It was a flare of anger during the heat of competition, but it was a mistake nevertheless, U.S. Open champion Curtis Strange said.
"I am truly sorry," for an outburst that prompted a fine from the PGA Tour, Strange said Tuesday."I want my two sons (Thomas, 7, and David, 4) to know that their dad can see he made a mistake, admit it, and grow from it," Strange said in a statement released by the Tour.
Strange was fined an undisclosed amount for an outburst in which he was seen and heard on television cursing someone off-camera during the final round of the PGA National Championship, Aug. 13 in Hawthorn Woods, Ill.
The incident occurred while Strange, very much in title contention and attempting to overtake leader Mike Reid, was playing the 12th hole of the Kemper Lakes Golf Club.
"A photographer who should have known better snapped his camera while I was addressing my ball," Strange's statement said. "I backed off the shot, looked at him and said, `Give me a break.'
"Then in the middle of my swing, he snapped another picture which caused me to flinch and shove my shot to the right of the green. Needless to say, my adrenalin was flowing and hence my outburst.
"This does not justify what I said. I am truly sorry and I have learned from this regrettable experience," said Strange, winner of the last two U.S. Opens and the leading money-winner on the Tour in three of the last four years.
"I want to express my sincere apologies for my language. . . . No excuse can justify my outburst and nobody feels as badly as I do.
"Athletes who are in the public eye have a responsibility to conduct themselves in a manner which can set a positive example. In this instance, I failed," Strange said.
The announcement of the fine was made at Strange's request, the Tour said.