biting back to assert the breakaway tour “isn’t going anywhere.”
Behind Mickelson, Bryson DeChambeau, Patrick Reed, and Rickie Fowler all generated 55% of negative sentiment, with Fowler being the highest-ranked tour loyalist.
Former US Open champions Brooks Koepka and Dustin Johnson received a proportion of 45% of negative tweets – the same as Jason Day and Tyrrell Hatton.
AceOdds also found American golfers were 5% more likely to receive negative comments than the rest of the world. They averaged 32% of negative comments.
Also, the six LIV Golf players who ranked in the top 50 at the US Open at Los Angeles Country Club suffered an average of 46% negative sentiment – compared with an average of 25% for the 19 highest-ranked PGA Tour players.
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Matt Chivers
Now on the wrong side of 25, Matt has been playing golf since the age of 13 and was largely inspired to take up the game by countless family members who played golf during his childhood.
Matt is a member at Royal Cinque Ports in Deal playing off a 5 handicap, just a pitching wedge away from his hometown of Dover where he went to school and grew up. He has previously been a member at Etchinghill and Walmer and Kingsdown in Kent.
Having studied history at the University of Liverpool, Matt went on to pass his NCTJ Exams in Manchester a year later to fulfil his lifelong ambition of becoming a journalist. He picked up work experience along the way at places such as the Racing Post, the Independent, Sportsbeat and the Lancashire Evening Post.
Matt joined NCG in February 2023 and is the website’s main source of tour news, features and opinion. He has reported live from events such as The Open, the Ryder Cup and The Players Championship, having also interviewed and spent time with some of the biggest names in the sport.
Consuming tour golf on what is a 24/7 basis, you can come to Matt for informed views on the game and the latest updates on the PGA Tour, DP World Tour, LPGA Tour, Ladies European Tour and LIV Golf.
What’s in Matt’s bag: Cobra LTDx LS driver, Cobra LTDx 3-wood, TaylorMade P7MC irons, Ping Glide 4.0 wedges, Odyssey putter.
