Former PGA Tour pro Mark Lye has been fired from his golf radio host job after saying, “I’d rather shoot myself” than watch the Women’s National Basketball Association (WNBA).
During his SiriusXM show, The Scorecard, on Saturday, the former PGA tour winner declared himself a fan of women’s golf while knocking the WNBA.
“You know, the LPGA Tour to me is a completely different tour than it was ten years ago,” Lye said. “You couldn’t pay me to watch. You really couldn’t. Because I just, I couldn’t relate at all.
“It’s kind of like, you know, if you’re a basketball player — and I’m not trashing anybody — please, don’t take it the wrong way — but I saw some highlights of ladies basketball. Man, is there a gun in the house? I’ll shoot myself than watch that,” he added.
CHICAGO, ILLINOIS – OCTOBER 17: Stefanie Dolson #31 of the Chicago Sky reacts to an officials call during Game Four of the WNBA Finals against the Phoenix Mercury at Wintrust Arena on October 17, 2021, in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Stacy Revere/Getty Images)
A SiriusXM spokesperson later told Golf.com that it “will no longer be hosting” Lye over his WNBA comments. Lye confirmed to the outlet that he had been fired despite apologizing for it on the air that same day. “I was terminated about comments made about the WNBA, which I apologized for starting the next segment,” he said.
“You know, I love watching the men’s basketball. I love watching the men’s golf. I never used to like watching ladies’ golf. But I will tell you this. I’ve been up close watching these ladies play because I used to have a big function every year called the Lucas Cup, and I’d have LPGA players and PGA Tour players,” Lye said on his show.
“Good luck getting some WNBA stars to come play for you,” another host interjected.
“Yeah, I know, I know,” Lye replied. “I’m off their list. I’m sorry about that.”
In a tweet following the firing, Lye rejected accusations of sexism.
“The fact that I can’t relate to WNBA does not make me sexist in any way. All you haters should listen to the whole segment, where I completely glorified women’s golf, which I love to cover. Thanks for listening,” the 69-year-old tweeted.
The fact that I can’t relate to WNBA does not make me sexist in any way. All you haters should listen to the whole segment, where I completely glorified womens golf, which I love to cover. Thanks for listening.
— mark lye (@letitflye) February 6, 2022
According to Golf.com, Lye played “on the PGA Tour from 1977 to 1995, notching 41 top 10s; his sole victory came at the Bank of Boston Classic, in 1983.”
“From 2003 to 2008, he played on the PGA Tour Champions, with one top-10 finish,” it added.
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