A shocking and controversial end to the PGA playoff thriller left fans and players alike in disbelief. The former Masters champion, Hideki Matsuyama, experienced a devastating collapse, and it wasn't just his game that took a hit - unruly crowd behavior played a significant role.
Chris Gotterup emerged victorious, claiming his fourth PGA Tour title and second this year, all thanks to a birdie at the first playoff hole. Matsuyama's fate was sealed when his drive veered left, meeting its watery grave at the 18th hole.
The Japanese superstar's unfortunate shot came after an incident that left many questioning the role of spectators in the game. It appeared that a heckler's call mid-swing, coupled with a loud thud, disrupted Matsuyama's focus. The cause? Reportedly, a security guard dropping a chair, according to The Athletic's Gabby Herzig.
Matsuyama, after backing away, eventually hit a drive that went astray, with the culprit facing scolding from other spectators. This wasn't an isolated incident; the 2021 Masters champion had endured similar crowd antics just minutes earlier when he backed away from a putt after a spectator yelled during his stroke. The crowd's reaction was swift - a chorus of boos filled the air.
The rowdy crowd at TPC Scottsdale has been a problem for years, with players' backswings often disrupted. Earlier in the tournament, a streamer was even handed a lifetime ban by the PGA Tour for paying patrons to yell during players' backswings.
But amidst the controversy, Gotterup's win was celebrated by the spectators gathered around the 18th green. The 26-year-old started the day four shots behind overnight leader Matsuyama but charged with a remarkable seven-under par round of 64.
Gotterup's performance was exceptional, birding five of his last six holes in regulation. He spoke about his recent success, saying, "God, I don't know. I'm just having such a good time playing right now."
The pair, Matsuyama and Gotterup, were tied at -16 after Matsuyama's bogey at the 72nd hole. The 33-year-old Matsuyama, ranked last in the field off the tee in the final round, paid the price for his inconsistent drives, especially at the last hole.
The drama unfolded as Matsuyama's drive from the 18th tee headed left towards the water, leaving fans with bated breath. Fortunately, he had the distance to carry the hazard and ended up in a bunker. However, his luck ran out as he thinned his shot into the lip of the bunker, falling short of the green.
Matsuyama's ability to recover had been his strength throughout the day, saving par five times after failing to hit the green in regulation. But this time, the distraction proved costly, with his putt for the win sliding to the right of the cup.
"I wanted to avoid the playoff as much as I could, but I just hit a bad tee shot there in regulation at 18, and Chris made a good putt there in the playoff. So, hats off to him," Matsuyama said.
The top five also included Scheffler, Akshay Bhatia, Si Woo Kim, and Michael Thorbjornsen. Thorbjornsen, an American in his second full season on the PGA Tour, came close to a maiden Tour win but bogeyed on the 16th and 17th holes, dropping back to -15.
World No. 1 Scheffler also put up a strong fight, chasing a third title at TPC Scottsdale with a bogey-free seven-under par final round of 64. His effort was matched by Gotterup, but it was China's Zecheng Dou who took home the low round of the day honors with a remarkable 63.
Scheffler's performance was exhilarating, with four birdies in his last six holes, reaching a total of -15. One of his most notable shots was a more than 20-meter birdie putt from off the green on the par 4 14th, which received a standing ovation from the packed gallery.
In the end, it was Scheffler's first-round 73, including a duffed chip that went viral, that kept him from claiming his second trophy of the year.
Australian Min Woo Lee also fell out of contention with a final round 73, starting the day four shots off the lead but quickly tumbling down the leaderboard with a three-over par front nine 38. Lee managed to claw back some shots with a hat-trick of birdies at 11, 12, and 13, finishing at -7 overall, in a share of 28th.
Fellow Australian Cam Davis had a nightmare final round, closing the tournament with an 80. His nine-over par day left him at +7 for the tournament, finishing 73rd, last among those who made the cut. Davis' recent form has been a cause for concern, with him failing to crack the top 30 since his tied 19th finish at last year's PGA Championship.
This PGA playoff thriller certainly had its fair share of drama, controversy, and unexpected twists, leaving fans and players alike with much to discuss and debate.
