Fernando Romero Nuñez 
Argentine golfer Emiliano Grillo has clapped back on social media after his performance at the British Open was compared to the sinking of the ARA General Belgrano — the biggest naval tragedy in the country’s history.
During the Malvinas war, the ARA General Belgrano was attacked and sunk on May 2 1982. It was 30 miles outside of the exclusion zone set by the British Navy, resulting in 323 deaths — nearly half of the Argentine casualties during the conflict. This is seen as an unlawful attack in Argentina and remains a very sensitive topic in the country.
“Very well played @GrilloEmiliano & a well deserved 6th place with Rory McIlroy. Backed you for top 12 finish but thought you’d go down like The Belgrano after joint leading at Day 1,” wrote the user who goes by @stockportjr.
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The Chaco-born golfer just finished sixth overall in the British Open, one of the most prestigious tournaments in the PGA Tour.
“Seeing how much of an idiot you are I would love to ask your mother how many times she dropped you on purpose,” Grillo said in a quote tweet, closing his retort in Spanish and all caps. “Don’t mess with Argentina, asshole.”
Grillo’s outburst was received positively by Argentines on the social platform, with many thanking him for his passionate comments, although others suggested he should shrug off those types of remarks.
This social media spat is one of several regarding the name and sovereignty of the islands from the past week. Last Thursday, Argentine Foreign Affairs Minister Santiago Cafiero publicly confronted his British counterpart James Cleverly on Twitter, calling for “an end to every form of colonialism.” This came after the dispute over the islands’ sovereignty was mentioned in a closing statement signed by leaders of the European Union and the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (CELAC, by its Spanish initials).
Grillo at the British Open
Grillo had a great performance in what is the oldest golf tournament in the world, finishing just six shots behind the winner, US player Brian Harman. With this result, he added to a fantastic personal year that saw him his second PGA Tour title in May 2023 when he lifted the Charles Schwab Challenge in Fort Worth, Texas.
By finishing in sixth place last week, Grillo achieved the best result by an Argentine in the British Open since Ángel Cabrera finished fourth in 1999, and his strongest performance in any of the four majors in PGA Tour golf. The legendary Roberto de Vicenzo remains the only Argentine to lift the British Open when he won in 1967.
Editorial disclaimer
Although the UK refers to the territory as the “Falklands Islands,” Argentina strongly contests this name. The Buenos Aires Herald refers to the islands as the Malvinas Islands.
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