Airline Costs Michael Buttacavoli Shot at U.S. Open

Almost anyone who has traveled by air before has had a problem with their airline at one point in their life. While it is common to have an airline screw up something before, during or after your flight, the series of events that happened to Michael Buttacavoli had a huge impact on his career.

The airline in question is not United Airlines as some of you might have expected, but rather the company at fault is American Airlines. Buttacavoli boarded his American Airlines flight on Sunday night, leaving Ecuador where he had just competed in a PGA TOUR’s Latinoamerica Tour’s Quito Open. He was set to arrive in Miami to compete in a U.S. Open qualifier the next morning.

While this is the definition of cutting it close, it seemed like a simple flight that would allow Buttacavoli to arrive in plenty of time. There were no delays and no passengers that had overbooked the flight, so he arrived on time at the airport, ready to get some practice in before his big day. The only problem was that his clubs didn’t arrive with him.

Thank u @AmericanAir. 1 golf bag w/ priority tags on plane & the only bag u can’t find. Unfortunately have to WD from @usopengolf sectionals

— Michael Buttacavoli (@mbutta326) June 5, 2017

While Buttacavoli had even gone through the extra steps of making his clubs priority luggage, but American Airlines was unable to locate them. “I was met with supportive parents with food in the car and stuff I needed. My brother was going to caddie for me. I figured I’d get there, have a 30-40 minute warm up, and go,” Buttacavoli explained to Golf Digest. “My bag just never came.”

This situation was obviously frustrating for the U.S. Open hopeful and he took out his anger on the company’s Twitter page in a lengthy exchange. But he didn’t have time to just sit and vent, he had to figure out what he was going to do for his 7:26 a.m. tee time without his clubs. After considering renting a set, Buttacavoli opted to withdraw from the qualifier because he would feel uncomfortable using any other clubs.

By the time I gave up on these it was too late to rent a set & make my tee time. Thanks @AmericanAir for finding them. Time to win in the DR pic.twitter.com/JKSbcS2U8R

— Michael Buttacavoli (@mbutta326) June 5, 2017

While it will remain a mystery whether Buttacavoli would have played well enough to qualify for the U.S. Open, it is still an opportunity he deserved. And since they took away that opportunity, I wouldn’t expect Buttacavoli to be an American Airlines customer again.

Cover Image via Twitter