Five eco-warriors armed with flares stormed the green at the PGA Tour Travelers Championship, causing mayhem as Scottie Scheffler and Tom Kim were lining up their crucial putts.
The police leapt into action, tackling the protesters amidst chaotic scenes. With just a one-shot lead, Scheffler watched on nervously as the protesters dodged past security and charged towards the green, setting off green smoke just as he and Kim were about to putt.
Security personnel wrestled them to the ground amid the mayhem, with onlookers stunned.
As they were being cuffed, other protesters let off red smoke while being held down by cops. In a matter of minutes, the eco berks were in cuffs and marched off by security, amid a chorus of “USA!” chants and a smattering of boos from the crowd.
Thankfully, no golf balls or markers were disturbed by the protesters, so play resumed quickly with Scheffler and Kim returning to their game after the interruption. Scheffler could only nod and smile wryly as he watched the protesters being taken down just yards away
Next to him, a dumbstruck Kim could do nothing but shake his head in disbelief at the spectacle. After the initial shock, the pair figured out their next move, sharing a smile as they reached for their clubs, reports the Mirror.
Protesters were also spotted at TPC River Highlands, wearing shirts emblazoned with the slogan: “No golf on a dead planet.” They were met with a chorus of boos as police and security personnel escorted them off the course.
This marks the second disruption in as many days at the venue. On Saturday, play was halted due to unsafe weather conditions.
In a separate incident, two spectators were hospitalised after a lightning strike hit a nearby tree. A third individual, who was also close to the impact, declined medical attention.
At the time of the protest, Kim was trailing Scheffler by one stroke, standing at -21 while the world No. 1 was at -22. Despite the interruption, Kim managed to sink his putt, just feet away from a red mark left by the protestors.
The game proceeded to a playoff, which saw Scheffler clinch the win at TPC River Highlands. This victory marks his sixth PGA Tour win this year and the 12th of his career.
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