A South Florida newspaper has apologized for using the headline “No-Name Champion” to describe Keith Mitchell’s victory Sunday at the Honda Classic.
The Palm Beach Post used the all-caps headline on the front page of its sports section Monday, splashed directly above a picture of Mitchell holding his first PGA Tour trophy. The “no-name” phrase played off a story that Mitchell shared during his press conference after holding off Brooks Koepka and Rickie Fowler for the title.
Mitchell and Sungjae Im shared the 36-hole lead, prompting another local publication to use a headline of “Two relative unknowns share lead at Honda Classic.” Mitchell’s friend sent him the article, and he used the “no-name” slight as motivation over the weekend.
“I don’t expect to have any great stuff written about me because I’ve only been out here a year, so I’m not saying that in a negative light,” Mitchell said. “I just used that as a little kind of emotion, that everyone gets their start somewhere, everyone gets their first win somewhere, and I wanted this to be mine and I was able to do it.”
Despite the backstory, the Post was lampooned on social media for its headline choice, which came across as a slight toward Mitchell in the midst of the biggest moment of his career.
Wow. Very unkind headline today. @pbpost pic.twitter.com/MtuZRXjvmj
— Peter Robbins (@gatortakes) March 4, 2019
As the backlash continued Monday afternoon, the publication’s sports editor penned an apology and explanation, stating that while Mitchell’s 15-foot birdie putt on the 72nd hole found the mark, their headline “missed the cup by 10 feet.”
“While every golfer enjoys a mulligan, our chance passed once the presses started rolling Sunday night,” wrote editor Nick Pugliese.
With his name a bit more recognizable than it was a week ago, Mitchell made the short drive from Palm Beach Gardens to Orlando and is in the field for this week’s Arnold Palmer Invitational.