The Waste Management Phoenix Open attracts a different type of golf fan than the typical PGA Tour event.
It’s a place where fans are encouraged to get loud and rowdy. Drink a lot, heckle and cheer. It’s a four-day party on the PGA Tour.
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The players seem to really enjoy the event. It’s something different, a nice diversion from the norm. And the 16th Coliseum hole, a par three surrounded by a stadium packed by fans, generates an incredible environment.
But on occasion, this event can bring out the worst in fans, and a a streamer was banned from the PGA Tour for their actions at this year’s event.
Photo by Justin Edmonds/Getty Images
Streamer Jack Doherty receives ban from PGA Tour events
Controversial streamer Jack Doherty was given a lifetime ban from the PGA Tour for paying a spectator $100 to shout in a player’s back swing.
Doherty paid the fan to shout during Mackenzie Hughes’ backswing at the Phoenix Open, which justifiably angered Hughes and the nearby spectators.
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Police swiftly escorted both off the premises, despite Doherty’s pleas of “I didn’t do anything.”
An official then told Doherty, “If you come back here again before this tournament is over, you will be arrested, and then we’ll go through that whole process. In addition to that, I’m trespassing you from all future PGA Tour tournaments.
“If you show up again at a PGA Tour tournament again, you will be arrested. For the foreseeable future until we can work this out.”
Jack Doherty slammed for actions at WM Phoenix Open
The PGA Tour was widely praised on social media for the way they handled this interaction, and let’s just say Doherty isn’t the most popular person on the PGA Tour right now.
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Former PGA Tour pro Smylie Kauffman posted to X: “Someone needs to give this kid a swirlie”, and continued, “And I volunteer as tribute.”
That was the prevailing consensus aimed at Doherty for attempting to disrupt the event.
Luckily for Hughes, a Canadian fighting tooth and nail to keep his PGA Tour card this season, he finished his round two under par, and is T19 in the tournament.
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