Billy Horschel responds to furious Phoenix Open outburst

Billy Horschel is not one to hide his true feelings and that was apparent when he lost his cool with an unruly fan at the Waste Management Phoenix Open.

Horschel’s rage at a spectator at TPC Scottsdale went viral in a tournament that was overshadowed by the chaos outside the ropes.

With a member of the crowd speaking loudly whilst his playing partner Nicolo Galletti was striking an iron shot from the fairway, Horschel couldn’t bite his tongue any longer.

“Buddy, when he’s over the shot, shut the hell up!” the American was heard shouting. “He’s trying to hit a damn golf shot here, it’s our f*****g job!”

• Opinion: Ugly Phoenix Open must change after drunken mess

• Zach Johnson in furious bust-up with fans at TPC Scottsdale

Horschel was not the only player who had enough as tensions mounted in Arizona.

Zach Johnson also told a fan to “shut up” after an altercation and later claimed he doesn’t know if he’ll ever enter the event again.

And Horschel has now offered his take on the carnage at Scottsdale, and more specifically, the incident that caused him to put one fan in his place.

"I was displeased about the level of respect they were showing"

Billy Horschel joined Michael Breed of Golf to talk about his viral video from the WM Phoenix Open.@BillyHo_Golf I @MichaelBreed pic.twitter.com/T8lv9tyaTi

— SiriusXM PGA TOUR Radio (@SiriusXMPGATOUR) February 13, 2024

“We’d just started our second round, we’re on the 11th hole and [Galletti] is over his second shot,” he explained on the PGA Tour’s Sirius XM Radio. “We had told some fans over there to be quiet as he was about to hit. There were three or four guys over there that continued to talk and say some things.

“They talked very loudly when he was over his shot, and I just feel like there was a loss of respect there. The guy is trying to play his shot, he’s trying to do his job. It’s the third day of the tournament and we hear a lot of different things.

“I just responded to it afterwards that I was displeased with the level of respect that was shown towards a fellow competitor while he is trying to hit a golf shot and compete in a golf tournament. And that’s just the simple fact of it.”

The Phoenix Open is known for being the most un-golf like venue on the circuit, as well as being easily the most attended.

• Phoenix Open set for ‘complete change’ after chaos

• Waste Management Phoenix Open 2024: Prize money payout in full

Beer-fuelled mayhem is pretty much anticipated at the unique showpiece, but there is an overwhelming feeling that things went way too far over the weekend in this year’s renewal.

“Has this tournament crossed the line? Yeah, I think the last couple of years have been a little much,” Horschel added. “I think it has just got a little bit out of control. I just go back to the respect factor of it for what we’re trying to do in ours jobs.

“I’ve read a few messages on social media like “you know what you signed up for” and “if you can’t take the heat then don’t show up,” but I’m like, this tournament was never about going there and being ridiculed by the fans. That was never the idea of this event.”

Ben Parsons joined bunkered as a Content Producer in 2023 and is the man to come to for all of the latest news, across both the professional and amateur games. Formerly of The Mirror and Press Association, he is a member at Halifax Golf Club and is a long-suffering fan of both Manchester United and the Wales rugby team.