Tour News

Swag-tossing banned at the Phoenix Open

Published

11 years ago

Jan 14, 2015

PGA Tour representatives have confirmed that players will no longer be able to toss souvenirs to the crowd at No. 16 at TPC Scottsdale, citing fan safety as a concern.

But is safety really a concern? Sure, dangers exist, but the biggest risk of the swag-tossing tradition could be Phil Mickelson’s rotator cuff if he were to rocket-launch footballs into the nosebleed section again.

Fan Fact: Mickelson is right-handed in nearly every activity except golf.

The PGA Tour becoming like the no fun league. Trying to take the fun out of Phoenix Open. pic.twitter.com/tuWl7dAwsp

— Alex Miceli (@alexmiceli) January 13, 2015

Two years ago, the PGA Tour banned caddie races at the Waste Management Open (what’s a caddy race, you ask?) — but it can’t, it won’t, it never will, stop the party at No. 16, especially with Tiger Woods in the field this year.

And especially if this happens again.

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Andrew Tursky

He played on the Hawaii Pacific University Men's Golf team and earned a Masters degree in Communications. He also played college golf at Rutgers University, where he graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in Journalism.

24 Comments

Dave

Jan 18, 2015 at 12:40 pm

I think throwing stuff into the stands is potentially dangerous to fans. Fans will do anything to catch a cap or ball, including falling out of the stands or attacking the guy next to him.

A better idea would be before or after the round, have the pros give all the kids, say 12 or younger, a cap, ball, or some trinket. Have enough for everybody. The pros can afford it, and it’s tax deductible.

Baseball games have bat day, cap day, etc. Makes more sense than people trying to kill each other over a $ 5 cap.

Reply Report comment
- rgb
  
  Jan 19, 2015 at 10:21 pm
  
  Nothing like the nanny state injecting is homogenization onto everything.
  
  Reply Report comment
Steve

Jan 16, 2015 at 9:14 am

And they want to make themgame more appealing to a younger audience? This is why golf is contracting, it is run by boring buttoned up elitist, that maintain they know what is good for you and your to stupid to know. I quess the grandstands will becoming down next. And they will have another middle of the road boring event.

Reply Report comment
IH8

Jan 15, 2015 at 4:42 pm

I wonder if they’ll talk to Jim Justice from the Greenbriar; remember, he handed out a bunch of $100 bills to the crowd after someone made an ace.

“Hey Jim, you know that awesome thing you did last year? Don’t ever do that again.”

Reply Report comment
preston

Jan 15, 2015 at 2:33 pm

With the sport losing players, the last thing they need to do is stop allowing players to do things that would draw people in. The caddie races were funny. The swag tossing is awesome – at what other tournament do players actually give things to people besides a ball or a sweaty glove? PGA is not helping themselves here. Thanks for nothing PGA! Here to the boring game of golf on TV….

Reply Report comment
AllBOdoesisgolf

Jan 15, 2015 at 10:16 am

want to ruin a good thing? Put a woman in charge

Reply Report comment
SBoss

Jan 15, 2015 at 7:33 am

They probably got sued by some fan who got hit with something or have been advised by legal that it could happen at any moment. It happens all the time. That is exactly why so many things in the USA are being eliminated or greatly changed. Lawyers are ruining the country…along with the propensity of people to see their “gravy train” on any large or small mishap.
I’m sure that the PGA Tour’s own lawyers have told them that all it takes is one situation and you’ll be paying millions. Because people are obviously aware that tour player’s and the PGA Tour all have big money, they are an easy target.
I’ll guarantee you that this is a legal issue….

Reply Report comment
- Nate
  
  Jan 15, 2015 at 8:40 am
  
  SBoss, you have it right I think. This reeks of lawyers, money and sue happy citizens. If it were a law suit, wouldn’t it be public record? They should put a disclaimer on the tickets stating you may end up getting splashed by beer or poked in the eye by a flying Puma hat – enter at your own risk. Why ruin this for everyone else? sad.
  
  Reply Report comment
Alex

Jan 15, 2015 at 1:26 am

Maybe they don’t want to ban the throwing as much as they don’t want sponsors to be able to get additional advertising via their players/caddies and want to stop them from being able to pass out things with their brands on them?

Could it really just be that they want money? Because there seems to be no actual “good” answer.

Reply Report comment
marcel

Jan 14, 2015 at 7:51 pm

thats a joke

Reply Report comment
Taylor59

Jan 14, 2015 at 6:28 pm

What if the swag is handed out and not propelled?

Reply Report comment
Ken c

Jan 14, 2015 at 3:14 pm

What is the pga going to do if a player violates their rules? Giving out Swag is exactly the thing golf needs.

Reply Report comment
Chad Rechlo

Jan 14, 2015 at 1:35 pm

Oh great, so you mean no fun – Happy Gilmore

Reply Report comment
Steve H

Jan 14, 2015 at 1:34 pm

What a joke! If the PGA really wants to make the 16th a truly safe environment, stop selling alcohol there. Hahaha, I’m betting the won’t happen.

Drink up and Swag On!!!

Reply Report comment
RAT

Jan 14, 2015 at 1:01 pm

Taking the fun out of this tourney. What a shame.

Reply Report comment
Bruce Ferguson

Jan 14, 2015 at 1:00 pm

It won’t be long before the WM will be just another tour event. All the screwball antics that make the event unique and fun will be gone. Golf needs at least one venue like this, and it’s slowly but surely being “civilized”. While I, for one, don’t enjoy the cat calls and booing, golf has a wide-ranging audience, and I respect that.

Reply Report comment
Travis

Jan 14, 2015 at 12:03 pm

Hey! Taylor Made I,am for sale if you want me to chuck swag to the heathens! It doesn’t say I can’t throw stuff to the crowd! Only players and caddies…

Reply Report comment
snowman

Jan 14, 2015 at 11:38 am

what’s next? Fans will be banned from booing bad shots.

Reply Report comment
RadioActive

Jan 14, 2015 at 10:54 am

Didn’t some drunk smash into a woman and hurt her diving for a $2 t shirt a year or two back

Reply Report comment
Eldrick T Woods

Jan 14, 2015 at 10:13 am

Tin, if I get hit with a flat bill, I’m going to play in Europe for the rest of my career.

Reply Report comment
MattyTeaks

Jan 14, 2015 at 10:00 am

I’m no Tiger fan, but the folks just assuming this is because of his presence in the field need to get a grip. Everything is not his fault.

Reply Report comment
Jeff Smith

Jan 14, 2015 at 9:54 am

Did tiger request that or he wouldn’t play ……. how lame!

Reply Report comment
- db
  
  Jan 14, 2015 at 11:33 am
  
  Your assumption is lame.
  
  Reply Report comment
Charlie

Jan 14, 2015 at 9:15 am

Are they going to ban the movement of large boulders?

Reply Report comment

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Tour Photo Galleries

Photos from the 2026 PGA Championship

Published

2 days ago

May 11, 2026

GolfWRX Staff

GolfWRX is on site for the second major of 2026: The PGA Championship from Aronimink in Newtown Square, Pennsylvania.

The tournament’s location, just outside Philadelphia, and its status as a major championship mean GolfWRXers are in for a treat: WITBs from a strong field, custom gear celebrating the PGA Championship, and the rich culture of the City of Brotherly Love — we have noted a relative absence of cheesesteak-themed items thus far this week, but most of the rest of the usual suspects are well represented.

Check out links to all our photos below.