Matt Fitzpatrick rejected a BBC Sports Personality invite before it was confirmed he had been snubbed on the 2022 shortlist.
Golf fans are bewildered by Fitzpatrick's absence from the list of six nominees after the Englishman claimed his maiden major title at this year's US Open. Fitzpatrick fought off Masters champion Scottie Scheffler and Will Zalatoris to seal victory at the Country Club of Brookline.
And his clutch nine-iron from the fairway bunker on his 72nd hole was a contender for golf shot of the year as he held his nerve to create history in Boston. The Sheffield star joined the legendary Jack Nickalus as the only other player to win the US Amateur Championship and the US Open at the same venue.
But Fitzpatrick's achievements will not be honoured at the BBC's award show at Media City in Salford on Wednesday night.
Lioness hero Beth Mead, England Test cricket captain Ben Stokes, snooker icon Ronnie O'Sullivan, gymnast Jessica Gadirova, athlete Jake Wightman and curling's Eve Muirhead have been nominated, but Fitzpatrick's exploits will not be recognised.
Sir Nick Faldo is the last golfer to win the SPOTY accolade in 1989 and Fitzpatrick's omission is seen by some golf fans as a damming indictment of the regard the sport is held in by the BBC.
And it was revealed by the Telegraph last month that Fitzpatrick already politely declined the call from organisers to attend the awards before the shortlist was named - with golf stars earning little recognition at SPOTY regardless of their levels of success.
Fitzpatrick - seen as an exemplary professional on tour - made his decision because of the lack of confidence that he would be acknowledged during the ceremony.
The 28-year-old saw Solheim Cup star Georgia Hall attend the 2018 awards after her stunning Women's British Open triumph at Royal Lytham, but she was not included among the nominees.
Meanwhile, golf notably lost out in the popularity stakes in 2014 when Rory McIlroy was outvoted by F1 world champion Lewis Hamilton, despite winning back-to-back majors at The Open and the PGA Championship.
McIlroy's second place finish left fans wondering what a golfer might have to achieve to end the sport's wait of over 30 years for a winning of the accolade, while Fitzpatrick's snub is the latest SPOTY disappoint for the sport.
