The playoff between Hideki Matsuyama and Chris Gotterup is now being discussed for more than the result.

During the 2026 WM Phoenix Open, Hideki Matsuyama had to step away from his tee shot on the first playoff hole after a spectator shouted during his backswing. 

The moment was noted by NUCLRGOLF on X and on the Golf on CBS broadcast.

First, on the 72nd hole, Matsuyama had a putt to win in regulation. As he began his stroke, a noise from the crowd made him step away. 

After that, he missed the putt, which moved the event into a playoff against Chris Gotterup.

On the first playoff hole, another disruption occurred. While some described it as a shout from the gallery, reports from The Athletic and Fox Sports suggested the sound may have come from a security guard dropping a chair. 

Because of the disturbance, Matsuyama stepped away from his tee shot during his swing.

Golf on CBS said “Shades of Tiger”, pointing to moments linked with Tiger Woods and the use of the “emergency brake,” where a golfer stops the downswing mid-acceleration after a distraction.

After the reset, his drive moved left into the water. As a result, Gotterup made a birdie and secured the win at TPC Scottsdale.

Before these moments, Matsuyama had reached the final hole with a one-shot lead. However, a bogey created a tie. 

Meanwhile, Gotterup had forced the playoff with a final-round 64, including birdies on five of his last six holes.

Following this, the incident spread across social media. As a result, many fans expressed anger. One such reaction came via X: “Find that a***** and ban him for life.”

However, he wasn't the only one upset.

Heckling incident involving Hideki Matsuyama during playoff draws strong fan backlash

Fans across social media expressed frustration and disappointment over the incident, with several calling out the behavior directly.

One fan criticized the crowd atmosphere, writing, "Tournament has lost its lustre, a bunch of drunk idiots."

Another user demanded strict action, adding, “They should fine everyone who does this $1000.”

A different viewer pointed to the event’s reputation, commenting, “It s**.. But, that’s this tournament 🤷‍♂️. It’s not if it’s when.”

Another fan reacted with anger, "And I didn't hear the announcers say anything about that's how outrageous it was that this happened twice to him," while calling out the commentators.

Calling for better conduct, one viewer wrote, “Do better, America… I was watching and found it very distasteful. I love golf, let's not ruin the sport by being a j****.”

This is not the first time crowd issues have surfaced at the WM Phoenix Open

Just two days ago, another incident involving online creator John Doherty.

On February 6, 2026, YouTuber and streamer Jack Doherty was removed from the venue and handed a lifetime ban from all future PGA Tour events.

According to reports, Doherty offered a spectator $100 to shout a profanity during Mackenzie Hughes’ backswing on the 18th hole in an attempt to create viral content.

During the moment, Hughes was in his pre-shot waggle and reset his routine. Soon after, his caddie identified the individuals involved and alerted security.

As a result, security and Scottsdale police escorted both Doherty and the spectator out of the venue and issued trespass notices banning them from future Tour events.

Later, Doherty addressed the backlash on social media and said golf fans were “soft.”

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Written by

Aditi Singh

Edited by

Joyita Das