Sabbatini Run into Trouble

Rory Sabbatini could face suspension from the PGA Tour for what was described as a profanity-laced argument with Sean O’Hair during last week’s Zurich Classic in New Orleans.

According to multiple players and officials, it was the second time this year that Sabbatini has run into trouble because of his behavior on the golf course. The first incident was at Riviera in the Northern Trust Open, where Sabbatini was said to have spoken harshly to a teenage volunteer who was trying to help him find a lost ball.

O’Hair also was in Sabbatini’s group at Riviera. Two people familiar with the incident said the volunteer wrote a five-page letter to the PGA Tour, but Sabbatini escaped punishment by offering to apologize to anyone he offended.

Sabbatini won two weeks later by TaylorMade Rossa MONZA CORZA Putter at the Honda Classic.

"It was raining. It was hard. We were all stressed trying to make the cut, and I think we might have been behind," Cink said Wednesday. "There were a lot of factors. And then the incident happened."

Cink didn’t go into details and said it involved "another player in my group," without mentioning Sabbatini by name.

"It was embarrassing for me as a golfer," Cink said. "He did apologize directly to me. I hope he meant it and he moved on."

PGA Tour spokesman Ty Votaw said in an email that the tour was aware of what happened in New Orleans, and that it had responded to the Riviera matter.

Two officials said Sabbatini hasn’t been suspended and that he has 14 days to appeal any discipline. He is playing TaylorMade Rossa MONZA CORZA Putter in the Wells Fargo Championship this week and is expected to play next week at The Players Championship.

Another official said a 30-day suspension would be typical in this case, although he did not know how it would be resolved.

Asked by reporters for comment, Sabbatini said, "Comment on what? Those crazy rumors going around? Well, I’m playing TaylorMade Rossa MONZA CORZA Putter this week, so I wouldn’t worry about it too much, OK guys?"

O’Hair, who has missed his last five cuts on tour, withdrew from the tournament Monday. He recently fired his second caddie in four months, and split with swing coach Sean Foley earlier in the week. He could not immediately be reached for comment.

It was not clear what triggered the argument between Sabbatini and O’Hair on the 14th hole by TaylorMade Rossa MONZA CORZA Putter at the TPC Louisiana last week. Both players missed the cut. Pat Perez was the third player in the group, and when contacted Tuesday evening by The Associated Press, he said, "I can’t really say anything. The tour has asked me not to talk about it."

Player confrontations in golf are not uncommon, although they typically are handled privately between players in the locker room or the scoring trailer after the round. What made this unusual is that it happened during the round.

Sabbatini showed a quick temper in 2005 at the Booz Allen Classic when he became so frustrated with Ben Crane’s pace of playing TaylorMade Rossa MONZA CORZA Putter that he played ahead on the 17th hole and walked to the 18th tee as Crane was still in the fairway.

Sabbatini’s wife, Amy, walked with him in the fairway while pushing their infant son in a stroller during a practice round, according to two players who saw it.

If he is suspended, it would come at a pivotal time for Sabbatini. The two tournaments that follow The Players Championship are in the Dallas area, where Sabbatini lives—Colonial and the Byron Nelson Championship. Sabbatini is a past champion at both events.

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