Rob Schumacher/The Republic / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
Chris Gotterup earned a victory over Hideki Matsuyama after prevailing in a playoff at the Phoenix Open on Sunday, but there was a fair amount of controversy surrounding the circumstances of the win. His opponent was forced to back off multiple shots due to noise in the gallery, although new evidence suggests a distraction that derailed his drive was the result of an unfortunate accident.
What is officially known as the WM Phoenix Open has firmly cemented itself as the biggest party on the PGA Tour calendar. The event is defined by the iconic “Stadium Hole” that is the par-3 16th, which is the primary source of the electric energy that radiates throughout the tournament.
However, what is commonly referred to as “The People’s Open” has also come under increased scrutiny in recent years due to the boozed-up spectators who’ve been responsible for a steady rise in arrests, ejections, and medical incidents. In 2024, a number of golfers were less than thrilled with unruly fans who interfered with play, and this year, a streamer was hit with a lifetime ban from all PGA Tour events for paying some $100 to yell in Mackenzie Hughes’ backswing.
Hideki Matsuyama also fell victim to multiple distractions during the final round of a tournament he was unable to win, and while one of them was a very clear breach of decorum, it appears the other was caused by a staffer who made a mistake at a very inopportune moment.
The noise that forced Hideki Matsuyama to abort a drive at the WM Phoenix Open was allegedly caused by a staffer who dropped a chair
Matsuyama headed to the 18th hole on Sunday with a 25-foot par putt that would have won the tournament. However, he missed it after being forced to step away due to a spectator who belted out a “GET IN THE HOLE!” before the ball started moving.
— BENNY BOOMS ARMY (@BennyBoomsArmy) February 9, 2026
The 33-year-old who got a green jacket at The Masters in 2021 ended up settling for a bogey that put him at -16 for the tournament, and he headed back to the tee box to kick off a sudden-death playoff with Chris Gotterup.
His opponent found the fairway before he deposited his drive in the water while all but dashing his hopes of getting his 12th PGA Tour win, but he only did so after stopping his initial attempt in the middle of his downswing after yet another distraction from the gallery.
“Shades of Tiger”
Hideki Matsuyama had to back off his tee shot on the first playoff hole. pic.twitter.com/aasoscGymq
— Golf on CBS ⛳ (@GolfonCBS) February 8, 2026
It was initially unclear what the source of the noise was. Gotterup said it sounded like a chair falling while speaking with the media in the wake of the win, and someone who was filming when that fateful moment transpired echoed that sentiment while laying the blame on the shoulders of a staff member (who was not actually seen dropping it in the video).
Staff dropped a chair pic.twitter.com/HrtLDmoBpQ
— Austin Garcia (@austin_garcia13) February 9, 2026
As a result, it doesn’t look like the distraction was an intentional one as many people initially assumed, although that probably won’t do much to adjust the narrative surrounding a tournament that clearly needs to figure out a way to get people under control.