‘Brooksie’ Comment To DeChambeau Could Lead To Fan Ejection
- Details
- Category: Inside Golf
- Published: 2021-09-02
By DOUG FERGUSON, Associated Press
ATLANTA, Georgia — Fans who yell “Brooksie!” to Bryson DeChambeau might be removed from the tournament and have their tickets or badges confiscated.
That also goes for vulgar or rude comments and gestures, or harassment of anyone involved with the tournament or other disruptive behavior.
Left unclear is whether shouting “mashed potatoes!” or “light the candle!” is on the list.
It’s all part of the PGA TOUR’s updated code of conduct, which was in works before the coronavirus pandemic shut down golf for three months in the spring of 2020, and then put in place this year as spectators began to return. A campaign called “Rep Our Game” was rolled out ahead of the FedEx Cup playoffs.
This has become timely now because of incidents involving DeChambeau that stem from the PGA Championship in May. He and Brooks Koepka have accelerated a petty feud that began on social media and has spilled into the gallery, with most of heckling involving “Brooksie.”
It runs deeper, though. PGA TOUR Commissioner Jay Monahan said golf is only one of the sports witnessing aggressive fan behavior after spectators being away from sports for so long because of the pandemic.
“This is about just a few bad actors. And for the record, this isn’t about any one particular player or one particular incident,” Monahan said Tuesday ahead of the season-ending TOUR Championship. “But in some situations it’s apparent that we have gotten away from the very civility and respect that are hallmarks to our great game.”
Monahan said the priority was simply to create a safe environment.
“We’re going to be leaders in this space. We’re going to show everyone how easy it is to enjoy yourself at an event while also respecting the athletes in the field of play and the fans around you, many of whom are families with young kids who have a chance to be lifetime fans of the game themselves,” he said. “Quite honestly, we should expect nothing less from each other, whether we’re at a golf tournament or elsewhere in life.”
Top players typically have local law enforcement walking with their groups. DeChambeau pointed toward a few spectators who were escorted away from his group at the Memorial.
Asked specifically if someone could be removed for calling DeChambeau the wrong name, Monahan said yes.
“The barometer we are all using is the word ‘respect.’ And to me, when you hear ‘Brooksie’ yelled or you hear any expression yelled, is that respectful or disrespectful?” he said. “To me, at this point, it’s disrespectful. And that’s the kind of behavior that we’re not going to tolerate going forward.”