Players Reactions as Climate protesters run onto 18th green

Six climate protesters stormed the 18th green during the final moments of the PGA Tour’s Travelers Championship on Sunday, causing a five-minute delay as leaders prepared for their concluding putts. The disruption, marked by smoke and powder, left red and white residues on the green, but did not cause damage affecting the game’s outcome.

The protesters, brandishing smoke bombs, displayed T-shirts with the slogan “NO GOLF ON A DEAD PLANET,” highlighting their environmental message. This unusual scene unfolded just as players Scottie Scheffler, Tom Kim, and Akshay Bhatia were finalizing their rounds.

“I was scared for my life,” Bhatia expressed, describing his shock and confusion during the incident. He praised the police for their swift response, which ensured the safety of all involved.

The PGA Tour acknowledged the quick action of the Cromwell Police Department in a statement, emphasizing the importance of their role in maintaining safety and the integrity of the tournament. Scheffler, recently involved in a separate legal issue, also commended the officers for their prompt handling of the situation.

The world’s top-ranked player, Scheffler, who later won the tournament in a sudden-death playoff against Kim, reflected on the disturbance. “When something like that happens, you don’t really know what’s happening, so it can kind of rattle you a little bit,” he said. He and Kim tried to stay focused despite the incident.

The protest was orchestrated by Extinction Rebellion, an activist group known for its disruptive tactics. In a statement to The Associated Press, the group attributed the protest to concerns over climate change, specifically linking it to an electrical storm near the course that had recently injured two people. They argued that golf, being heavily dependent on favorable weather, underscores the urgent need for climate action.

Following the incident, the protesters were swiftly subdued and removed by police. Scheffler missed a crucial 26-foot putt, leading to a par, while Kim managed a 10-foot birdie to tie, forcing a playoff. Kim noted that the protest briefly distracted him from the intense pressure, momentarily feeling like a surreal interruption to the game.

Spectators around the 18th green reacted strongly, heckling the protesters and applauding the police response. After regulation play concluded, maintenance workers quickly cleared the remaining powder from the green with leaf blowers.

The playoff hole, also on the 18th, saw the pin placement altered. Scheffler emerged victorious by parring the first hole of sudden death. Kim later remarked on the disruption’s impact, noting the marks left on the green and expressing gratitude to tournament officials for their effective management of the situation.

In the end, the dramatic protest added an unexpected twist to the tournament’s climax, reinforcing the tension and urgency of both the game and the climate issues at hand.