Loudmouth fan deserved to be kicked out, says angry Thomas

IT seems that the world’s best golfers have had enough of the loudmouth fans that deem it appropriate to shout “mashed potato” and “get in the hole” after each and every shot after Justin Thomas had one heckler ejected from Palm Beach Gardens on his way to victory at the weekend.

Thomas, who has moved up to third in the world rankings, approached the 16th tee as he battled for victory with Luke List in the PGA Tour event. But as the American lined up his shot, one member of the gallery shouted: “I hope you hit it in the water!”

Thomas didn’t, hitting his tee shot straight down the middle of the fairway, but yet the heckler did not relent. “Get in the bunker!” the same man shouted, and by that point Thomas had heard all he needed to hear.

“I was like, I’ve had enough,” Thomas said after winning his eighth PGA Tour event following a one-hole play-off win over List.

Thomas turned around to the spectators and asked: “Who said that? Was it you? Enjoy your day, you’re done.”

He later added: “I turned around and asked who it was, and he didn’t want to say anything now that I had acknowledged him. So he got to leave a couple of holes early. It was inappropriate, so he had to go home.”

Rory McIlroy saw first-hand last week how over-the-top fans can be when 14-time Major king Tiger Woods is playing.

“Playing in front of that, he (Woods) gives up half a shot a day,” McIlroy said after playing with the American at the Genesis Open. “It’s two shots a tournament he has to give to the field.”