Connect with us

Tour News

Swag-tossing banned at the Phoenix Open

Published

on

PGA Tour representatives have confirmed that players will no longer be able to toss souvenirs to the crowd at No. 16 at TPC Scottsdale, citing fan safety as a concern.

But is safety really a concern? Sure, dangers exist, but the biggest risk of the swag-tossing tradition could be Phil Mickelson’s rotator cuff if he were to rocket-launch footballs into the nosebleed section again.

Mickelson footballs

Fan Fact: Mickelson is right-handed in nearly every activity except golf.

Two years ago, the PGA Tour banned caddie races at the Waste Management Open (what’s a caddy race, you ask?) — but it can’t, it won’t, it never will, stop the party at No. 16, especially with Tiger Woods in the field this year.

And especially if this happens again.

Your Reaction?
  • 3
  • LEGIT5
  • WOW49
  • LOL7
  • IDHT5
  • FLOP87
  • OB4
  • SHANK29

He played on the Hawaii Pacific University Men's Golf team and earned a Masters degree in Communications. He also played college golf at Rutgers University, where he graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in Journalism.

24 Comments

24 Comments

  1. Dave

    Jan 18, 2015 at 12:40 pm

    I think throwing stuff into the stands is potentially dangerous to fans. Fans will do anything to catch a cap or ball, including falling out of the stands or attacking the guy next to him.

    A better idea would be before or after the round, have the pros give all the kids, say 12 or younger, a cap, ball, or some trinket. Have enough for everybody. The pros can afford it, and it’s tax deductible.

    Baseball games have bat day, cap day, etc. Makes more sense than people trying to kill each other over a $ 5 cap.

    • rgb

      Jan 19, 2015 at 10:21 pm

      Nothing like the nanny state injecting is homogenization onto everything.

  2. Steve

    Jan 16, 2015 at 9:14 am

    And they want to make themgame more appealing to a younger audience? This is why golf is contracting, it is run by boring buttoned up elitist, that maintain they know what is good for you and your to stupid to know. I quess the grandstands will becoming down next. And they will have another middle of the road boring event.

  3. IH8

    Jan 15, 2015 at 4:42 pm

    I wonder if they’ll talk to Jim Justice from the Greenbriar; remember, he handed out a bunch of $100 bills to the crowd after someone made an ace.

    “Hey Jim, you know that awesome thing you did last year? Don’t ever do that again.”

  4. preston

    Jan 15, 2015 at 2:33 pm

    With the sport losing players, the last thing they need to do is stop allowing players to do things that would draw people in. The caddie races were funny. The swag tossing is awesome – at what other tournament do players actually give things to people besides a ball or a sweaty glove? PGA is not helping themselves here. Thanks for nothing PGA! Here to the boring game of golf on TV….

  5. AllBOdoesisgolf

    Jan 15, 2015 at 10:16 am

    want to ruin a good thing? Put a woman in charge

  6. SBoss

    Jan 15, 2015 at 7:33 am

    They probably got sued by some fan who got hit with something or have been advised by legal that it could happen at any moment. It happens all the time. That is exactly why so many things in the USA are being eliminated or greatly changed. Lawyers are ruining the country…along with the propensity of people to see their “gravy train” on any large or small mishap.
    I’m sure that the PGA Tour’s own lawyers have told them that all it takes is one situation and you’ll be paying millions. Because people are obviously aware that tour player’s and the PGA Tour all have big money, they are an easy target.
    I’ll guarantee you that this is a legal issue….

    • Nate

      Jan 15, 2015 at 8:40 am

      SBoss, you have it right I think. This reeks of lawyers, money and sue happy citizens. If it were a law suit, wouldn’t it be public record? They should put a disclaimer on the tickets stating you may end up getting splashed by beer or poked in the eye by a flying Puma hat – enter at your own risk. Why ruin this for everyone else? sad.

  7. Alex

    Jan 15, 2015 at 1:26 am

    Maybe they don’t want to ban the throwing as much as they don’t want sponsors to be able to get additional advertising via their players/caddies and want to stop them from being able to pass out things with their brands on them?

    Could it really just be that they want money? Because there seems to be no actual “good” answer.

  8. marcel

    Jan 14, 2015 at 7:51 pm

    thats a joke

  9. Taylor59

    Jan 14, 2015 at 6:28 pm

    What if the swag is handed out and not propelled?

  10. Ken c

    Jan 14, 2015 at 3:14 pm

    What is the pga going to do if a player violates their rules? Giving out Swag is exactly the thing golf needs.

  11. Chad Rechlo

    Jan 14, 2015 at 1:35 pm

    Oh great, so you mean no fun – Happy Gilmore

  12. Steve H

    Jan 14, 2015 at 1:34 pm

    What a joke! If the PGA really wants to make the 16th a truly safe environment, stop selling alcohol there. Hahaha, I’m betting the won’t happen.

    Drink up and Swag On!!!

  13. RAT

    Jan 14, 2015 at 1:01 pm

    Taking the fun out of this tourney. What a shame.

  14. Bruce Ferguson

    Jan 14, 2015 at 1:00 pm

    It won’t be long before the WM will be just another tour event. All the screwball antics that make the event unique and fun will be gone. Golf needs at least one venue like this, and it’s slowly but surely being “civilized”. While I, for one, don’t enjoy the cat calls and booing, golf has a wide-ranging audience, and I respect that.

  15. Travis

    Jan 14, 2015 at 12:03 pm

    Hey! Taylor Made I,am for sale if you want me to chuck swag to the heathens! It doesn’t say I can’t throw stuff to the crowd! Only players and caddies…

  16. snowman

    Jan 14, 2015 at 11:38 am

    what’s next? Fans will be banned from booing bad shots.

  17. RadioActive

    Jan 14, 2015 at 10:54 am

    Didn’t some drunk smash into a woman and hurt her diving for a $2 t shirt a year or two back

  18. Eldrick T Woods

    Jan 14, 2015 at 10:13 am

    Tin, if I get hit with a flat bill, I’m going to play in Europe for the rest of my career.

  19. MattyTeaks

    Jan 14, 2015 at 10:00 am

    I’m no Tiger fan, but the folks just assuming this is because of his presence in the field need to get a grip. Everything is not his fault.

  20. Jeff Smith

    Jan 14, 2015 at 9:54 am

    Did tiger request that or he wouldn’t play ……. how lame!

  21. Charlie

    Jan 14, 2015 at 9:15 am

    Are they going to ban the movement of large boulders?

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Tour Photo Galleries

Photos from the 2024 Zurich Classic of New Orleans

Published

on

GolfWRX is live on site this week at the Zurich Classic of New Orleans for the PGA Tour’s one-and-only two-man team event.

As usual, general galleries, WITBs, and pullout albums — including some pretty spicy custom putters and headcovers — await your viewing.

Be sure to check back for more photos from the Big Easy, as we’ll continue to update this page with additional galleries throughout the week.

General Albums

WITB Albums

Pullout Albums

See what GolfWRXers are saying about our photos from the Zurich Classic of New Orleans in the forums.

 

Your Reaction?
  • 4
  • LEGIT2
  • WOW1
  • LOL0
  • IDHT0
  • FLOP0
  • OB0
  • SHANK0

Continue Reading

Tour Photo Galleries

Photos from the 2024 RBC Heritage

Published

on

GolfWRX is on site this week at Harbour Town Golf Links on Hilton Head Island for the RBC Heritage. Plenty of golfers who competed in the Masters last week will be making the quick turnaround in the Lowcountry of South Carolina as the Heritage is again one of the Tour’s Signature Events.

We have general albums for you to check out, as well as plenty of WITBs — including Justin Thomas and Justin Rose.

We’ll continue to update as more photos flow in from SC.

Check out links to all our photos, below.

General Albums

WITB Albums

Pullout Albums

See what GolfWRXers are saying and join the discussion in the forums.

Your Reaction?
  • 10
  • LEGIT0
  • WOW0
  • LOL2
  • IDHT0
  • FLOP1
  • OB0
  • SHANK0

Continue Reading

Tour Photo Galleries

Photos from the 2024 Valero Texas Open

Published

on

GolfWRX is on site this week at the Valero Texas Open.

The event has been around since 1922, making it one of the oldest on the PGA Tour calendar. Over the years, it’s been held at a variety of courses across the Lone Star State, but it’s found its home at TPC San Antonio in recent years. Some of the biggest names in golf have taken home the title here, including Arnold Palmer, Ben Hogan, Lee Trevino, and Ben Crenshaw.

GolfWRX has its usual assortment of general galleries, WITBs and special pull-out albums. As always, we’ll continue to update the links below as more photos come in from TPC San Antonio.

General Albums

WITB Albums

Pullout Albums

See what GolfWRXers are saying in the forums

Your Reaction?
  • 16
  • LEGIT3
  • WOW6
  • LOL2
  • IDHT0
  • FLOP0
  • OB0
  • SHANK1

Continue Reading

WITB

Facebook

Trending