A recent email inviting me to volunteer again for the 2019 Travelers Golf Championship in Cromwell sparked a disturbing memory of an incident that shattered my belief in the integrity of the game of golf, and those who perpetuate the godliness of the game.

My family knows the game of golf. My wife and I have played for decades, and our kids played golf growing up. Both eventually played for Fitch Senior High School in Groton.

My daughter went on to compete in junior golf across the country, eventually attending the University of Miami in Florida on a full golf scholarship. She played on the Futures Tour, the precursor to playing in the Ladies Professional Golf Association. She is now a Class A golf professional and Division I college golf coach in Texas. She has even competed in the national Women’s Long Drive Championship.

We have volunteered for years at the Travelers Championship. The point is, we know the game of golf and all that it stands for.

Then, last year, after working the Travelers, my wife and I attended as spectators on the second day of the tournament.

We followed a group that included pro golfer Justin Thomas, from the 10th hole, where they started the day, to the 18th.

At the 18th green, we positioned ourselves near the green, where the players would be passing close to us on their way to the next hole.

Thomas had been struggling that morning, releasing a few choice expletives along the way. As he left the 18th green, we were close enough to touch him. My wife attempted to encourage him, like a mother to her son, by saying “Be patient, there are birdies out there.” Her tone was kind. She’s in her sixties. He was 24 years old then.

As Thomas passed briskly, he replied to her encouragement with that world-famous, two-word epithet that’s begins with the letter “F”.

We were stunned, in disbelief, as were those around us.

It ruined our day, and our shock eventually turned to anger. We reported the incident to the Travelers’ player relations personnel. They assured us that Thomas’s bad behavior is well known to PGA officials and they would forward our complaint.

Later, we felt that a local tournament committee would be inconsequential to a top golfer on the tour.

So, we filed complaints with the Professional Golf Association of America (PGA), and the Professional Golf Association Tour. The PGA tour is essentially the employer of professional golfers and is the key proponent of integrity as the cornerstone of the game.

We asked that the matter be dealt with and requested notification of the results of all actions taken.

The PGA tour bluntly said “Thank you. We’ll take care of it.” They’ve ignored us since. We have no reason to believe anything was ever done.

Thomas has had problems with fans in the past, and his name appeared on complaints filed with the Federal Trade Commission last year. Not surprising. We were innocent fans, respectful, old enough to be his parents, when we were blindsided by his profane character. Lack of integrity doesn’t even begin to describe his flaws.

Now when we watch the PGA tour on television, we suffer again to have him in our lives, and cringe to hear him worshipped profusely by both the tour and television commentators. It’s ruined the enjoyment of watching the game for us.

Without an apology from this spoiled rich kid (worth well over $40 million), or some assurance of a penalty assigned, our insult and betrayal by the PGA Tour continues.

We now know in our hearts that in spite of the righteous language of the PGA, it’s obviously money, not integrity, that comprises the foundation of professional golf today.

Beware who you support at the Travelers Championship.

John Steward lives in Waterford and can be reached at tossinglines@gmail.com, or visit johnsteward.online.