Cristie Kerr’s apology for slow play rings completely false

The blowback against Cristie Kerr was swift. Much swifter than her play during the tournament-deciding playoff at the Volunteers of America Shootout.

Kerr battled Japan’s Haru Nomura in a six-hole sudden death playoff that took an excruciating two hours to complete. Of course, cold winds in Texas were howling. Nelly Korda called the conditions the toughest she’d played in. Indeed, only three players broke par at Las Colinas Country Club—something unheard of outside the U.S. Open.

SEE ALSO: After playoff disaster, the LPGA has another huge mess on its hands

Imagine the amount of time you’d take over a potentially tournament-winning shot with 30 to 40 mph winds swirling and shifting direction. Even the swiftest players on Tour would be forced to take some extra time. Similar, perhaps, to the pause for consideration of the conditions players take at Augusta National’s wind-swirled par-3 12th hole.

Even so, Kerr was about as deliberate in her pace as any human being could conceivably be. This isn’t to say it was a battle between the tortoise and the hare, however, as Nomura was quite deliberate as well.

Amid the rash of criticism, Kerr took to social media to offer this apology.

Sorry everyone for the slow play yesterday the conditions were incredibly tough and that 18th hole is very difficult. Very tricky w 40mph

— Cristie Kerr (@CKGolferChic) May 1, 2017

She couldn’t help pointing out that Nomura was slow as well, a decision that will surely draw additional criticism.

Both players took a lot of time by the way and that’s all I’m going to say about that hope everybody remains a fan of the LPGA

— Cristie Kerr (@CKGolferChic) May 1, 2017

If you’re looking for a closer approximation of Kerr’s feelings, however, it may be best to consider this Twitter egg’s tweet she hit the old RT button on.

@USATODAY It was a playoff! @CKGolferChic had every right to take her time. They had some slow play. If it were the PGA would they be roasted?

— Tonya (@Tonya1973) May 1, 2017

Apparently a big fan of the truth Tonya1973 was telling, Kerr retweeted this as well.

@GolfChannel SERIOUSLY YOU TAKE THE LPGA PLAYOFF OFF AIR FOR THE MENS! SHAME ON YOU GOLF CHANNEL! ?@CKGolferChic #LPGATXShootout

— Tonya (@Tonya1973) April 30, 2017

SEE ALSO: The LPGA’s “sexualized” voting scheme is turning heads for all the wrong reasons

All of which is to say, her “apology” looks much more like a face-saving gesture than a genuine expression of the fact that she regretted her actions.

One has to think Kerr has similar feelings toward an exceedingly deliberate pace of play as Jason Day, who famously told the world earlier this year he’d back off a shot five times until he was ready and had no intention of shifting to a higher gear.

So be it, but tweeting (and retweeting) out of both sides of her mouth isn’t the way for Kerr to put controversy to bed.