JACK MILNER
Woods – who was bidding for his first major win since 2008 – hit out at the heckler who attempted to put him off his shot. The 42-year-old, who had led midway through his final round, dropped his club and shouted out “No” when the fan yelled at him during his final tee shot.
Woods is probably one of the most intense golfers on the tour, so this was bound to put him off. The spectator, who was sitting in a hospitality box, was ejected from the course after repeating his “free Palestine” call.
“I flinched, but I’ve had things like that happen a lot in my career with people who just tried to time it. Either that, or they’re a little bit over-served [with drink]. They tipped back a few and it’s late in the day,” the 14-time Major champion told the media at a press conference after the match.
“Unfortunately, that’s part of what we have to deal with in today’s game. People are trying to yell out things to try to be on TV or be in social media or whatever it may be. But that was too close to affecting the game of play.”
Woods finished three shots behind champion and playing partner Francesco Molinari, though he is still in the world’s top 50 after finishing the weekend’s tournament in joint-sixth place.
Despite the incident, Woods was pleased overall with a return to form that he believed allowed his two children to get to see what all the fuss about their dad’s game is about.
Daughter Sam, aged 11, and son Charlie, nine, had been too young to see their dad in his heyday and they greeted him with a hug behind the 18th green.
