Zach Johnson confronts fan after round

[Flip4000]

Did anyone else see on the last hole today on his round, it looked like Zach "sushed" someone in the gallery before putting in his 1 footer and then after nick Watney was pointing into the crowd at one guy as Zach walked off. When they reached the area in the stands where fan was sitting Zach confronted him.

 

While I tuned in just enough to see him stare in the stands before sinking his putt I didn't really see or hear what the fan was doing or said but Zach was heated enough that he felt in was necessary to confront the fan.

 

I was curious what you guys thought about this. Do you think its unprofessional of him to do or do u think he was in the right? Also should this have been something security should have handled vs 2 players taking it upon themselves to do something?

 

I would love to hear all your opinions

[DFinch]

I don't have a problem with the confrontation from a professional vs unprofessional standpoint. My concern, if it were to become more common, is it just gives the narcissists and YouTube fame-seekers another way to "get on TV". This would encourage more bad behavior and player baiting.

[Yepyukon]

I think that the PGA Tour had better get a handle on fans yelling stupid stuff or you will start seeing more of this. Their (the PGA Tour) last 2 rules changes have done nothing but make the game harder for the average golfer (groove rule and anchoring) but have failed to address the issue of slow play or erratic fans.

[KILLEDBYASHANKEDWEDGE]

Watney looked like he was thinking about going over the railing for the heckler.

[sui generis]

[quote name='Yepyukon' timestamp='1379196805' post='7851513']
I think that the PGA Tour had better get a handle on fans yelling stupid stuff or you will start seeing more of this. [color=#ff0000]Their (the PGA Tour) last 2 rules changes have done nothing but make the game harder for the average golfer (groove rule and anchoring) but have failed to address the issue of slow play or erratic fans.[/color]
[/quote]

The PGA Tour does not make, nor change, the Rules of Golf.

[rvgolfer]

Fans have become more, and too boisterous, and frankly need to be informed before entering the grounds that it wont be tolerated, and for even a first infraction they will be removed and banned from any future PGA event. I have little doubt that with a few ejection examples crowd behavior would improve quickly, and the worst of it is that its not a general problem,,its only a few nuts that cause the problems,,so it wont take long to thin the herd, and it wont have anything but a positive effect on the vast majority of the fans.

I wont get into what consists of an infraction, but I am sure a set of guidelines could be developed.

[Dill Pickleson]

Some idiot said "Zach you suck!", I thought Zach handled the situation appropriately.

[Spiritomb]

He's lucky it wasn't me, I would give him a real talking too. Just kidding.

[Flip4000]

I was surprised that if it was evident that the fan was distracting a player why security wouldn't remove the fan or at least give him a verbal warning or something

[Yepyukon]

[quote name='sui generis' timestamp='1379196998' post='7851527']
[quote name='Yepyukon' timestamp='1379196805' post='7851513']
I think that the PGA Tour had better get a handle on fans yelling stupid stuff or you will start seeing more of this. [color=#ff0000]Their (the PGA Tour) last 2 rules changes have done nothing but make the game harder for the average golfer (groove rule and anchoring) but have failed to address the issue of slow play or erratic fans.[/color]
[/quote]

The PGA Tour does not make, nor change, the Rules of Golf.
[/quote]

You are correct. I should have said that the PGA Tour has enforced these rules on the PGA Tour instead of what needs to be addressed on the PGA Tour.

[MtlJeff]

Johnny Miller said it right, which is the only thing you can do is ignore it. Confronting the fan is exactly what the guy wanted.If you read the article Jason Sobel wrote on golf yellers, they all think they are the coolest thing since sliced bread. That guy is going to go home and high five his friends that he got Zach to react. That's what the pros need to understand, you are dealing with cavemen here

[sui generis]

The PGA Tour and the tv networks are interested in only one thing ... money. If either thought that yelling idiots was impacting the bottom line, they'd fix it. One can only assume that the PGA Tour and the tv networks see no harm to their profits and, thus, no need to take any action.

[Cwing]

[quote name='Yepyukon' timestamp='1379196805' post='7851513']
I think that the PGA Tour had better get a handle on fans yelling stupid stuff or you will start seeing more of this. Their (the PGA Tour) last 2 rules changes have done nothing but make the game harder for the average golfer (groove rule and anchoring) but have failed to address the issue of slow play or erratic fans.
[/quote]

It's the whole package. Fans calling in, after the fact video, mash potatoes, and all the other non sense going on that is inviting this non sense as it is allowing fans to become part of the round. Next we are going to have people crawling around in the bushes in camo gear with cameras, etc... Trying to get the scope. Whats next? People sneaking on the course at night setting up motion sensitive cameras to "catch" a mistake that cannot be seen by the naked eye?

If the PGA/others do not real this in, it will get out of control.

[Cwing]

[quote name='sui generis' timestamp='1379196998' post='7851527']
[quote name='Yepyukon' timestamp='1379196805' post='7851513']
I think that the PGA Tour had better get a handle on fans yelling stupid stuff or you will start seeing more of this. [color=#ff0000]Their (the PGA Tour) last 2 rules changes have done nothing but make the game harder for the average golfer (groove rule and anchoring) but have failed to address the issue of slow play or erratic fans.[/color]
[/quote]

The PGA Tour does not make, nor change, the Rules of Golf.
[/quote]

That would be the USGA.

[360_CS]

[quote name='MtlJeff' timestamp='1379197288' post='7851553']
Johnny Miller said it right, which is the only thing you can do is ignore it. Confronting the fan is exactly what the guy wanted.If you read the article Jason Sobel wrote on golf yellers, they all think they are the coolest thing since sliced bread. That guy is going to go home and high five his friends that he got Zach to react. That's what the pros need to understand, you are dealing with cavemen here
[/quote]

I don't know about that. The guy just got embarrassed in front of the whole crowd and all the people watching on t.v. (what's the coverage of this event?). I don't think that guy will be doing it again.

[MaccaRayDudley]

I think Zach should have just ignored that idiot. Players like Colin Montgomery and Sergio Garcia became hate figures here in the US after reacting to hecklers. There is less chance of that happening to Johnson since he is an American. Still, he doesn't want to make himself a target for these imbeciles.

[Cwing]

[quote name='360_CS' timestamp='1379197938' post='7851617']
[quote name='MtlJeff' timestamp='1379197288' post='7851553']
Johnny Miller said it right, which is the only thing you can do is ignore it. Confronting the fan is exactly what the guy wanted.If you read the article Jason Sobel wrote on golf yellers, they all think they are the coolest thing since sliced bread. That guy is going to go home and high five his friends that he got Zach to react. That's what the pros need to understand, you are dealing with cavemen here
[/quote]

I don't know about that. The guy just got embarrassed in front of the whole crowd and all the people watching on t.v. (what's the coverage of this event?). I don't think that guy will be doing it again.
[/quote]

The guy is giggling in the corner and will be laughing it up over beers later tonight and will be telling the story 30 yrs from now.

[Adamsguy]

I was there today and heard plenty of morons voicing their level of intelligence. Feel sorry for them and their pathetic life they must lead.

[Flip4000]

I wonder if it will ever reach a point to where fans will begin to start getting ejected for there antics as well as have their tickets voided for the rest of the weekend

[sui generis]

[quote name='Flip4000' timestamp='1379199158' post='7851703']
I wonder if it will ever reach a point to where fans will begin to start getting ejected for there antics as well as have their tickets voided for the rest of the weekend
[/quote]

Only when their boorish behavior puts a dent in the tv networks ability to get revenue for Buick and Viagra advertising.

[ctmason_98]

The Phoenix Open is a notorious raucous drunkfest but don't recall any fans crossing the line with players...probably because you can see some one (usually young male) being escorted out every ten to fifteen minutes. Fights in the crowd are pretty common from my experience. Maker no mistake, ample security at all fan gathering points costs significant money, and the PGA ain't going to foot that bill.

[Full Melt]

If Zach Johnson confronted the guy then it was definitely warranted...he's one of the nicest guys on tour

[Dill Pickleson]

[quote name='Cwing' timestamp='1379198465' post='7851665']
[quote name='360_CS' timestamp='1379197938' post='7851617']
[quote name='MtlJeff' timestamp='1379197288' post='7851553']
Johnny Miller said it right, which is the only thing you can do is ignore it. Confronting the fan is exactly what the guy wanted.If you read the article Jason Sobel wrote on golf yellers, they all think they are the coolest thing since sliced bread. That guy is going to go home and high five his friends that he got Zach to react. That's what the pros need to understand, you are dealing with cavemen here
[/quote]

I don't know about that. The guy just got embarrassed in front of the whole crowd and all the people watching on t.v. (what's the coverage of this event?). I don't think that guy will be doing it again.
[/quote]

The guy is giggling in the corner and will be laughing it up over beers later tonight and will be telling the story 30 yrs from now.
[/quote]

Good for him, he'll also still be living in his mom's basement, kick them out.

[Soloman1]

I think an old-fashioned persimmon 4-wood to the shin would solve a lot of this stuff.

Spectators should wear old-fashioned spikes and not soft spikes. You'd be surprised how effective a few metal spike shoes can be on the foot of a loud-mouthed yahoo wearing tennis shoes or sandals.

"Oops, sorry."

[hankmoody]

I like Zach a lot, but I agree that as a professional athlete he's got to ignore the fans, no matter what they say, or how justified I may think he is. No professional sports league wants their athletes going into the crowd. Not a single good thing can come out of that situation.

[wobgon]

[quote name='hankmoody' timestamp='1379203598' post='7852023']
I like Zach a lot, but I agree that as a professional athlete he's got to ignore the fans, no matter what they say, or how justified I may think he is. No professional sports league wants their athletes going into the crowd. Not a single good thing can come out of that situation.
[/quote]
I disagree....I would like to see them all go into the crowd after everyone of these mental midgets that yell stuff ...I will promise you that if a player went into the crowd every time this happened the PGA would do something about this problem real quick....

[Hot Rod 71]

It's unfortunate people in the gallery have to act that way. From my experience attending tour events, the vast majority of attendees are very respectful to the golfers and the course. Its only a small number of fans that act like complete idiots. It think the tour should do something to address these morons.

[2putttom]

[quote name='Hot Rod 71' timestamp='1379204083' post='7852057']
It's unfortunate people in the gallery have to act that way. From my experience attending tour events, the vast majority of attendees are very respectful to the golfers and the course. Its only a small number of fans that act like complete idiots. It think the tour should do something to address these morons.
[/quote] Tasers will be issued at the next event......ya if only.

[chickenpotpie]

So....which golfer is going to be the first Ron Artest of the PGA tour, and go into the stands to punch the wrong fan?

[buckeyefl]

As I said elsewhere its going to happen so the PGA Tour had better get it under control before the lawsuits start.