Opinion: Golf needs to get to grips with abusive spectators

The desperation to hide golf’s obvious troubles should be well known by now. Discrimination on the basis of race or gender was given the blind-eye treatment for years. A recent – albeit anonymous – survey revealed more than 90 per cent of European Tour players had encountered cheating during play, a staggering statistic. Drugs were also a no-go zone until golf’s upcoming return to the Olympic Games was confirmed; even now glaring gaps remain in the sport’s approach, on the spurious basis of protecting the brand.

The same, alas, applies to spectator behaviour at mainstream events, particularly on the PGA Tour. And it is getting worse. That much was evident on Sunday as Sergio García chased a second win at the Players Championship. Those abusing him on the closing stretch as he pursued that goal should be taken to task. Don’t hold your breath.

"Obviously some guys are there that don't deserve to be here watching golf but that's what it is," said the Spaniard, having departed the three-man play-off eventually won by Rickie Fowler.

On the 71st hole of regulation play it was genuinely unclear whether concerted booing was directed at Garcia or those who were offering cat-calls from the sidelines. If a subsequent holler wasn’t before the 35-year-old struck his tee shot into the signature par-three hole, it was perilously close.

“When I get in contention? No, not really,” added Garcia when asked if this was an unusual scenario. Much like his late compatriot, Seve Ballesteros, you are left with the impression that professional necessity belies a mutual antipathy between the golfer and the US.

On the tour, some situations have to be seen to be properly believed. Ted Scott, Bubba Watson's caddie, lost his temper on Sunday as camera after camera clicked mid-swing of his employer. All weekend, babies screamed – why you would subject a newborn to a golf event in searing temperatures is anyone's guess – and people chatter as golfers play for serious prize and status just yards away. This isn't deliberate; what Garcia was subjected to was.

Now, there are many people who will have little sympathy for García. His scandalous remarks at a European Tour dinner two years ago – when he suggested that he would invite Tiger Woods to dinner and serve him "fried chicken" following a spat between them – were a blight on his reputation and had no logical explanation, resulting in a public apology. García does not help himself with his common depiction of himself as a victim when things go wrong.

But on this occasion he has been let down badly by the PGA Tour. “It was probably about three or four times on every hole since the 10th hole,” said García when asked for the context of heckling.

As such, he wasn't competing on a level playing field during the final round of the Players Championship. It was unfair and wrong. On the 13th hole, for example, a spectator barked in Garcia's ear: "I don't want you to hit the ball in the water. I want you to hit two balls in the f***ing water." Common? Likely to ever be shouted at Fowler, Phil Mickelson, Woods or Adam Scott? Not a chance.

García's caddie, Glen Murray, told US media that, three holes earlier, he had requested security assistance because of the level of crowd intimidation. Craig Connelly, the bag man for Martin Kaymer, said he was disgusted by remarks towards García from the galleries during round three. If García's management aren't already requesting an explanation from the PGA Tour, they should be. Security is not worthy of the name where behaviour like this is allowed to prevail.

By the time what should have been a wonderful play-off ensued, the horrendous and jingoistic "U-S-A, U-S-A" chant was bellowed towards García, Fowler and Kevin Kisner. In an individual strokeplay event, remember. Ian Poulter was verbally abused by spectators when playing the 17th on Friday, a matter the Englishman did not choose to expand upon when he would have been perfectly entitled to. Poulter brings plenty to the game and always within the parameters of decency.

Thankfully, golf isn’t and shouldn’t be a partisan sport. That remains one of its endearing aspects. It also stands some way short of Premier League Darts as the chosen domain of the yob male.

Still, there is an obnoxious and drunken spectator element, particularly in the United States, which needs to be addressed. It won’t be while the sale of tickets and alcohol generates cash, and while the Tour can ignore misbehaviour under some dubious alternative narrative – fuelled by the fact good players are competing for prizes.

The Players is notable for a young crowd, including a number of female spectators, but the all-day, increasingly horrible drinker remains. With that comes trouble. García might have won the event, thereby joining an elite list of players to do so twice despite the distractions, but he should have at least been permitted equal terms upon which to try.

(Guardian service)