PGA CHIEF EXECUTIVE Seth Waugh has apologized after the raucous crowd scenes that marked the climax of Phil Mickelsonโs PGA Championship victory at Kiawah Island the day before.
In a statement, Waugh said the PGA had apologized to both Mickelson and Brooks Koepka after they were mobbed by fans as they headed up the 18th fairway on the Ocean Course.
Mickelson later described the chaotic scenes as โunnerving but incredible,โ but Koepka was unimpressed after complaining of being โdingedโ by spectators.
โIt would have been cool if I didnโt have a knee injury and got dinged a few times in the knee in that crowd because no one cared,โ Koepka said.
โItโs cool for Phil but getting dinged a few times isnโt exactly my idea of fun.โ
Waugh said Monday that tournament security had been โoverwhelmedโ by the rush of spectators cheering the 50-year-old Mickelson as he headed towards becoming the oldest major winner in history.
โWhile we welcome enthusiastic fan engagement, we regret that a moment of high elation and pent-up emotion by spectators during the conclusion of yesterdayโs historic PGA Championship briefly overwhelmed security and made two players and their caddies feel vulnerable,โ Waugh said in a statement.
โWe always put player safety at the top of our list and are grateful order was restored. I have spoken to both players and apologized on behalf of the Association.โ
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Top man who gave of himself for Clare football. He is from Kilmihil though. I marked him many years ago, not easy!