The inevitability attached to a battered and bruised Robert Allenby lighting up social media was matched only by suspicion as to the golfer's version of events over what occurred after he left a wine bar in Hawaii on Friday night. In this day and age, nothing is allowed to be precisely as it seems.
In many ways, this is helpful. In others, it has the unfortunate consequence of painting a victim in inappropriate light. By the start of this week, a contradiction had occurred between the story of Allenby – who claims he was bundled into a car, kidnapped, attacked and robbed – and the homeless woman who subsequently came to his aid. Three hours had passed between Allenby leaving the bar, in which he had been separated from his friend, and his “discovery” at a location which is open to debate.
Allenby said he was dumped 10km from the Waikiki bar and being thrown from a car boot at the time the woman, Charade Keane, appeared. Her version is different, not only because she claims to have discovered the golfer literally round the corner from the wine bar.
“They started arguing when I got up there, and I realised this wasn’t well. I need to get him out of here,” said Keane to the Honolulu Star-Advertiser of a scene where a bloodied Allenby was talking with two homeless men. “I just wanted him to get away because I wasn’t sure of the situation. They started arguing again.”
Unsurprisingly, Allenby and his family have reacted furiously to any notion of a false story on his part. When contacted by the hugely respected US-based golf broadcaster Tim Roseforte about Keane’s claims, Allenby texted in reply: “I’m guessing she’s getting paid.” Allenby added: “It’s such a shame that people are focusing on whether the story is true. I say you only have to look at me to see the truth.”
Allenby’s brother, Martin, said this to Australian radio station 3AW: “There’s a lot of haters and sceptics on social media. I don’t know why. It’s a definite mugging and robbery.”
What is beyond dispute is that Allenby came to severe physical harm. He has been unable to sleep properly, cannot fully open his left eye and is still in considerable pain. He has also been caused no shortage of embarrassment. Allenby withdrew from the PGA Tour’s Humana Challenge this weekend, which came as no surprise at all.
And yet – Allenby’s own theory notwithstanding – you are left to wonder what cause Keane would have to concoct her own tale. Allenby had previously credited Keane with “pretty much saving my life.” One legitimate option is that the golfer’s memory was simply clouded by the stress of what he endured, but the differences in version aren’t tiny.
For their part, the police have maintained radio silence. The FBI have adopted a “nothing to do with us” stance.
Allenby, who has pulled out of this week’s PGA event in La Quinta, California because of his injuries, isn’t known as a hellraiser, he isn’t prone to headline making despite a career which has seen him rack up $27m in earnings on the PGA Tour. He has spoken this week of his social preferences; if, being blunt, in a little over-stated way. Few people would recognise Allenby in a standard public setting.
“I think if you’re a professional athlete or any type of celebrity status I think you always have to be careful,” he said. “I always try to stay to really nice establishments. I don’t go out drinking and party and stuff, I don’t go to nightclubs. I try and stick to the classy areas because I feel like you’ve always got to be careful.”
He won’t be going anywhere for a while. Nor, rightly or otherwise, will whispers over what precisely occurred on Friday night.
