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USA Today via Reuters

USA Today via Reuters

It was Friday at Valhalla. Xander Schauffele was geared up to extend his overnight lead. He birdied three holes on the front nine. At par-5 10th, the seven-time PGA Tour winner ballasted his tee shot straight 301 yards down the fairway. 

As Schauffele hit his tee shot, the hot mic caught a fan screaming at the top of his voice. “Get inside me… Xanderrrrr…” Hecklers aren’t uncommon in golf courses. But this one was weird, to say the least. Creative in a very sick way. 

Weirdness knew no bounds at the WM Phoenix Open. Fans slid down the mud and made snow angels on bunkers. But this was surely not expected at the major. It might even remind you of the dude who shouted, “I’ve abandoned my child” at Jordan Spieth in the 2022 Open. 

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But this one even topped that in terms of randomness and creepiness. Many such bizarre statements have been thrown around at golf events, such as “mashed potatoes” or “get in the hole” after every tee shot. However, it’s creepy nonetheless and does put other spectators and people present at the tournament at unease, as fans point out.

To laugh or to lash out? Netizens are divided on Xander Schauffele’s heckler

Neither golfers nor golf fans are fans of hecklers. Last year, at the US Open, tournament officials removed a person from the grandstand as he was on a blistering rant against Phil Mickelson. Even before security took him out, fans implored them to stop. While this person wasn’t that serious in this case, some fans are not happy at all. 

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Blasting the heckler for taking all the limelight to themselves, one fan commented, “Raging douchebags at the golf course: “Hmm, how can I make this moment about ME?” Even if he was miffed, Xander Schauffele didn’t complain, and neither was he asked about the matter. Perhaps that’s why some others took the matter a little lightly. 

USA Today via Reuters

One fan joked, “I was there but not me.” Another quipped, “Pretty normal comment……when going for the green , not so much off the tee box.” Some even brought Scottie Scheffler into the conversation. The World No. 1 was arrested for driving through a traffic block in front of Valhalla. Scheffler was arrested on Friday morning and released a few hours later, ahead of his tee time. His arraignment date, originally scheduled on May 21, has been postponed to June 3. The reigning Masters champion claimed he was ‘rattled’ and shaken after the arrest. Some fans joked that this must have been Scheffler yelling from jail. “That was Scottie from the jail cell.” 

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In the wake of Scheffler’s arrest, fans donned T-shirts with Scheffler’s mugshot, which instantly became a talking point among broadcasters. ‘#FreeScottie’ trended on social media channels. Noting all that, one user commented, “The crowd dominated the commentary at this tournament. Hilarious.

We don’t know how Xander Schauffele felt hearing that. The hot mic didn’t catch the PGA Championship winner’s reaction to this. Schauffele went on to clinch the title with a clutch birdie putt at the 18th on Sunday.