Most Disliked Golfers By Their Peers: 2025’s Fairway Foes

Well, hello there, golf aficionados and drama enthusiasts! It’s your favorite fairway philosopher, Linda, here to dish out the dirt on professional golf’s most controversial characters. Grab your popcorn and your pitching wedge, because we’re about to tee off on a journey through the bunkers of bad behavior and the rough of reputation.

Now, before we dive in, let me remind you that golf is supposed to be a gentleman’s game. You know, all prim and proper, with polite applause and tasteful plaid pants. But these folks? They’ve turned the pristine greens into controversy central, whether they’re swinging on the PGA Tour or cashing checks in LIV Golf. So, without further ado, let’s meet our not-so-fab ten from across the professional golfing world!

1. Patrick Reed: The Sandman’s Legacy Lives On

Oh, Patrick Reed If golf had a WWE heel, it’d be this guy. Remember the 2019 Hero World Challenge? Reed gave us a masterclass in “How to Improve Your Lie and Destroy Your Reputation in One Easy Step.” Who knew sand could be so controversial?

2025 Update: While Reed hasn’t been at the center of any fresh sandscapades recently, his reputation remains about as pristine as my golf glove after a round in the rain. It’s like he’s wearing that 2019 sand incident like an invisible scarlet letter. Even when he plays a clean round, spectators watch his bunker play with the intensity of forensic investigators. Poor guy can’t rake a bunker without someone filming it for potential evidence.

But hey, at least he’s consistent—consistently controversial, that is! In the golf world’s collective memory, Reed remains the sport’s favorite villain, proving that in golf, like in life, trust is harder to rebuild than a shanked reputation.

2. Bryson DeChambeau: The Scientist’s Evolution

Bryson DeChambeau, , aka “The Scientist,” has turned golf into a physics experiment that apparently requires more time than a NASA launch. His slow play at the 2019 Northern Trust had spectators aging visibly in the stands.

2025 Update: Credit where credit’s due—Bryson has been working harder on his image than he works on his biceps (and that’s saying something!). His YouTube channel has become surprisingly entertaining, showing a more relaxed, human side that makes it slightly harder to dislike him. He’s like that annoying classmate who suddenly brings cookies for everyone—you want to hold a grudge, but… cookies!

That said, his LIV Golf association keeps him firmly in the “controversial” category for many traditionalists. It’s like he’s simultaneously trying to be golf’s mad scientist and its most likable influencer. The jury’s still out on whether this rehabilitation tour is working, but at least he’s giving us more to talk about than just his painfully slow pre-shot routine.

3. Patrick Cantlay: The Human Sundial Strikes Again

Speaking of slow play, Patrick Cantlay has officially claimed DeChambeau’s abandoned throne as “King of Slow.” His glacial pace at tournaments has everyone—players, fans, even the grass—checking their watches.

2025 Update: Oh boy, did Cantlay make waves at the 2025 Masters! While most players were worrying about Augusta’s slick greens, fans were worrying they might miss dinner reservations waiting for Cantlay to hit a shot. His deliberate pace sparked a social media firestorm, with hashtags like #HurryUpPatty and #CantlayItAnySlower trending during the tournament.

Even his nickname “Patty Ice” has taken on new meaning—less about his cool demeanor under pressure and more about the glacial pace at which he moves around the course. I’ve seen continental drift happen faster than his pre-shot routine. Rumor has it his playing partners now bring crossword puzzles and small craft projects to pass the time between his shots.

4. Rory McIlroy: From Polarizing to Triumphant

Now, this might be controversial, but hear me out. Rory McIlroy, once golf’s golden boy, became a bit of a polarizing figure with his outspoken stance against LIV Golf and his role in the PGA Tour’s policy changes.

2025 Update: What a difference a green jacket makes! Rory FINALLY completed his career Grand Slam with a dramatic victory at the 2025 Masters, and suddenly his previous controversies seem as relevant as last season’s golf shoes. His Augusta triumph was the sports equivalent of a mic drop—after years of Masters heartbreak, watching him slip on that green jacket had even his critics applauding.

Sure, there are still some who view him as the Tour’s political mouthpiece, but it’s harder to argue with someone who has all four major trophies on their mantle. It’s like he’s transformed from golf’s outspoken politician back to its golden child. Though between us, his political game still might be better than his putting game… just don’t tell him I said that.

5. Bubba Watson: The Pink Driver of Discontent

Bubba Watson might have taken his pink driver to LIV Golf, but his reputation for being, shall we say, “challenging” on the course lives on. Known for his prickly demeanor and occasional caddie-scolding outbursts, Bubba has rubbed more than a few fellow pros the wrong way over the years.

2025 Update: Bubba continues to be golf’s equivalent of that relative who always brings up politics at Thanksgiving dinner. His move to LIV Golf would be old news by now, except he can’t seem to stop making comments about the PGA Tour that sound like bitter breakup texts. It’s the golfing equivalent of “I’m totally happy with my new relationship, but let me tell you everything wrong with my ex!”

His talent remains undeniable—the man can shape a shot around a tree better than most of us can hit it straight—but his knack for controversy remains equally impressive. Whether it’s complaining about course conditions or making eyebrow-raising remarks in interviews, Bubba seems determined to maintain his position on this list for years to come.

Honorable Mentions:

• Brooks Koepka: The Silent Simmerer
• His feud with Bryson might be ancient history, but Brooks keeps finding ways to raise eyebrows. Now settled into LIV Golf, he’s been less headline-grabbing recently, but still carries that “I’m too cool for this” energy that divides fan opinion faster than a fairway bunker divides your confidence.
• Tyrrell Hatton: The Temper Tantrum Specialist
• His on-course temper tantrums continue to be legendary. It’s like watching a toddler who’s been told it’s bedtime, but with better club-throwing skills. Every missed putt is a personal betrayal, every bad bounce a cosmic injustice. His passion is entertaining, if not exactly what the etiquette guides had in mind.
• Scottie Scheffler: The Reluctant Villain
• Poor Scottie—from golden boy to questionable green jacket presenter in one ceremony! After winning the 2025 Masters, his perceived casual handoff of the green jacket to runner-up Rory McIlroy set social media ablaze. Was it disrespect or just awkwardness from golf’s sometimes socially uncomfortable world number one? Either way, it gave the Twitter golf police plenty to discuss for weeks.

Wrapping Up: The 19th Hole of Reflection

There you have it, folks – the top 10 most disliked golfers on the PGA Tour. It’s like a who’s who of “What Not to Do in Professional Golf.” But let’s be real for a second – these players, controversial as they may be, keep things interesting. They’re the spice in our otherwise mild golfing salsa.

Remember, at the end of the day, they’re human beings trying to whack a little white ball into a slightly bigger hole. It’s a recipe for frustration, and sometimes that frustration boils over into controversy.

So the next time you’re watching a tournament and one of these players pops up, maybe give them a little slack. Or don’t, and enjoy the drama. After all, what’s golf without a little… rough?

Stay classy on the course, my friends. And remember, no matter how bad your round is going, at least you’re not making headlines for all the wrong reasons!