Golf fans SHOCKED as Matt Fitzpatrick shunned & given 33 secs US Open coverage!
DISGRACE! US Open champion Matt Fitzpatrick was not even one of the nominations for BBC SPOTY.
Golf fans are up in arms this evening after England's Matt Fitzpatrick was not only bypassed as a nomination for BBC Sports Personality of the Year, but his memorable US Open victory was given a grand total of 33 seconds of coverage.
Fitzpatrick, 28, won his first major on American soil in June following a narrow one-shot victory over Scottie Scheffler and Will Zalatoris at Brookline.
But despite that incredible performance, Fitzpatrick was not included in the BBC SPOTY shortlist for their main award.
Even SPOTY presenter Gary Lineker could not believe Fitzpatrick was overlooked.
Starting rehearsals for @BBCSPOTY and saw the list of contenders doesn’t contain @MattFitz94!
— Gary Lineker (@GaryLineker) December 21, 2022
Lineker tweeted:
LIV Golf's Ian Poulter was also shocked:
Sorry but complete disregard for @MattFitz94 makes this event a continued farce and joke. I experienced first hand how much of a joke this was 10 years ago. Promised myself then I’d never waste time attending or watching again. https://t.co/SlMDIMBflh
— Ian Poulter (@IanJamesPoulter) December 20, 2022
PGA Tour star and former World No.1 Justin Rose was equally annoyed:
One question @BBCSport @BBCSPOTY
What about @MattFitz94 and his @usopengolf win this year?? https://t.co/tszrt0l5fB— Justin ROSE (@JustinRose99) December 20, 2022
Rose also won the US Open back in 2013 at Merion.
The Englishman was one of the nominees for BBC SPOTY that year, but he still did not crack the top three.
You have to go back to 1989 since the last golfer won the BBC SPOTY.
Furthermore, only two golfers have won the BBC prize since its inauguration in 1954.
The first golfer to win it was Wales' Dai Rees in 1957, a year in which he captained Great Britain to their first Ryder Cup success in 24 years in a 7.5-4.5 victory at Lindrick.
Sir Nick Faldo won the award in 1989, the year of his first of three Masters titles.
Even Rory McIlroy failed to win SPOTY in a year where he won back-to-back major titles in 2014. The Northern Irishman somehow finished second behind Lewis Hamilton.
2022, a year I’ll never forgot. A year that wouldn’t have been possible without the support of my family, friends and team.
Here’s to more success in 2023!! pic.twitter.com/fldrSJ2ipT— Matt Fitzpatrick (@MattFitz94) December 20, 2022
There were six nominees for the SPOTY award in the end on Wednesday evening, and they comprised of Beth Mead, Ben Stokes, Ronnie O'Sullivan, Jessica Gadirova, Eve Muirhead and Jake Wightman.
Mead ended up winning the award after her involvement in helping England Women win the Euros over the summer.
The 27-year-old, who also plays for Arsenal Ladies, becomes the first women's footballer to win the award.
Related: Fitzpatrick shuns BBC SPOTY
If Fitzpatrick not even being shortlisted was frustrating enough for golf fans and Tour pros, things escalated further when the Englishman's US Open victory was given a grand total of 33 seconds of coverage during the entire broadcast.
There was also several seconds of coverage about McIlroy moving back to World No.1 during golf’s brief appearance.
In total, golf received 64 seconds of coverage during the 2hr30 broadcast on BBC.
Brilliant, cheers for that.
The annual BBC Sports Personality of the Year show was on today.
It lasted 2 1/4 hours. Golf featured for 64 seconds.
Here is how they covered the 150th Open Championship, an English US Open Champion and a Northern Irish world number 1.
Rather pathetic! pic.twitter.com/4Nxmt60YdC— UK Golf Guy (@ukgolfguy) December 21, 2022
Here's a look at some irate tweets:
Matt Fitzpatrick’s US Open win got a whole 33 seconds on #SPOTY.
Thirty-three seconds.
Bloody hell.— Michael McEwan (@MMcEwanGolf) December 21, 2022
I think the Lionesses winning the Euros had a far more significant impact culturally, and Mead was the best player in the team, so feel she deserved it.
Very annoyed about Matt Fitzpatrick not being nominated after what he achieved though— Stephen Dimmock (@stephen_dimmock) December 21, 2022
I do think Matt Fitzpatrick should have been in the mix & a likely winner in the day but as always these things are managed to suit todays agenda. Not watching so no axe to grind.
— Neil Simm (@neilsimm) December 21, 2022
Congrats
A bit odd that Matt Fitzpatrick didn't even get considered. It's not often an English person wins a major, let alone the US open. pic.twitter.com/B28zzkODMe— Matthew Mole (@matthewmole) December 21, 2022
Didn’t Matt Fitzpatrick win the US Open this year?
— isvicthere (@isvicthere1) December 21, 2022
She was voted the winner. Dreadful decision not is shortlist Matt Fitzpatrick and to give his US Open win all of 30 seconds coverage.
— Morton Slumber (@MortonSlumber1) December 21, 2022
Award absolutely tainted by the box ticking shortlist. The fact that Matt Fitzpatrick & Leon Edwards didn’t even make that shortlist renders the award null and void.
— Dan (@Dan_1884) December 21, 2022
Disgusting… BBC fix it… Matt Fitzpatrick?? Not even there.. ahhhhh BBC don’t have the rights for golf do they !!! Ben Stokes, Ronnie O’Sullivan don’t win this ahead of Mead #joke
— Chris Sutton (@Sutty9) December 21, 2022
It’s an joke of an awards programme now. Golfer Matt Fitzpatrick won the US Open and didn’t even get nominated?
— Graeme Foster (@gocrackerjack) December 21, 2022
Matt Fitzpatrick who won the US Open not even shortlisted and his win given about 30 seconds of coverage. Dreadful
— Morton Slumber (@MortonSlumber1) December 21, 2022
Matt Fitzpatrick been done dirty here! https://t.co/JA8DvjX2eO
— Ben Grant (@MrBenGrant) December 21, 2022
#SPOTY had a complete mare tonight…never even mentioned Matt Fitzpatrick US Open winner…absolute joke!
— Oakers (@captainoakers) December 21, 2022
Andy first joined the brand on a month's work experience back in April 2011, and he now assumes the Editor role. When Andy joined GolfMagic it was a small site with potential.
