Tour News

The tension between Justin Thomas and PGA Tour fans is escalating

Published

8 years ago

Feb 25, 2018

In case you missed it, Justin Thomas spoke out against unruly and “completely unacceptable” behavior from PGA Tour fans after the Genesis Open last week. He said, among other things, “I wish people didn’t think it was so amusing to yell and all that stuff while we’re trying to hit shots and play.”

Well, one fan on Sunday at the Honda Classic — which JT went onto win in a one-hole playoff — was openly rooting for Thomas’ tee shot to go into a bunker.

As the television audio picked up, per the Tweet embedded below, Thomas told the fan that he would be kicked out of the event. (If the Twitter embed doesn’t work for you, click here.)

@BarstoolTrent Justin Thomas just asked to have a spectator removed for rooting for his drive to go into the bunker. pic.twitter.com/RTXsgWHY09

— Jason Hover (@HoverJason) February 25, 2018

Thomas kept his composure enough to get the victory at the Honda Classic, but it will be interesting to see where the relationship between JT and the fans goes from here.

What do you think? Should fans be allowed to openly root against players like in other sports, or is that disrespectful? Is Thomas overreacting?

See what GolfWRX Members are saying about the topic in our forums.

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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.

41 Comments

joro

Apr 4, 2018 at 12:41 pm

This is really stupid, sports fans today think they have to be A-Holes and JT is just egging them on with his crying. They sell Beer and that doesn’t help, but whatever you do, do not smoke, that makes you unruly.

Justin, just shut up and do your job, the same job Millions would love to have, or go to work at a take out for 10 bucks an hour, you’r a fool.

Reply Report comment
Frankrizzo

Apr 3, 2018 at 9:27 pm

Anyone who screams “get in the hole” after a player hits their driver off the tee on a 596 yard par five should be ejected…for stupidity!!!

Reply Report comment
Lenny

Mar 28, 2018 at 1:50 pm

Golf has become more WT in the last 10-15 years.

Reply Report comment
Joe

Mar 14, 2018 at 8:57 am

I don’t see the update to your article where this particular fan was abrasive and basically stalking JT…. I’ll wait…. well, wait, it’s not Tiger so you won’t update it

Reply Report comment
- george
  
  Mar 24, 2018 at 10:44 pm
  
  The jerk(s) want attention. Dont give it to them.
  
  Reply Report comment
d

Mar 12, 2018 at 11:43 am

What a princess.

Reply Report comment
ray

Mar 9, 2018 at 9:07 am

Golf WRX is ‘escalating’ a problem for Justin Thomas by making an issue out of nothing, Do him favor and let it go.

Reply Report comment
- Dave
  
  Mar 13, 2018 at 9:03 pm
  
  Yes. Let it go.
  
  Reply Report comment
Josh

Mar 8, 2018 at 8:13 pm

I really hate all the yelling that people do. Golf is more of a sophisticated sport, where you cheer for your favorite golfer and that is it. No more yelling after a shot or putt is hit.

Reply Report comment
Michael Werner

Mar 7, 2018 at 4:15 am

It is basically a matter of decency and education, whether I behave this way or not. Unfortunately this behavior is often seen in golf tournaments in America. for example at the Ryder Cup
Greetings from Germany

Reply Report comment
Ray

Mar 6, 2018 at 5:08 pm

Justin is the man. With a chance to win the tournament he absolute had to have that guy removed. Tour pros are obviously experts at blocking out distractions, but this was over the top.

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Ron Reagan

Mar 5, 2018 at 4:52 am

Fans have gotten much worse. I’ve always felt security was too lax and now is the time to tighten things up by removing fans that apparently have no real understanding of golf etiquette. Let them learn the hard way that this is not acceptable.

Reply Report comment
Tony

Mar 2, 2018 at 7:08 pm

The F-bomb he dropped that was hears all over the network telecast does not help him.

Reply Report comment
Al

Mar 2, 2018 at 4:37 am

Spectators shouldn’t act like this but this is the same guy who for years hasn’t shouted fore at drives landing in large groups of people and only started shouting last week after splitting someone’s head open with a tee shot. A look in the mirror before criticising others would have been better from Mr Thomas.

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- David
  
  Mar 10, 2018 at 6:28 am
  
  Really? Splitting someone’s head open? That didn’t happen so stop exaggerating things.
  
  Reply Report comment
  - Al
    
    Mar 13, 2018 at 3:25 am
    
    It absolutely did! His drive carried full toss onto a spectators head which was bleeding and required medical attention!
    
    Reply Report comment
StankyRamy

Feb 28, 2018 at 11:26 pm

This little guy should start eating pancakes at Perkins with ol buddy Tiger. Get on a workout regimen and take some Ped’s before you act like a tough guy. Get in the Ho!

Reply Report comment
TeeBone

Feb 28, 2018 at 12:12 pm

Trends toward negative fan behavior is no surprise. After all, we are now in the Golden Age of Hate. But let the Tour handle it, JT.

Reply Report comment
Kevin

Feb 27, 2018 at 8:57 pm

JT’s going down a slippery slope. Just ask Sergio how things go when you start criticizing and picking arguements with fans. His quickly becoming unlikeable.

Reply Report comment
steve c

Feb 27, 2018 at 11:42 am

Distracting a player while he is hitting the ball should absolutely be grounds for removal from the facility. However, openly rooting against a player while he is walking? Just keep it clean (no vulgarity, screaming, and the like). Heck, I’ve got NO sympathy for a guy making $1.5 mil when his feelings get hurt. He is welcome to go play by himself and make $0 if he doesn’t like it!

Reply Report comment
Rob

Feb 27, 2018 at 11:14 am

I say just snap his skinny punk self in half and see how “big boy” he thinks he is after that.. cry me a river kid

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Blake

Feb 27, 2018 at 10:36 am

Justin did the right thing

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Jack Nicholas

Feb 27, 2018 at 9:58 am

Boorish behaviour; it’s the American way. Stop selling alcohol to these idiots and show them the way to the nearest nascar track instead.

Reply Report comment
Tmark

Feb 27, 2018 at 9:36 am

How about Justin, he was caught on air 3 times dropping the Fbomb. One has to imagine that it occurred several more times off air. Should young kids on the course and watching on TV be taught that the Fbomb is how you react to a bad shot or a win?? JT needs to look inward about his impact on golf first then possibly, just possibly the people joining in on the boorish behavior will also restrain themselves. As a father,JT,just like Tiger are terrible role models on the course and need to improve for the sake of our kids golf future.

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- Robert Roy
  
  Feb 28, 2018 at 1:25 pm
  
  Fbomb isn’t aimed at anyone. Players get fined for inappropriate language.
  
  Reply Report comment
  - njrp
    
    Mar 1, 2018 at 8:07 pm
    
    Tmark has a point…if a kid is watching home he will hear the fbomb…shows lack of respect for fans at home…you can tell Justin has copied Tiger.
    
    However, you are not supposed to root against someone in golf…the heckler was probably a nongolf fan attracted to event by Tiger.
    
    Reply Report comment
Patricknorm

Feb 27, 2018 at 6:45 am

Someone has to explain to me why it’s acceptable to chirp, or heckle or interrupt a golfer during a tournament. I’ve been to numerous Tour events over the last 30 years and incidents like these are more prevalent. When you attend the Waste Management tournament in Phoenix , everyone knows going in it’s going to be a gong show, especially on the 16th. But to purposely cheer against a player is mean spirited.
There has to be a better way of getting on tv.

Reply Report comment
- Adam
  
  Mar 8, 2018 at 4:51 pm
  
  Why? Fans root against players and teams in every other sport. Maybe the guy is a big fan of another player in contention?
  
  Reply Report comment
Boyo

Feb 27, 2018 at 6:22 am

Any moron that yells at any time should be escorted off the course. Any fool that takes a picture without silent mode should be escorted off the course. The majority of golf fans would applause.

Reply Report comment
Alex

Feb 27, 2018 at 1:41 am

Justin’s right but I’m afraid he’s just going to make things worse. The moronic fans will get on him the way they did Monty. But why does Golf have to be degraded by the mentality of team sports. If you want to verbally abuse an athlete, go to a Phillies game. Let Golf be different, an oasis of sportsmanship free of drunken idiots with no life.

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Mike

Feb 26, 2018 at 11:34 pm

Monty could hear a sheep change its mind according to Nick Faldo
Only happens in USA mostly. However wait till Paris boy are the US guys going to get it!

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DTCMD

Feb 26, 2018 at 9:20 pm

Only empty headed losers condone that kind of behavior on a golf course, during a tournament. I see two here in the comments section.

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Marc

Feb 26, 2018 at 8:11 pm

What is Justin going to do this year in the Ryder Cup? Ask the European fans to be quiet so he can hit a shot? I don’t think so.

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Greg

Feb 26, 2018 at 7:38 pm

I hear sounds of babies crying at his future events. Weasel move. His reaction was overboard.

Reply Report comment
Steve

Feb 26, 2018 at 7:35 pm

No it’s not overreacting and yes it is disrespectful. Seems to be getting worse too. What a moron.

Reply Report comment
- Will
  
  Mar 14, 2018 at 9:39 pm
  
  Justin dropping the F-bomb after the win was equally disrespectful.!!!
  
  Reply Report comment
Mikee

Feb 26, 2018 at 6:15 pm

Take a lesson from the British fans at The Open

Reply Report comment
- Dan
  
  Feb 26, 2018 at 7:25 pm
  
  It’s one thing to distract the players while swinging or getting ready, entirely another to root against players openly. I don’t see any issue with rooting for a ball to go in the bunker!
  
  Reply Report comment
  - Axel
    
    Feb 27, 2018 at 12:37 pm
    
    So, if you and I were playing a round with money on the line and I am openly rooting for every one of your shots to be bad, you would be ok with that? Just because they are professionals doesn’t justify an idiot loudly rooting for someone to fail. Golf is supposed to be a gentleman’s game, not the same atmosphere as a Philly game.
    
    Reply Report comment
  - wardman
    
    Mar 9, 2018 at 2:56 pm
    
    Agree – play the game, and want fans there for you, they can root against you too. Yup, noonan’s are all right by me. So are “in your face” when you make it.
    
    Reply Report comment
- Joe
  
  Mar 14, 2018 at 8:56 am
  
  hahahahaha
  
  Reply Report comment

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