Columnist calls Funk's remark sexist, comments on Trump support
Champions Tour veteran Fred Funk said: "I feel like I should be on the ladies tour right now."
USA Today Sports columnist Christine Brennan has caused a stir on social media following her criticism of Fred Funk's apparent "sexist words" prior to the start of the this week's Senior PGA at Trump National.
Funk, who averages 265 yards off the tee, was speaking to the media about his struggle to keep up with the length of modern day golf courses to which the nine-time Champions Tour winner said, "I feel like I should be on the ladies tour right now."
He added: "I didn’t mean that in a derogatory sense, not at all. Just because Annika (Sorenstam) outdrove me, I’m a little bitter, but, no…"
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In her latest column, Brennan wrote: "It was fascinating that those blatantly sexist words came so easily to him. They tumbled off his tongue as if he had said them one hundred times before. Perhaps this was the first time, but it sure didn't sound like it."
Those accusations did not sit well with Funk's son, University of Texas golfer Taylor Funk. He responded to Brennan on Twitter in defense of his father.
Brennan also couldn't resist notice a number of the golfers in the field are outspoken supporters of United States President Donald Trump himself, focusing solely on Funk and Rocco Media who both wear the Trump name on their shirts.
"Trump is thousands of miles away in Europe at the moment, but he's also right here," writes Brennan.
"His name is emblazoned in red over Rocco Mediate's right breast. It's in blue over Fred Funk's heart. They have a relationship with Trump's golf brand; Mediate for seven or eight years now, he estimates, and Funk just this year."
Funk opened with a 1-under 71 to sit six shots behind round-one leader Bernhard Langer.
