“While I feel like the comments published were taken out of context..." **

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This PGA Tour-issued Robert Allenby statement hasn't been sitting too well since he's essentially claiming he was misquoted. Since this release is coming from PGA Tour headquarters, they are indirectly endorsing the implication that the golf media in some way stretched the truth. However, after a little research I've learned from those present that the comments were documented by four reporters, one who confirmed that he has the conversation on tape.

To review, here's what Allenby's statement said:

“While I feel like the comments published were taken out of context, I did call Anthony to apologize for anything that I said or inferred that could possibly portray Anthony as anything less than a professional of the highest caliber.”

In the original Golfweek report and in another story by Andrew Both, it is reported that Allenby was "asked if his comments were on the record," to which Allenby said, “I don’t care. Ask his playing partners. Ask his team. He is the loosest cannon in that team.”

I know that doesn't clear up the context issue entirely, but it does establish that he was not quoted in an off-the-record moment. And it's highly unusual, downright kind even for a reporter to offer a subject a chance to retract his remarks.

Now, here's the quote that got Allenby in trouble, again from Golfweek:

“Maybe we should all take the theory of Anthony Kim,” Allenby said. “Get home at 4 o’clock (in the morning) and then go shoot 6 under.”

Both wrote up the incident this way:

“I’m just pissed off that I lost,” Allenby said in a joking manner.

“Maybe I should have the attitude of Anthony Kim, get home at 4am and go play. Maybe I should have gone out with him.”

Allenby was asked how he knew that Kim had been out until 4am, less than six hours before their tee time.

He said some friends who had seen the American come in late.

Granted, these are not perfectly matching quotes, but it's hard to see how the context was skewed unless Allenby's friends got the day wrong (Kim did sit out Saturday morning's matches). In Both's case, he made it  clear there was a jokey tone to Allenby's comments, but ultimately Allenby was sharing the anecdote because he believed it was true.

Now, in the big scheme of life this is an entirely meaningless episode unless Kim goes on to have an alcohol-related incident which ends up hurting someone else.

The real lesson here is the decision by Allenby to blame the media and the PGA Tour to go to the trouble to issue a release.  Thomas Bonk notes the oddball reaction by the tour and the reasons why they went into damage control. 

Instead of just letting this die, as I suspect it would have without today's statements, the Tour saw fit to step in and no so subtly allow the suggestion that the messenger was in some way to blame here. There should have been a private apology and nothing more. Issuing a press release and relying on the lame "out of context" excuse reminds us how reckless Allenby's remarks were, how desperate the tour is to stay clear of controversy and how far it will go to protect it's young, up-and-coming "product," even if it's at the expense of the media.