New Orleans: Steve Elkington has not let a fiery on-course encounter with Bubba Watson affect his play, with the Australian in contention at the US PGA Tour's New Orleans Classic title.
Peter Lonard headed a group of four Australians on a day when heavy storms and lighting disrupted play, but Elkington's clash with Watson during the second round was the talking point at the Louisiana course.
On Friday Elkington, Shigeki Maruyama and members of the gallery copped abuse from Watson when the long-hitting American lost his temper on the 10th hole and engaged in a heated on-course altercation with Elkington, a 45-year-old PGA Tour veteran and major winner.
The incident, which was captured by Golf Channel cameras, created an awkward second nine holes for the group and required arbitration by tournament officials after the round, and Watson apologised for his outburst. "There's no issue with Steve and no issue with Shigeki," Watson told the Times-Picayune newspaper. "It's just one of those things where I heard something and took it out on them, and I shouldn't have done it. We're cool now."
Watson was not cool as he prepared to hit his second shot on the par-four 10th and was distracted and pulled away as Elkington walked behind him.
"You gonna stop walking, man? Damn!" Watson was heard to say. "You did it all day yesterday. I'll tell you what, veterans can kiss my ass!"
Watson snubbed Elkington when he attempted to speak with him about the incident.
"Bubba got irritated about Elkington making sound and [being] noisy and walking around him," Maruyama said through an interpreter. "And Elkington wanted to talk to him about that stuff, but Bubba just ignored it. And a bad word, the 'F' word."
After the round, Elkington and Watson did not shake hands. They met officials to discuss the altercation.
Elkington declined to be interviewed, but Watson was apologetic. "I shouldn't have done it," he said. "Who knows why I did it. I consider myself a good person, but you make mistakes. Everybody in this world makes mistakes. There's nobody that's perfect.
"[Steve] wanted to pull me aside there when it happened and talk to me as a veteran and how to overcome it and not to take it out on them. Me being a newcomer, obviously, I've got to take the blame for it."
Lonard was able to play only four holes of his third round but a birdie on the par-five second ensured he was tied for the lead with Briny Baird, Woody Austin and Nicholas Thompson.
John Senden shot a 66 to be one shot off the pace and the clubhouse leader on 209. Elkington was tied with Senden and three others after eight holes. Nathan Green was two shots off the lead.
