Billy Horschel has conjured the perfect revenge plan for the most unruly WM Phoenix Open fans.
The seven-time PGA Tour winner was filmed giving an expletive response to a fan during last week’s tournament after they shouted during his playing partner’s downswing.
“We’re trying to hit a damn golf shot here, it’s our f****ing job!” Horschel said as manic behaviour and general chaos reigned throughout the week at TPC Scottsdale.
Speaking to the No Laying Up podcast, the American explained what he’d do to counteract the hecklers to give them a taste of their own medicine.
“It is our job at the end of the day. I’ve said this to a few people in the media,” he said. “I wish they would find some of these people who are heckling players out on the golf course, where it’s crossing the line.
“Figure out what they do, find their name, their job and then in three or four months, get some players to show up out of the blue and heckle the s*** out of them at their job while they’re trying to do it, and see what it’s like, trying to perform.
“Let’s say they’re trying to give a meeting or a speech or a proposal, let’s go heckle the crap out of that guy. That would be funny to me to see something like that happen.”
On the Saturday of the event, the gates were shut to prevent more fans from coming in and beer sales were temporarily suspended as more and more videos emerged of drunken fan behaviour.
Chance Cozby, the executive director of tournament hosts Thunderbirds, has since declared changes will be made to avoid repeated scenes in 2025.
“I think, we’ve been tournament of the year on the PGA Tour five of the last seven years. But we don’t like what happened on Saturday. The players don’t like what happened on Saturday. Our fans don’t like what happened on Saturday, and, so, nothing is off the table,” he said to Golf Channel.
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“We’re going to make changes. I think everybody probably agrees that we have a very unique culture of our event. This was our 89th playing and I don’t think any of us dreamed that it would grow to this level of attendance and excitement.”
Billy Horschel: WM Phoenix Open fans lacked respect for the players
Horschel believes the tournament sailed close to the wind last year, having felt exhausted from dealing with the crowd in 2023 in Arizona.
Having made his debut at the event in 2013, the 37-year-old vowed to continue competing at the WM Phoenix Open as he equally appreciates the energy of the crowd portion that doesn’t misbehave.
Horschel wasn’t the only player who appeared in footage remonstrating with loud spectators. 2023 US Ryder Cup captain Zach Johnson was also seen telling people to “shut up.”
The pair played together in the first two rounds and Horschel commented on the notable rise in personal comments aimed at players, going beyond the banter he has always enjoyed since joining the PGA Tour in 2011.
“We know it’s a different golf tournament, that’s why we play it, that’s why I play it,” he added. “I love those crowds, I love the energy that they have, I don’t mind a little banter back and forth.
“I’ve had banter with many fans through the years and not just that tournament, other tournaments as well, but I think when you get to the point where you’re disrupting play, you’re purposely yelling in people’s backswings, which I haven’t had that happen to me or a fellow playing competitor that I can remember.
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“This was the first year that it happened on numerous occasions from other players and so I think, just a lack of respect for us as players – that’s when it crosses the line.
“I want them to have a good time, that’s what the event’s about – come out and have a good time. I know a lot of the fans there don’t realise there’s a golf tournament going on, they’re there for the party aspect, but when you start disrupting play and affecting play and going about that way and also, some of the personal comments.
“This is the first year, I’ve heard (a lot) through many years, but I’ve heard more personal shots taken at people who I was with because I played with Zach Johnson the first two days. (It) was astonishing.
“It’s just amazing to hear this stuff. We all know the alcohol aspect plays a massive part of it, the media aspect plays a part of it as well, as what they’ve touted this event and then, you get people who want to be a part of it, be a part of that atmosphere, be part of the craziness and they take it to another level.
“It’s gone above and beyond, I think it needs to be brought back down a notch or two, but listen, it’s an event I love to play, and I will continue to play it, I think it needs to dial down a notch or two.”
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