A shocking and controversial end to the PGA playoff thriller left everyone in disbelief, as an unruly crowd incident overshadowed the victory of Chris Gotterup at the Waste Management Phoenix Open.
Gotterup, with a birdie on the first playoff hole, claimed his fourth PGA Tour title and second of the year. However, the spotlight was on the unfortunate collapse of Hideki Matsuyama, who faced a series of distractions from the crowd.
Matsuyama's tee shot veered left into the water at the 18th, a result of an interrupted downswing due to a distraction from the gallery. It was later reported that a security guard dropping a chair caused the disruption, adding to the chaos.
But here's where it gets controversial...
The incident was not an isolated one for Matsuyama, who had earlier backed away from a putt for the win at the 72nd hole due to a spectator's yell. This problem of calling out during players' backswings has been an issue with the rowdy crowd at this event for years, leading to a streamer being banned by the PGA Tour.
Despite the unfortunate crowd antics, Gotterup's monster birdie at the 18th green earned him the win and the spectators' cheers. Starting the day four shots behind Matsuyama, the 26-year-old charged with a seven-under par round of 64, birdying five of his last six holes.
When asked about his recent success, Gotterup humbly admitted, "I don't know where this purple patch has come from. I'm just having a great time playing right now."
The drama continued as Matsuyama, ranked last off the tee in the final round, faced a challenging finish. His drive at the 18th headed left towards the water, but he managed to carry the hazard and end up in a bunker. The two-time champion had a good lie in the sand but thinned his shot, falling short of the green.
And this is the part most people miss...
Matsuyama's ability to get up-and-down had saved him throughout the day, but the distraction during his putt for the win proved costly. His shot slid right of the cup, and he admitted, "I wanted to avoid the playoff, but I hit a bad tee shot at 18. Hats off to Chris for making that good putt."
Other notable players in the pack included Scheffler, Akshay Bhatia, Si Woo Kim, and Michael Thorbjornsen, who rounded out the top five. Thorbjornsen, in his second PGA Tour season, had a chance at a maiden win but bogeyed on the 16th and 17th holes.
World No.1 Scheffler also put up a strong fight, chasing a third title with a bogey-free final round of 64. His monster putt on the 14th received a standing ovation, but it wasn't enough to secure the win.
In the end, it was Scheffler's first-round 73 that cost him, including a duffed chip that went viral.
"I played well overall, but that first round made a difference. I'm proud of how I fought the last three days to give myself a chance," Scheffler said.
Australian Min Woo Lee fell out of contention with a final round 73, finishing at -7 overall. Fellow Aussie Cam Davis had a nightmare final round, closing with an 80 and finishing last among those who made the cut.
This tournament highlighted the fine line between victory and defeat, with crowd behavior playing a significant role. It leaves us with the question: How can we ensure a fair and respectful environment for players and spectators alike?
