Zach Johnson ‘done’ with Waste Management Open after fan exchange

Golf

By Christian Arnold

The Waste Management Phoenix Open sounds like it will be a waste of time for Zach Johnson after this weekend. 

The American golfer was fuming on Sunday after a heated exchange with a fan earlier in the day during the typically rowdy golf event at TPC Scottsdale, which took on another level this year. 

Johnson told The Arizona Republic that “I’m done” when asked about the over-the-top atmosphere that mimicked something out of the 1990s Adam Sandler hit “Happy Gilmore.”

The scene became out of control during the tournament, which had drunken fans passing out and others sliding down muddy terrain slip-n-slide style. 

Johnson’s viral exchange with one fan seemed to be the icing on the cake for the WM Phoenix Open, which had to suspend alcohol sales at one point.

“You’re hitting me at a very emotional point right now, so if I were to say if I’m gonna come back, I’d probably say no,” Johnson said. “But at the same time, I have no idea.”

The tournament held in Phoenix has always been an outlier on the PGA Tour schedule for its less uptight feel that mimics the atmosphere of one of the big four leagues – MLB, NFL, NBA and NHL. 

But the rowdiness of this year’s event has raised the question of just where the line is before things have gone too far. 

Johnson didn’t seem to think too highly of the event even before the weekend issues. 

“This tournament has been inappropriate and crossed the line since I’ve been on Tour, and this is my 21st year,” he said. 

“I don’t know what the line is, but you have people falling out of the rafters, you have fights in the stands,” Johnson added later. “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 gonna really, really get hurt or worse. You’ve got a woman falling down 20 feet.”

The incident between Johnson and the fans occurred after they reportedly heckled him over his Ryder Cup captaincy decisions. 

It led Johnson to confront the fans in an outburst that was recorded. 

“I’m sick of it. Just shut up!” Johnson said to the group of spectators.

It was far from the only negative player-fan interaction either. 

Another video caught Billy Horschel yelling at a fan for talking while Nicolo Galletti was taking his shot. 

During Jordan Spieth’s drive on 18 another fan yelled during his backswing. 

Horschel had told The Arizona Republic that he enjoyed the tournament but confirmed that the chaotic atmosphere has been talked about inside the clubhouse. 

“It’s been talked about amongst players about, if this would continue to escalate over the next few years, you could see players not want to come here,” Horschel said. “And that’s an unfortunate situation.”