Missile warning rattles players
Alert came ahead of Day 3 of Hawaii tour stop
in-laws. Please lord let this bomb threat not be real,” Peterson tweeted. HONOLULU — Charles Howell The push alert was issued III was eating breakfast in his shortly after 8 a.m., and Waialae hotel when the restaurant at the Country Club was largely empty Kahala started buzzing. because the first tee time was not
Everyone had their phones. until 11: 05 a.m. Candice Everyone received the same Kraughto, who runs media operations push alert. for the tournament, ran
“BALLISTIC MISSILE into the media center with news THREAT INBOUND TO of the alert and asked everyone HAWAII. SEEK IMMEDIATE to evacuate. SHELTER. THIS IS NOT A A local golf radio program, set DRILL.” up in the clubhouse next to glass
“All the alarms went off at the windows overlooking the ocean, same time,” Howell said. “It got kept broadcasting. everyone’s attention. I didn’t The staff at Waialae filed into know what to do. We all stared at the clubhouse to seek shelter, at each other. It kind of shows you first toward the locker room the world we live in now. Your lined with players’ golf clubs, whole life can change in a second.” and ultimately into the kitchen. They didn’t stay long.
The push alert turned out to Tournament director Ray Stosik be a mistake. wasn’t concerned because
The scare lasted only about 10 alerts typically are accompanied minutes, a little longer depending by sirens. Even so, he took the on the source of information. alert seriously by telling volunteer
Some players at least know chairs and tournament staff about Rep. Tulsi Gabbard of to stay put or seek cover Hawaii, whose tweet that it was For most everyone else, the reaction a false alarm made the rounds was the same. Was it real? quickly. But it was long enough And if it was, where do you seek to create an unsettling start to shelter from a ballistic missile on the third round of the Sony an island? Open from the brief uncertainty Marc Leishman of Australia and panic across the island. didn’t get the push alert, but his wife did. They headed downstairs
When the Hawaii Emergency in the hotel. Agency tweeted there was no “It’s an interesting feeling, missile threat, J.J. Spaun replied isn’t it?” he said. “Something on Twitter, “In a basement under could happen in the next hour. hotel. Barely any service. It’s a pretty big mistake. It sent Can you send confirmed message some different thoughts through over radio or tv.” your head. A few extra hugs for
John Peterson was playing in the kids. It wasn’t panic. It’s not the final group Saturday, three like you can see it coming and shots out of the lead. He is traveling dodge it.” with his wife, her parents There was nothing to see, and their 3-month-old son. though that was a consideration
“Under mattresses in the for Justin Thomas and Russell bathtub with my wife, baby and Knox. Associated Press