13 February 2024 , 22:52
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Robert MacIntyre was clearly a big fan of the party atmosphere at last week's Waste Management Phoenix Open, despite a group of his fellow players being left unimpressed with members of the crowd.
After a number of weather delays, the event finally came to a close on Sunday, with Nick Taylor prevailing as champion thanks to a playoff against Charley Hoffman. It was an exciting end to the week, but not all went to plan for event organisers, after it was marred by crowd chaos.
The Arizona-based tournament is known for its boozy atmosphere, but it appeared certain members of the gallery went a step too far during this year's edition.
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Fans were seen throwing themselves down mud slides after heavy rain hit, whilst one opted to invade the playing area, jumping into a green-side bunker on the iconic par-three 16th stadium hole, before being taken away by the authorities. Despite some unsavoury scenes though, it was an enjoyable week for MacIntyre.
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Taking to X (formerly Twitter ) in the aftermath, he tweeted: "What a golf tournament @WMPhoenixOpen. Delighted to get to experience the carnage and you know what…. I f*****g loved it, hope to be back next year."
Whilst the Scot enjoyed himself, it did prove to be a frustrating week after he missed the weekend cut line, shooting level-par across the first two rounds. Whilst MacInyre lapped up the experience, the same can not be said for some of his fellow stars, including Ryder Cup rival Zach Johnson.
The Team USA captain was seen telling a member of the Phoenix crowd to 'shut up', with reports suggesting he had been heckled over the Americans' heavy defeat in Rome last Autumn. Face-to-face with a group of fans, Johnson cried: "Don't 'sir' me, somebody said it, I'm just sick of it! Shut up!"
The veteran PGA Tour star vented his frustrations post-round, providing a damning assessment of the crowd culture throughout the week. "This tournament has been inappropriate and crossed the line since I have been on tour and this is my 21st year," Johnson claimed.
"At some point --- I don't know what the line is," he added. "But you have people falling out of the rafters, you have fights in the stands. It's to the point where now, how do you reel it in? Because it's taken on a life of its own. I think the Thunderbirds probably need to do something about it.
"I'm assuming they're ashamed. Because at some point, somebody's either going to really, really get hurt or worse. You've got a woman falling down 20 feet." Johnson was not alone with his frustrations, with Billy Horschel also seen slamming the crowd as he competed in the fourth round.
Horschel called out one fan in particular who was heard talking throughout the back swing of his playing partner. Nicolo Galletti. “Buddy, when he’s over a shot shut the hell up man,” he shouted. “He’s trying to hit a damn golf shot here – it’s our f***ing job.”