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Bubba Watson snaps back at heckler during WGC-Match Play; Should the Tour do more to stop players receiving verbal abuse?

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Bubba Watson isn’t enjoying the best of weeks at the WGC-Match Play in Austin, and on Thursday the two-time Masters champ was less than impressed with one golf fans attempt to heckle him.

The incident occurred on the par-4 third hole of Bubba Watson’s match against Billy Horschel. As the television audio picked up, per the Tweet embedded below, Watson’s caddie Ted Scott was the first to address the fan saying: “Hey buddy, just be quiet next time”, before Watson got more curt with the spectator.

Staring down the heckler, Watson says: “It’s funny how tough you were, then you looked away. … Everybody’s big behind the ropes and behind the computer.” Before the 40-year-old added “Look at him. He’s still trying to look cool.”

The incident comes off the back of a heckling controversy at the Players Championship earlier this month involving Ian Poulter. The Englishman was defiant at the time, posting this on social media in response to the abuse he received at TPC Sawgrass.

Speaking after his opening match at this week’s WGC-Match Play, Poulter further elaborated on his thoughts concerning the abuse he received at the Players Championship, saying

“You obviously know there’s a problem if your playing partner doesn’t feel very comfortable or he apologized and said he’s embarrassed for the local support at TPC, and he apologized. So when it gets to that level that your playing partner has to apologize for fans, then obviously clearly there’s a few that stepped over the line.”

While Poulter also highlighted that the abuse he suffered was while his young family were in the crowd believing that “tt can be potentially damaging to them to hear that level of stuff,” and added that “it’s a shame it happens but unfortunately it does and hopefully we can stamp it out.”

GolfWRXers, does the Tour need to do more to stamp out hecklers on the course, or is a certain level of verbal jabbing now unavoidable and part and parcel of being a Tour pro?

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Gianni is the Managing Editor at GolfWRX. He can be contacted at [email protected].

31 Comments

31 Comments

  1. Tim

    Apr 1, 2019 at 11:27 am

    This is a growing trend in this country. People are becoming more and more rude. I think its started with people being rude behind the protection of their computer screens, but its now spread out to traffic on the highway and public sporting events like this.

    I think the current political situation is driving it in a lot of ways. People have become inspired to be rude and petulant. That’s what has worked so well for the leader of the free world. This is going to make for a pretty crappy society to live in.

  2. hellomcfly

    Mar 31, 2019 at 10:28 pm

    Now if they would only start throwing people out for yelling “Bababoooie” and “Get in the hole!”

  3. Dave

    Mar 31, 2019 at 8:49 am

    The poor fan behavior puts a mark on the sport. This isn’t Da Raidas or pro wrastlin. They need a zero tolerance policy…

  4. Johnny Penso

    Mar 30, 2019 at 10:09 pm

    No offense but taking away beer is a stupid suggestion. Why punish 50,000 people who are responsible with their drinking and behaviour in order to cure a handful of morons? Deal with the idiots, send a message, behaviour will change and the few malcontents will be dealt with. You’ll never eliminate them all but it’s not hard to get most.

  5. Malcolm X

    Mar 30, 2019 at 8:17 pm

    It’s only an issue with the notorious jerks like Bubber, Serg, Poulter, and back in the day Norman

  6. Allen Rawlins

    Mar 30, 2019 at 9:33 am

    The game of golf is about respect, integrity, character, and sportsmanship. These hecklers aren’t purist in these regards. Whether I like a player or not, when I have attended several tour events you always show respect to the person. I was at the BMW a few years ago in Carmel, IN and was at the green waiting for Tiger to hit up, and Ben Crane was on the green putting. As we all know he is slow!!!! He had a two foot putt left after his first attempt went by and he went through the same long pre shot routine. Many fans began yelling come on it’s a gimme, and others just started saying this guys a joke, and was loud enough for the players to hear. His wife and another tour wife was about five feet or so from me and she started crying wanting to know why people had to be so mean. With all that being said, zero tolerance policy should be enforced, and second they do have their girlfriends, wives, parents, and children sometimes following. This is a game of respect!!! Hecklers do not respect it.

  7. George49

    Mar 30, 2019 at 9:24 am

    And one ponders why USA melts in the Ryder, toughen up butter cups. Heckle me all you want if I played pga tour for a living with endorsement deals. The tour is out of touch with the common golfer. It’s a declining sport yet the purses increase each year while
    The spectator’s health insurance negates if any wage increase.

  8. MikeyB

    Mar 30, 2019 at 6:43 am

    As soon as the PGA became accepting of the “Baba Booey!” “It’s in da’ hole!” and “Mashed Pa-tay-tahs!” idiots everything else was going to slowly creep into the mix. The falling down drunks, the booing beer can throwing fans at the Waste Management, etc.
    Boorish behavior has become the norm at PGA events. If you had security placed near every tee, you can simply grab these morons and show them the parking lot. If it’s done ‘publicly’ then the PGA sends the message, you can have a few beverages and cheer for your guy, but don’t be a jerk about it.

  9. CB

    Mar 29, 2019 at 10:55 pm

    What did the heckler say?

    • MalcolmX

      Mar 30, 2019 at 8:19 pm

      How did a jerk like you win 2 Masters … something like that

      • Jose Pinatas

        Mar 31, 2019 at 1:57 pm

        So the spectator was speaking the truth? How’s that heckling??

  10. TK

    Mar 29, 2019 at 5:19 pm

    This is pro sports fellas..a paying patron can say whatever they want in between swings..go to an nfl, nhl, mlb game..chirping is off the charts..as long as you are respectful when they are actually in pre-swing – mid swing…the fields open when these guys are walking around..they talk to spectators all the time who’s to say or watch what is being said to them..Pro golfers are so sensitive like these pussy’s shouldn’t be treated any different from any other player in any other major sports league around the world.

  11. Shallowface

    Mar 29, 2019 at 3:05 pm

    I’m afraid that the more attention it’s given, the more it’s going to happen. A zero tolerance policy needs to be enforced. I’d love to see alcohol sales completely eliminated at sporting events, but we all know that’s a revenue generator and will never happen.

    • cj

      Mar 29, 2019 at 7:16 pm

      Sadly, NO. College sports don’t have it and have not in quite a while. IMO sponsors putting up a huge purse make that back charging ludicrous $$$ for a beer. At a Cardinals game with AB right down the street a beer was $12. Go figure!

  12. real recognize real

    Mar 29, 2019 at 2:02 pm

    both ways. Tour needs to put a effort to control this and players need to stop crying.

    most of these players are from the sliver spoon vs the rest of sport pro’s are from the streets.

  13. Craig Stanton

    Mar 29, 2019 at 2:01 pm

    Totally out of character and inconsistent with the game of golf, golf should be better and not lower to the base ape level of other sports.

  14. b

    Mar 29, 2019 at 1:05 pm

    The Tour needs to react to the hecklers sooner, rather than later when it gets worse. When hecklers are noted on video the Tour needs to send authorities to that location and remove the hecklers. It should not be up to the tour players to point out the hecklers to security, but if that what it takes – so be it.

  15. P Triple

    Mar 29, 2019 at 11:50 am

    How about the tour guys toughen up and stop being cry babies? I can understand preventing the crowd from talking during a player’s swing but the rest is a minor level of heckling compared with what other professional athletes endure. At the end of the day, “sticks & stones may break my bones but words will never hurt me”.

    • Jeff

      Mar 29, 2019 at 12:43 pm

      How about rude loudmouths like you just stay in the bar or better yet take a class on etiquette.

    • DJ

      Mar 29, 2019 at 12:58 pm

      how about if you don’t have anything nice to say, stfu

      • DM

        Mar 29, 2019 at 10:28 pm

        +1

        I volunteered at the Players and the crowd on Saturday was large, loud and as the alcohol sales escalated so did the rude and obnoxious behavior. its really too bad the alcohol sales take the enjoyment out for some. Ban it totally. There were thousands of young kids there to see their heroes and drunk obnoxious fans sure do not set good examples. Too bad the events aren’t like Augusta..They dont give a flip about PC.

      • Pepe Llmanos

        Mar 30, 2019 at 6:25 pm

        Hypocrisy.. I heard there gonna stone ya in America for that going forward..

    • Ray Gene Wood

      Mar 29, 2019 at 3:37 pm

      Maybe I come to your janitorial job and heckle you and see how you like that.

    • gdb99

      Mar 29, 2019 at 4:49 pm

      Except when a played breaks a rib. Isn’t that what happened to John Daley? Tried stopping his swing while being heckled?

  16. S

    Mar 29, 2019 at 11:21 am

    The Tour should
    Stop selling alcohol.
    Stop associating with alcohol companies.
    Stop advertising alcohol at events.

  17. T

    Mar 29, 2019 at 11:06 am

    There just needs to be a zero tolerance policy for situations like that. The tour needs to take notes on how AGNGC handles their event.

  18. dat

    Mar 29, 2019 at 10:08 am

    It is all alcohol related. I’ve seen people falling down drunk at these events, no better than an NFL game. Kick them out.

  19. Allen Wilson

    Mar 29, 2019 at 9:53 am

    Quit selling beer at events and most of the over the top heckling will go away….but nobody wants to give up the revenue.

    • Yup

      Mar 29, 2019 at 2:10 pm

      Spot on here!!!! Its all about the $$$$$ to the event sponsors and PGA Tour!

  20. forgedforever

    Mar 29, 2019 at 9:25 am

    The Tour needs to start tossing people, simple as that. Identify and toss. Word will get around. Never, ever, take the attitude that so-called “verbal jabbing” is the new norm or it will get further out of control.

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News

Morning 9: 58 on the Korn Ferry Tour | Rory on possible return to policy board

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By Ben Alberstadt with Gianni Magliocco.

For comments: [email protected]

Good Friday morning, golf fans, may a bountiful weekend of golf be in store for you!

1. 58 on the Korn Ferry Tour

KFT staff report…”Frankie Capan III went crazy low Thursday on the Korn Ferry Tour. Nearly in record fashion.”

  • “Capan carded 13-under 58 in the opening round of the Veritex Bank Championship, matching the second lowest score in Korn Ferry Tour history. He fell one shy of Cristobal Del Solar’s record 57, set at the Astara Golf Championship presented by Mastercard earlier this year, but it was a heck of a show nonetheless.”
  • “The Minnesota native played an eight-hole stretch in 9-under Thursday, following an eagle at the par-5 ninth with seven straight birdies to begin the back nine at par-71 Texas Rangers Golf Club. He “cooled off” with a two-putt par at the long par-4 17th hole. He arrived at the par-5 18th hole at 13 under for the round, but he found a fairway bunker off the tee, laid up to 134 yards and missed his third shot left of the green. He chipped to 7 feet and drained the par putt to match the Korn Ferry Tour’s second-lowest score of 58, carded by Stephan Jaeger in the opening round of the 2016 Ellie Mae Classic at TPC Stonebrae.”
Full piece.

2. Team McIlowery starts strong

Paul Hodowanic for PGATour.com…”Late Thursday afternoon in New Orleans, Rory McIlroy rested his head on Shane Lowry’s shoulder.”

  • “It wasn’t the typical post-round moment, but this isn’t the typical event. McIlroy and Lowry teamed up for this week’s Zurich Classic of New Orleans, the PGA TOUR’s lone team event, and the all-Irish duo put on a show. Sporting matching pink-on-navy getups, McIlroy/Lowry opened in a best-ball 11-under 61 in Thursday’s Four-ball format at TPC Louisiana.”
  • “This partnership might have stemmed from a boozy brunch last fall, but their opening-round performance at the Zurich Classic of New Orleans gave the field a sobering reminder: They’ll be tough to top.”
Full piece.

3. LPGA Tour: Grace Kim in front

AP report…”Grace Kim shot a 7-under 64 at Wilshire Country Club to take the first-round lead Thursday in the LPGA Tour’s JM Eagle LA Championship.”

  • “Playing in the morning session, the 23-year-old Australian capped her bogey-free round with a chip-in birdie on the par-3 18th.”
  • “Well, I chunked my tee shot on the last hole 20 meters short and then I chipped it in it,” Kim said. “I think that’s pretty cool, in front of everyone
Full piece.

4. McIlroy on rejoining policy board

Golf Channel’s Ryan Lavner…”Rory McIlroy said Wednesday that he is willing to rejoin the PGA Tour policy board if the other player directors want him.”

  • “As first reported by the Guardian, Webb Simpson has submitted a letter stating that he’d like to resign from the board, but only if his vacant seat is filled by McIlroy, who stepped down last fall because of the toll it had taken on him professionally and personally.”
  • “Five months later, what has changed?”
  • “I think I can be helpful,” McIlroy said Wednesday ahead of the Zurich Classic of New Orleans, where he is partnering with Shane Lowry. “I don’t think there’s been much progress made in the last eight months, and I was hopeful that there would be. I think I could be helpful to the process. But only if people want me involved, I guess.”
Full piece.

5. Charlie Woods shoots 81 in U.S. Open qualifier

Golfweek’s Cameron Jourdan…”Charlie Woods is going to have to wait to play in the U.S. Open.”

“The 15-year-old son of Tiger Woods played Thursday in local qualifying for the United States Golf Association’s national championship, set for June 13-16 at Pinehurst No. 2 in North Carolina. Charlie played at The Legacy Golf & Tennis Club in Port St. Lucie, Florida, and he shot 9-over 81.”

“Charlie’s round featured a bogey on his opening hole, the par-4 first. He then doubled the par-5 second. A pair of pars followed before his lone birdie on the front, but another double the next hole, the par-4 sixth, had him turn in 4-over 40.”

Full piece.

6. Photos from the Zurich Classic

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.

Check out all our photos at the link below!

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Tour Photo Galleries

Photos from the 2024 Zurich Classic of New Orleans

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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.

 

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Morning 9: Tiger’s TGL teammates | Woosnam’s criticism of Cantlay | Rory’s return to tour policy board

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By Ben Alberstadt with Gianni Magliocco.

For comments: [email protected]

Good Tuesday morning, golf fans, as the PGA Tour heads to New Orleans for the Zurich Classic.

1. 15-year-old finishes top 20 on KFT

Jay Coffin for Golf Digest…”During a week when most eyes were on Scottie Scheffler and Nelly Korda, the 15-year-old lefty finished off an incredible week with a five-under 66 in the final round of the Korn Ferry Tour’s LECOM Suncoast Classic at Lakewood Ranch in Florida.”

  • “After opening with 68-66-70, Russell finished at 14-under-par total to tie for 20th place. The finish in which he jumped 28 positions on the leaderboard on the final day, gives him an exemption into next week’s Veritex Bank Championship at Rangers Park in Arlington, Texas. He’s the youngest player to finish inside the top 20 on the PGA of Korn Ferry tours, according to records that go back to 1983.”
Full piece.

2. Understandably, Nelly WDs

Golf Channel’s Ryan Lavner…”Nelly Korda’s bid for a record-setting sixth consecutive win will have to wait a few weeks.”

  • “A day after capturing the Chevron Championship during a marathon final round in Houston, Korda announced on social media that she was withdrawing from this week’s JM Eagle LA Championship.”
  • “It was not an easy decision,” she wrote. “After the unbelievable week at the Chevron and grinding through the mental and physical challenges of four events in the past five weeks, I am definitely feeling exhausted. With so much still to come throughout 2024, I feel I need to listen to my body and get some rest, so I can be ready for the remainder of the season.”
Full piece.

3. Scheffler’s impressive No. 1 feat

Golf Channel’s Brentley Romine…”After Scheffler’s victory Monday morning at the RBC Heritage, Scheffler upped his points average to 15.016 and increased his advantage in the Official World Golf Ranking over No. 2 Rory McIlroy to more than double McIlroy’s 7.365 average, meaning Scheffler is ranked further ahead of No. 2 than No. 2 is ahead of the last-ranked player.”

  • “The last time a No. 1 player had a greater points average was Woods, who was at 15.4564 on Dec. 6, 2009. But Woods was less than seven average points ahead of No. 2 Phil Mickelson at the time. Earlier that year, Woods was 7.735 ahead of Mickelson, which is the last time the gap between Nos. 1 and 2 was greater than Scheffler’s current 7.651 advantage.”
Full piece.

4. Zurich field notes

PGATour.com’s Adam Stanley…”Rory McIlroy will make his tournament debut alongside good pal, Ryder Cup teammate, and Irishman Shane Lowry – a duo that was firmed up during a celebratory lunch after the Ryder Cup last fall… Patrick Cantlay and Xander Schauffele will try to reprise their 2022 win here. Cantlay and Schauffele have both the Foursomes and Four-ball scoring records at this event… Davis Riley and Nick Hardy will defend their 2023 title. No team has gone back-to-back… Three sets of brothers (and two sets of twins!) will play together with twins Rasmus and Nicolai Højgaard and Parker and Pierceson Coody in the field along with Alex and Matt Fitzpatrick. Alex Fitzpatrick and Rasmus Højgaard are sponsor invites…”

  • “Billy Horschel, who won last week at the Corales Puntacana Championship, will be without his previous partner Sam Burns, as Burns and his wife are expecting their first child any day. Horschel will instead be paired with fellow University of Florida alum Tyson Alexander. Horschel has won the Zurich Classic when it was both an individual and team event… Other notable pairings include Collin Morikawa and Kurt Kitayama, Sahith Theegala and Will Zalatoris, and Nick Taylor and Adam Hadwin. The Canadian duo finished runner-up a year ago and would like nothing more than to show Presidents Cup International Team captain Mike Weir how well they play together… Steve Stricker will play his second TOUR event this season (after earning his way into THE PLAYERS Championship), teaming up with Matt Kuchar.”
Full piece.

5. Tiger’s teammates

Field Level Media report…”Tiger Woods announced Monday that Max Homa, Tom Kim and Kevin Kisner have joined his Jupiter Links GC TGL team.”

  • “The virtual golf league headed by Woods and Rory McIlroy will begin its inaugural season next January. Woods also unveiled the team’s logo.”
  • “I have already shared my excitement and optimism for TGL as a league and product,” said Woods. “Now that we have finalized our roster with a team of world-class golfers, I am even more confident that this group will proudly represent the Jupiter (Fla.) area and connect with our fans for years to come.”
Full piece.

6. Woosnam questions Cantlay’s decision

Our Matt Vincenzi…”After the horn sounded to suspend play due to darkness, Cantlay, who’s ball was in the fairway on the 18th hole, had a decision to make. With over 200 yards into the green and extreme winds working against the shot, conventional wisdom would be to wait until Monday morning to hit the shot.”

  • “On the other hand, if he could finish the hole, he may just want to get the event over with so he could get out of Hilton Head.”
  • “Curiously, Cantlay chose neither of those options. After hitting 3-wood into the green, and still coming up short, the former FedEx Cup champion chose to mark his ball and chip and putt on Monday morning.”
  • “Ian Woosnam, who was watching from home, took to X to give his thoughts on Cantlay’s decision making.”
  • “Cantlay would end up getting up and down for par when play resumed at 8:00 am Monday morning.”
Full piece.

7. JT on Scheffler’s “weird” equipment choice

Our Matt Vincenzi…”After Justin Thomas’ third round of the RBC Heritage, the two-time major champion went in the broadcast booth alongside the CBS crew.”

  • “While Thomas was watching Scottie Scheffler play on the back nine of his third round, he wondered aloud why Scottie uses high-numbered golf balls.”
  • “Does anybody else think it’s weird that Scottie uses high numbers? I don’t know if I’ve ever seen an elite player use high-numbered golf balls.”
  • “Amanda Balionis who was on the grounds chimed in, reporting that analyst Dottie Pepper had wondered the same thing earlier that day.”
  • “I’ve been going about this wrong my whole life,” Thomas jokingly said.
Full piece.

8. Rory to rejoin PGA Tour policy board

Mark Schlabach for ESPN…”Four-time major championship winner Rory McIlroy is poised to return to the PGA Tour’s policy board, pending a vote by the board, which could come as early as this week, sources confirmed to ESPN on Tuesday.”

  • “One of the PGA Tour’s most vocal supporters during its three-year battle with LIV Golf, McIlroy abruptly resigned as a player director on the tour’s influential policy board in November.”
  • “He is expected to replace policy board player director Webb Simpson, who intends to step away before his two-year term expires in 2025.”
Full piece.

9. Weir names Presidents Cup assistants

PGA Tour report…”International Team Captain Mike Weir announced Ernie Els, Trevor Immelman, Geoff Ogilvy and Camilo Villegas as captain’s assistants for the 2024 Presidents Cup, which will be played at The Royal Montreal Golf Club in Montreal, Canada, Sept. 24-29.

Full piece.
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