Have you ever wondered why some of golf’s most entertaining moments suddenly disappear from your social media feeds? The latest victim of the digital eraser is a clip that golf fans absolutely loved—Patton Kizzire‘s infamous putter punt from the first round of the 2025 Valspar Championship. Within hours of this memorable moment spreading across social media platforms, golf writers and content creators found their posts containing the video mysteriously removed, with many pointing fingers at the PGA Tour’s aggressive copyright enforcement.

The video in question showed a moment of pure frustration from the three-time PGA Tour winner that resonated with weekend golfers everywhere. After missing what reports described as an extremely short putt on the par-3 15th hole at Innisbrook’s Copperhead Course, Kizzire lost his composure in spectacular fashion. 

Patton Kizzire delivered a forceful punt-style kick that sent his putter flying an estimated 20 yards across the green, visibly bending the shaft upon landing. Kizzire finished the hole using his wedge to putt, adding a bogey to his already disappointing round, as he had no functioning putter left.

But just as quickly as the clip went viral, it vanished, leaving fans and media personalities bewildered and irritated about what many view as unnecessary content control.

The incident took on greater significance when viewed in the context of Kizzire’s recent struggles. Since finishing T40 at The Sentry in January, the veteran had missed the cut in six consecutive tournaments, a frustrating stretch for a player who had broken a six-year victory drought just months earlier by winning the Procore Championship in September 2024. After recording another bogey on the 16th hole, followed by a par on the 17th, Kizzire withdrew from the tournament, citing a back injury, though speculation swirled about whether the forceful kicking motion may have contributed to his discomfort.

What happened next is where the controversy truly ignited. As the video spread across social media platforms, the PGA Tour apparently began issuing takedown notices to accounts that had shared the clip. One prominent golf writer lamented on his social media account, “i regret to inform you that the Patton putter-punting video has been removed. a travesty.” The removal sparked an immediate backlash from golf fans who viewed the takedowns as an overreach of copyright enforcement and a missed opportunity for organic engagement with casual followers of the sport.

Industry observers note that while sports organizations certainly have the right to protect their broadcast content, the removal of viral moments often backfires in terms of fan relations. The PGA Tour’s apparent decision to remove these clips comes at a time when the Jay Monahan-led organization has been working to modernize its image and attract younger viewers—a demographic that primarily discovers and engages with sports content through social media highlights and viral moments.

Fans not on board with Patton Kizzire‘s viral clip removal

Social media erupted with criticism following the removals, with fans expressing their dismay in no uncertain terms. “Unreal that this gets taken down lolllllllollolol,” wrote one user, while another described the organization as a “soft ass tour” for its handling of the situation.

The sentiment among many fans is that Jay Monahan and co. are missing the forest for the trees when it comes to content strategy. “DMCA on this one is just a foolish business move,” argued one fan. “You guys are the dumbest with your content.” Adding to the controversy, one content creator pointed out, “The PGA Tour are DMCAing viral social clips just so that Skratch can do it exclusively. For anyone wondering if they still had a partnership…” This claim appears to have merit, as the viral video of Kizzire’s putter punt remains available on Skratch’s social media accounts.

These reactions highlight a growing disconnect between how traditional sports organizations view their content and how modern audiences expect to consume and share memorable moments.