The World Boxing Council (WBC) has dismissed Ryan Garcia after he repeatedly used racist and discriminatory rhetoric against Black people and Muslims during a social media broadcast, according to the Associated Press.

“Exercising my authority as president of the WBC, I am hereby expelling Ryan Garcia from any activity with our organization,” WBC president Mauricio Sulaiman wrote on X, once known as Twitter.

Ryan Garcia Expelled By World Boxing Council Following Racist Remarks

“We reject any form of discrimination.”

Garcia issued an apology to X but has subsequently deleted the tweet.

“I was trolling, and I want all the killing to stop,” Garcia wrote, according to the Associated Press. “I love everyone sorry if I offended you.”

CNN has contacted Garcia’s representatives for comment but has not heard back.

Garcia’s family stated his suspension from the WBC, blaming the boxer’s mental health difficulties, according to ESPN.

“Our family unequivocally does not support any statements [Garcia] has made regarding race or religion – these do not reflect who Ryan truly is and how he was raised,” the statement read.

Ryan Garcia Expelled By World Boxing Council Following Racist Remarks

“Those who know Ryan vouch to this truth. Ryan has been upfront about his ongoing struggle with mental health over the years, and as a family, we are committed to assuring and supporting him to seek the appropriate assistance to navigate this difficult time and address both his immediate and long-term well-being.”

Sulaiman stated in his tweet that the WBC has made “multiple attempts” to assist Garcia with mental health and substance misuse.

SOURCE – CNN

LONDON — For the first time this year, the All England Club is monitoring social media in an effort to help protect Wimbledon players from harassment.

“This will not appear in the public domain at all. We are not going to make a big deal out of it. However, we are scrolling social media for this type of stuff, which implies that we can obtain information we did not previously have. “We’re not just relying on what the player claims has happened to them,” tournament director Jamie Baker said Friday. “Also, if there is something of concern, that’s when our security (team) … can help do something about it.”

Wimbledon Is Monitoring Social Media To Try To Protect Players From Cyberbullying

Baker compared the new endeavor to what the French Tennis Federation did during the French Open last year when it began paying a business to supply players with software that employs artificial intelligence to prevent unpleasant remarks.

“Tennis is doing a lot more of this now, so I think in general, for the athletes, it’s really positive that we’re taking this step,” said Baker, who used to be a player.

He said AI plays a role in the All England Club’s efforts in this area, but people also help monitor what’s being said about competitors online during the two-week Grand Slam competition, which ends on July 14.

Players can sign up for the service and request full scans of what is being shared on social media. Players report that messages might include rage expressed by gamblers who lost money on a specific match, racial insults, and even death threats.

“The basis of it is if they’ve got anything that we think is a concern or worth flagging, ultimately, it’s engaging with the player,” according to Baker. “The benefit of having it is, you do have the ability to … officially register what’s going on.”

Wimbledon Is Monitoring Social Media To Try To Protect Players From Cyberbullying

Following a talk with the player, the tournament may contact the police if necessary. However, Baker declined to comment on whether this had already occurred.

“I guess, if it got to the point where there was any type of criminal activity,” Baker said, adding, “But that would be out of our hands.” We’d send that forward. But we’re not going to jump in and become the police.”

SOURCE – AP

As seen by attendance, the Olympics have progressed significantly in the 12 years since golf returned to the program.

This year, very few people are staying at home.

Bernd Wiesberger was one of two qualified players who chose not to play, which was unusual.

Wiesberger was Austria’s third-ranked player until tying for second place in the European Open, where he unexpectedly passed Matthias Schwab. He then withdrew almost quickly, which was not surprising given that Wiesberger previously withdrew from the Tokyo Games.

Cristobal Del Solar of Chile also withdrew, citing the fact that he is on the verge of receiving his first PGA Tour card and did not want to miss time on the Korn Ferry Tour.

The remaining qualified players have all confirmed their participation in Paris.

Adam Scott opposed golf in the Olympics from the outset and withdrew again. Brooks Koepka and Tyrrell Hatton also withdrew, though neither was eligible.

This contrasts sharply with the Rio Olympics, where the top four players in the world—Dustin Johnson, Rory McIlroy, Jordan Spieth, and Jason Day—were among the dozen or so who stayed home.

This was mainly due to concerns about the Zika virus. McIlroy later stated that he despised the Olympics for making him choose between Ireland and Britain, but he eventually changed his mind and played for Ireland in Tokyo.

Men’s Golf Will Have A Good Attendance Record At The Paris Olympics

The Tokyo Games, which were postponed a year to 2021, had no fans due to the pandemic and daily COVID-19 exams. Eleven players, including Johnson, Sergio Garcia, Matt Fitzpatrick, Louis Oosthuizen, Francesco Molinari, and Camilo Villegas, elected not to play.

Villegas, Fitzpatrick, and Emiliano Grillo, three players who elected not to participate in Tokyo, will travel to Paris. The others were ineligible.

Jon Rahm and Bryson DeChambeau were scheduled to play in Tokyo until they tested positive for COVID-19 and were forced to withdraw. Rahm will be in Paris, and DeChambeau is the second alternate.

But it’s a welcome difference that no one is discussing who isn’t going to the Olympics, at least among the males. It was never an issue for the women, who have been out in full force since the beginning.

The men’s Olympic field will have eight of the top ten players and thirteen of the top 25. Countries are allocated two players — a maximum of four if all are in the top 15 — ensuring that every eligible player attends Le Golf National.

Open and close?
Cam Davis of Australia won the Rocket Mortgage Classic, moving up to No. 38 in the global rankings. That may be needed to qualify him for the British Open.

Davis is almost set to be the highest-ranked player in the Official World Golf Ranking next week, which the R&A indicated it will use as a reserve list. Thomas Detry of Belgium is next on the OWGR, at No. 50 among those not previously exempt.

The question is whether a reserve list is necessary.

As of Tuesday, the field for the British Open was 132 participants (assuming Todd Hamilton does not compete since he has not since 2018). Two spots are available at the John Deere Classic, five for the top 20 players in the Race to Dubai following this week, and three for the Scottish Open.

Following Tuesday’s 36-hole qualifying round, 16 additional slots were added to the field. That brings the field to 158 players (or 159) when it should be 156. A reserve list or room for Davis may be unnecessary.

According to the R&A, two to three players often withdraw for various reasons, bringing the field back to 156. However, the Open will go with that number if it arrives at 158 (or 159).

Having a field of more than 156 players in the United Kingdom is not an issue because it only grows dark around 10 p.m. in the summer. The last time the field topped 156 participants was in 1995 when there were 159 at St. Andrews.

Davis’ sole path to Royal Troon could be to win one of the two spots available at the Scottish Open next week.

The wonderful life of Richard Bland
Richard Bland has won two of golf’s most prestigious senior majors, the U.S. Senior Open in a playoff at Newport and the Senior PGA Championship.

And now? We’re heading to Andalucia.

That is the next stop for LIV Golf. Bland has been a member of the LIV since its inception in 2022, with Saudi funding. He competed on the rival tour but has no status as one of the PGA Tour Champions.

Senior majors are only granted an exemption for the following year (2025). Even if Bland wanted to play the PGA Tour Champions, he’d have to wait a year after his last appearance on LIV Golf. If he stops now, it will be next July.

But why would he want to do this?

Bland can now compete in the two biggest senior majors next year. Bland has already earned slightly more over $2.3 million on LIV Golf this year, with his best finish of tied for seventh. It’s a tight timetable with big money.

Bland made $4.4 million on LIV last year, and he earned just more than $3.5 million in seven tournaments during the 2022 season. Steve Stricker had to win six times, including three majors, to earn under $4 million on the PGA Tour Champions last year.

Men’s Golf Will Have A Good Attendance Record At The Paris Olympics

A true rock star.
Fast-talking Rocco Mediate now broadcasts a twice-weekly show on SiriusXM PGA Tour Radio. Now he’s bringing in a true rockstar.

Media and shock rock superstar Alice Cooper have teamed up for a monthly show called “Rolling the Rock with Alice Cooper and Rocco Mediate,” which premieres on Tuesday at 6 p.m. EDT.

Cooper began playing golf 50 years ago while recovering from alcoholism, has a handicap index of 4, and claims to be on the course six days a week, including while traveling.

Cooper and Mediate, a six-time PGA Tour champion best known for losing a U.S. Open playoff to Tiger Woods at Torrey Pines, will share stories from their careers, welcome guests from the golf and entertainment sectors, and discuss current golf topics.

“It’s a completely improvised ‘anything goes’ show. Cooper stated, “We don’t know what we’re going to talk about until we start.” “We’re quite literally just ‘rolling the rock.'”

Divots
This is Deere & Co.’s 25th year as title sponsor of the John Deere Classic, making it the PGA Tour’s second-longest continuous title sponsor after the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am (39 years). Cameron Young has 18 top-10 finishes in his three full PGA Tour seasons. He is still waiting for his first win. Richard Bland got $800,000 for his U.S. Senior Open triumph, the third-highest salary of his career. He won $1.175 million in a three-way tie for third place at LIV Golf events in Thailand and Greenbrier last year.

Stat of the Week
Florida State sophomore Luke Clanton tied for tenth place in the Rocket Mortgage Classic, becoming the third amateur this year to finish in the top ten on the PGA Tour. This features American Express winner Nick Dunlap.

Final word
“It simply made me a better player. You will not always play your best golf, but I am the best player I have ever been.” ― Richard Bland about his experience playing LIV Golf.