Graeme McDowell was met with a backlash on social media after suggesting a change to the Open Championship format.
The former US Open champion is an armchair spectator this week, having not qualified for the 150th edition at St Andrews.
Taking to social media, he wrote of being gripped by the third round action on Saturday, but he couldn't resist suggesting a tweak to the format.
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McDowell tweeted: "Quality viewing @TheOpen. The unpredictability of The Old Course from bounces to weather is unlike anything in golf. Can’t turn it off.
"Thinking pace of play might have improved with a shotgun start? What you guys think?"
The shotgun start suggestion, which sees all players begin playing at the same time, but from different holes on the course, is a nod to the format used in the LIV golf series events - the controversial Saudi-backed tour that McDowell joined this year.
And unsurprisingly many social media users didn't agree with McDowell's proposed change to the historic event.
One said: "Really GMac? And how about 54 holes with music blaring and a fog machine? That’s what's missing eh?"
Another argued: "Competitive rounds should end on the 18th hole. Kind of as simple as that, to me."
While another quipped: "Tweet started strong and then…"
McDowell recently revealed that he has received death threats since joining the breakaway circuit which has caused a huge split in the world of golf, with many criticising it due to its funding from the Saudi Arabian government.
Speaking about the backlash, McDowell told BBC NI: “I never really have made my peace with how vitriolic the attacks would be regarding my reputation, on social media the things that I'd said being absolutely torn to shreds. And it's really hard because I'm being asked questions that there are no right answers to.
"I'm having my moral integrity attacked all the time when, at the end of the day, all I'm trying to do is play golf. I'm trying to make a business decision for me and my family. And, you know, I've paid my dues in this game over the last 20 years, I've tried to carry myself the right way.”
Discussing the harrowing threats he has received, McDowell added: “I don't wake up and feel proud of myself every day. You know, I can't turn on my Instagram or Twitter account without someone telling me to go die. It's been a really tough couple of months.
'But again, I expected it, I knew what the consequences were going to be, I just didn't realise kind of just how heavily this was going to be hammered, trying to answer questions which are unanswerable.
"That's probably the only mistake I made in London at the first event when I was in my press conference - I just wish I'd said nothing. I just wish I just sat there and just kind of shook my head and said no comment.
"But it's not who I am. I always try and be truthful and try to answer questions. I shouldn't have bothered."
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