Getty Image / Maddie Meyer
Alan Shipnuck, the author of a forthcoming book on LIV Golf, has already irked 2-time Major Champion Justin Thomas with his incessant promotion of it, despite it being only one day since its release.
The initial excerpts from Shipnuck’s latest work, titled ‘LIV And Let Die’, were unveiled on Wednesday. These snippets featured intriguing tales about Brooks Koepka’s contract signing and a heated (and profanity-laden) argument between Paul Casey and Jamie Weird.
While enjoying his vacation in Italy, Justin Thomas, a two-time PGA Championship victor, took to X (previously known as Twitter) to vehemently criticize a story about Rory McIlroy, sourced from an ‘anonymous former Ryder Cup teammate’ of Rory’s. The said story was shared by Kyle Porter of CBS Sports:
Here’s an excerpt about Rory from @AlanShipnuck’s recently published book. pic.twitter.com/GMmc0gDmPU
— Kyle Porter (@KylePorterCBS) October 4, 2023
Justin Thomas expressed his dissatisfaction with Alan Shipnuck’s actions, stating that many Tour players share his sentiment. They believe that Shipnuck should focus on promoting the game of golf and sharing positive stories, rather than trying to profit from criticizing players with inaccurate information. This criticism is valid, as fans who have been loyal to the sport for decades want to hear both the good and the bad sides of the game, not just biased articles. Justin Thomas acknowledged that no one is perfect, but it is frustrating when unnamed sources continuously bash players. He understands that criticism is a part of the sport, but it becomes disheartening when it happens repeatedly.
In response to someone suggesting that negativity attracts attention, Justin Thomas agreed, stating that it is unfortunate that this is the world we live in today. He observed that the industry is filled with media organizations that thrive on manufacturing outrage out of nothing. However, he clarified that Alan Shipnuck is not one of them. Brooks Koepka supported Justin Thomas’s sentiment by adding his own comment.
Alan Shipnuck later responded to Justin Thomas, stating that what he wants is public relations or hagiography, not journalism. He explained that while he has written many positive stories about golfers and the game, he believes that scrutiny and criticism are sometimes necessary. The divisive nature of the LIV vs. Tour issue was captured in his work, and he believes it is not his role to sugarcoat things.
The PGA Tour-LIV Golf merger happened unexpectedly and became the biggest story in the golf world. This book will be intriguing for various reasons, particularly the behind-the-scenes stories. Alan Shipnuck is not sensationalizing or spreading negativity; instead, he serves as a conduit for sharing the stories of what occurred during the LIV-PGA split.
According to the Source brobible.com