Scottie Scheffler has claimed that some golf fans “crossed the line” with their comments at the Open Championship, telling them it will only make him more intent on winning
Scottie Scheffler had to deal with a Rory McIlroy-mad crowd at Portrush(Image: Andrew Redington, Getty Images)
Scottie Scheffler has criticised Northern Irish golf supporters for overstepping the mark with their behaviour during last month’s Open Championship. The world No. 1 captured his second major of the year at Royal Portrush, finishing 17-under-par overall, despite facing a hostile reception.
Many onlookers were more intent on celebrating Rory McIlroy’s triumphant return, having secured the Career Grand Slam at Augusta earlier in the season. Scheffler maintained that the negativity from the crowd didn’t unsettle him, yet insisted that some of the remarks crossed the line in terms of sportsmanship.
Speaking after round three of the BMW Championship at Caves Valley, the 29-year-old said the atmosphere in Maryland was far less aggressive than what he’d endured in Portrush. He said: “I didn’t see any of that.
“I played with Bob [MacIntyre] when we were in Scotland. I heard some fairly choice words when I was leading the tournament in Ireland.
“I think it’s part of it. People have a tendency to say things that are dumb. I can think of a few things that were said to me in the final round in Ireland that were very far over the line.
“If you’re a fan, it’s only going to fire the guy up more, and I think just do your best to behave out there. It can be a little bit silly sometimes.”
His dominant showing at Portrush suggested the jibes may have spurred him on rather than hindered him, as he secured victory by four shots over Harris English. McIlroy, however, could not add another major to his tally at this year’s Open, sharing seventh place with Xander Schauffele and MacIntyre on 10-under.
Scheffler was unimpressed with fans at the Open(Image: Getty Images)
Meanwhile, MacIntyre himself has voiced frustrations about certain American spectators at this week’s BMW Championship. The Scot led heading into the final round at 16-under, four ahead of Scheffler.
When pressed on whether a heckler at the 14th had unsettled him, he replied: “Yeah, he was just jeering. He was just shouting I missed it, he’s pushed it. Pushed it right in the middle of the hole, I guess.”
MacIntyre added that the taunting began almost immediately: “I mean, it started on the first tee. It probably started when I walked down to the range.
McIlroy had a vehement crowd behind him in Portrush(Image: Oisin Keniry/R&A/R&A via Getty Images)
“It ain’t bothering me. It’s there. As long as they don’t do it within… if they do it outside the shot, it’s fair game, but don’t do it within the shot that’s going to affect myself or Scottie.”
When asked if such comments motivated him, he responded: “100 percent. It can go two ways. But look, I grew up all my days amateur golf being the one on the outside looking in, faced not fitting, really fighting for it.
“What we say in the team, it’s not the size of the dog in the fight, it’s the size of the fight in the dog, and I grew up fighting to be in this position.”
