Zach Johnson clashed with fans at the Waste Management Phoenix Open after being heckled during his final round, which left the Ryder Cup captain furious post-round
After confronting a heckler during his final round at the Waste Management Phoenix Open, Zach Johnson got into a heated argument with a reporter.
In the last round on Sunday, Johnson finished his week in Phoenix with a level-par 71, but it wasn’t without incident. The American celebrity could be heard yelling back at a spectator, “Don’t’sir’ me, somebody said it, I’m just tired of it!” Put up with it!”
The heckler reportedly brought up Johnson’s shortcomings from the previous autumn’s Ryder Cup, when the 48-year-old led the US to a disappointing loss to their European opponents.
It brought the WM Phoenix Open’s notorious party atmosphere to a whole new level, capping off a week of mayhem. On the well-known par-three 16th hole, spectators were observed hurling themselves down mud slides and causing mayhem. One fan even broke into the playing area and leaped into a bunker.
Things got heated very quickly when Johnson was questioned about his encounter with the crowd and the overall chaotic environment. The Ryder Cup captain answered, “If it crossed the line this week?,” when asked if he thought fans had “crossed the line.” Which line is it? This is a question for you.
Johnson retaliated, saying, “This tournament has been inappropriate and crossed the line since I have been on tour and this is my 21st year,” when the reporter asked if he thought the scenes were “inappropriate.” When asked what kept him returning to Phoenix, he said, “It’s really just that I don’t have to play if I don’t want to, but I still come here.”
“I have nothing against the golf course. The greens are nice. Since these are overseeded Bermuda [greens], I usually try to avoid playing on the West Coast, and that’s how I plan my schedule. It was wet this week, but normally it is bouncy enough for me to even get loft to my hands.”
Johnson was questioned further about whether he thought fans should “rein in” their antics. The PGA Tour player immediately questioned the reporter about the publication he worked for halfway through his response, then proceeded to go into further detail about the unpleasant events that transpired.
He went on, “At some point—I don’t know what the line is.” “However, there are fights in the stands and people falling out of the rafters. Now that it’s at this stage, how do you bring it under control? due to the fact that it has become autonomous. The Thunderbirds should definitely take action, in my opinion.
“I’m thinking they feel embarrassed. Because someone is going to get hurt really badly at some point, or worse. A woman is about to fall twenty feet. Even after Johnson said he was “done” with the fallout, emotions boiled over. He continued, “I have no idea if I’m going to return or not.
“Wife made that decision as a team. I’m having a lot of emotional difficulties right now, so if you asked if I would return, I would probably say no. However, I have no idea at the same time.” “Because I just played 54 holes in two days and I’m beat, and extremely — I’m done,” he said in closing, expressing his emotions. I’m through with it, through with everything.
Not only did Johnson respond angrily to the boisterous crowd, but Billy Horschel also got into a heated debate with them. Horschel chastised a Phoenix fan for discussing his playing partner, Nicolo Galletti, in public. He yelled, “Buddy, shut the hell up man, when he’s over a shot.” “He’s attempting to hit a damn golf shot here – it’s our f job.”
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