LONG BEACH (California) – Harry Higgs wants to be clear about one thing: he will never, ever.
“It was perhaps the strangest weekend in golf history, and it’s funny to be a small part of it for something stupid,” Higgs said. “However, I will never do that again.” It was a one-time transaction.”
Higgs pulled his shirt up on the 16th hole at TPC Scottsdale on Sunday, and Dahmen followed suit by removing his and waving it up above his head. It elicited a shout from the audience that rivaled Sam Ryder’s Saturday and Carlos Ortiz’s Sunday aces. Here’s how Higgs and Dahmen ended up with a little too much skin on their faces.
Higgs was matched with longtime friend Keith Mitchell on Saturday. They share a trainer, and when Higgs warmed up and went to the putting green, Mitchell and a few other players challenged Higgs to take off his shirt at the age of 16. “You need to do it,” they persuaded him after pooling $8,000 to pay any potential fine.
‘Dude, I’m not doing that,’ I said. “I don’t want to be known for it,” Higgs explained.
He stood fast, and that would have been the end of it if he hadn’t played so terribly that day that he was practically last in his group, and drew a twosome partnering with Dahmen for the back nine.
“The pairings came out Saturday night before I even had a sip,” Dahmen recalled. “Who do you want to play with if you’re last?” “I have a pal.”
Dahmen sparked controversy with a tweet.
Dreams do come true! If we get enough retweets @harryhiggs1991 will take his shirt off on 16 tomorrow! pic.twitter.com/9n9I29BZPk
— Joel Dahmen (@Joel_Dahmen) February 13, 2022
Dahmen boasted, “I worded it properly.” “I didn’t put a monetary value on it.” I claimed Harry would take off his shirt if we got enough retweets. (Higgs indicated it would take a million in a private text.) “
My phone began to ring nonstop. I was firm, no, no, no. Joel had tweeted, but I was adamant, no, no, no. It’s excessive. Higgs, who blasted his tee shot long and putted from off the green 10 feet past the hole, remarked, “We went around to 16 and everyone is roaring for it.” “I was still not going to do it.” I wouldn’t have done it if I had missed the 10-footer for par. I would have simply walked away from the hole.”
“If he makes it, he might do it,” Dahmen recalls thinking as Higgs lined up for his par save. He did that by pouring it smack in the centre. The place went crazy, and the beers began to flow. I said to myself, “I can’t leave my boy hanging.” I took off my glasses, hat, and shirt and said, “Let’s go!” And it was fantastic.
“I will never abandon a friend.” When I ask someone to do something, I almost always do it myself. I didn’t give it much thought. It was a spur-of-the-moment decision. That many people clamoring for something is something I’ve never experienced before. What do you do when you’re in the heat of the moment and 20,000 people are chanting your name? You’re going to remove it. Peer pressure is quite potent. I’m not afraid of succumbing to it either.”
Shirtless @HarryHiggs1991.
That's the tweet. pic.twitter.com/rozVsGD6EO
— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) February 13, 2022
Higgs admitted, “I kind of regret it.” “It was entertaining at the time, but it’s a touch excessive now.”
It’s a pivotal moment with potential ramifications. Both Higgs and Dahmen stated they received phone calls from the PGA Tour on Monday, and they might be punished for unsportsmanlike behaviour.
“You’re in trouble if you get a call from Andy Levinson,” Dahmen added, sounding as if he had been summoned to the principal’s office.
Dahmen, for one, is perplexed as to how the Tour can both promote the video on social media while also punishing him for it.
“We’ve completely crossed the line on that entire golf course, so where is the line and what is the line?” We’ve gone beyond the limits of golf. People want us to button our shirts, put belts on our waists, and wear slacks to seem like perfect robots, but then you want us to party for a week and be one with the people,” he explained.
Mitchell and his crew will, at the very least, cover Higgs’ fine, right?
“Perhaps,” Higgs answered. “These are some of the cheapest millionaires in the planet.”
