By Alex Myers
Golf fans can expect to hear even more from David Feherty in 2022.

SiriusXM announced on Tuesday the popular golf analyst is set to host a new radio show. The weekly program will feature Feherty along with fellow former pro and current SiriusXM host John Maginnes.

“I can’t wait to work with John Maginnes,” Feherty said in a statement. “He is one of my favourite people and SiriusXM will be a really fun platform for us. The over/under on both of us getting cancelled is about six weeks!”

Feherty and Maginnes will combine interviews with commentary on headlines from around golf. It’s regular timeslot will be Mondays at 7 p.m. ET beginning Jan. 3, but the two will do a preview show on Dec. 1 at 5 p.m. ET.

Feherty, a five-time European Tour winner and a member of Europe’s 1991 Ryder Cup team, has been a broadcaster since 1997. After nearly two decades working for CBS, the TV funnyman moved to NBC in 2016. He also hosted an eponymous golf talk program with Golf Channel that wasn’t renewed in January after a 10-year run.

The post David Feherty to host new radio show appeared first on Golf Digest Middle East.

By Joel Beall
The PGA Tour’s motion to dismiss Hank Haney’s lawsuit has been denied by the Southern District of Florida.

Haney, who was suspended by the Tour and SiriusXM earlier in 2019 for comments deemed racist and sexist on his eponymous radio program, brought a suit against the Tour in December, alleging the Tour harboured a “vendetta” against him. According to the documents, Haney, 64, is seeking damages “for the harm the PGA Tour caused when it improperly intimidated, enticed and threatened Sirius XMRadio, Inc. (SiriusXM) to suspend and ultimately terminate Haney’s radio broadcast on SiriusXM’s PGA Tour Radio station.” Haney claims the Tour has “long attempted to disrupt and interfere in Haney’s business,” most notably regarding the release of his book, The Big Miss, a tell-all from Haney’s time as Tiger Woods’ swing coach.

Haney also alleges the Tour forced the Golf Channel to discontinue his “Hank Haney Project” TV show on the network and SiriusXM to terminate Haney’s business relationship. According to Haney, these actions have cost advertising revenues that “would have amounted to millions” over the life of Haney’s agreements.

The Tour argued in its motion to dismiss that Haney is not taking responsibility for his words and that his accusations are unfounded. However, the Southern District asserted on Monday that the case ultimately deserves its day in court.

“The Court, having reviewed the parties’ submissions, the record, and being otherwise fully advised in the premises, finds that the allegations teed up in this case—like a well-hit drive on the golf course—have avoided pleading hazards under Rule 12(b)(6), remained in bounds, and left Plaintiffs with an opportunity to take their next shot,” reads the court’s ruling.

In May 2019, Haney and his co-host Steve Johnson were involved in controversy when they made comments during Haney’s show regarding the U.S. Women’s Open. Haney mockingly predicted “a Korean” would win the championship, held that week at the Country Club of Charleston, adding he couldn’t name six players on the LPGA Tour save for those with the last name “Lee.”

“I’m pleased with the court’s decision,” Haney said in a statement to Golf Digest’s Brian Wacker. “It allows us to move forward and prove our case. Discovery will show the evidence in our favour is overwhelming and indisputable and evidences a disturbing influence the PGA Tour exercises in the golf world, including on media outlets. I’m looking forward to our day in court.”

The PGA Tour said it has no comment on the matter.

Haney is best known for coaching Woods from 2004 to 2010. He is also a longtime Golf Digest teaching professional. The Tour has until April 13 to respond to Haney’s complaint.

The post Court denies PGA Tour’s motion to dismiss Hank Haney lawsuit appeared first on Golf Digest Middle East.

By Joel Beall
It was inevitable. That doesn’t make it any less astonishing.

Last week golf instructor Hank Haney, along with co-host Steve Johnson, made remarks deemed racist and sexist regarding the U.S. Women’s Open on Haney’s eponymous radio show. Haney mockingly predicted “a Korean” would win this week’s event at Country Club of Charleston, adding he couldn’t name six players on the LPGA Tour save for those with the last name “Lee.”

The outcry was swift, with the LPGA, its stars, golf personalities and fans criticizing Haney for his insensitivity. Haney tried to clarify those comments later in the program, saying he couldn’t remember what he said. “I guess people are taking this as racially insensitive,” Haney said.” He then apologised “if I offended anyone.” The show ended with Johnson telling Haney he was not a racist, to which Haney replied, “I am definitely not a racist.” Haney later issued a longer apology to Golf Digest and on Twitter.

That acknowledgement was not enough in the eyes of the PGA Tour and SiriusXM. The entities suspended Haney from his program Thursday, issuing a statement that they were reviewing Haney’s status going forward.

For his part, Haney has been quiet since the suspension…that is, until Jeongeun Lee6 won the Women’s Open on Sunday. That gave Haney all the ammo he needed to fire back at his critics.

My prediction that a Korean woman would be atop the leaderboard at the Women’s US Open was based on statistics and facts. Korean women are absolutely dominating the LPGA Tour. If you asked me again my answer would be the same but worded more carefully.

— Hank Haney (@HankHaney) June 2, 2019

Whatever Haney’s intentions were—vindication, exoneration, self-effacement—the messages received, at best, a mixed reception. Especially given Haney misspelt Lee6’s first name.

Though some offered replies of support and agreement, most deemed Haney’s tweets ignorant and obtuse, with a fair share of responses accusing Haney of unjustifiably taking a victory lap.

pic.twitter.com/OaWxHW31ci

— Martin Kelly (@MGKelly7) June 2, 2019

Doubling down eh? Bold strategy there Cotton! Let’s see how this works….

— TippedCanoe (@TippedCanoe) June 2, 2019

When you definitely meant the apology and absolutely spent the last 72 hours pondering the ways in which your words were both racist and lazily ignorant https://t.co/VZRwBYm95f

— Job W. Fickett (@jwfickett) June 2, 2019

pic.twitter.com/SciEP60fNM

— 3Wiggle (@WiggleThree) June 2, 2019

You got it right Hank! We’ve got your back, will listen wherever you’re broadcasting.

— Miguel Costelanez (@mjcostel27) June 2, 2019

Wherever one sits on this spectrum, it’s abundantly clear this controversy will not end with Lee6’s triumph in Charleston.

The post Hank Haney weighed in on a Korean named Lee winning the U.S. Women’s Open. It didn’t go perfectly appeared first on Golf Digest Middle East.