Did Justin Thomas Do Right Apologizing For Throwing Out Gallery Member?
Famous Tour player, Justin Thomas felt compelled to apologize yesterday after his demand for an unruly fan to be thrown out at the Honda Classic. However, in this era of the thin-skinned public, anonymous social media rants, and immediate judgement without bothering to investigate the facts, did Thomas do right apologizing in your opinion?
Golf is in a confusing position these days. As a niche sport, we want more attention via additional viewers and headlines to pump up the game for the casual sports follower.
With a healthy Tiger Woods back, the added exposure is definitely in place. Yet, casual fans comfortable screaming whatever at team events are thrust into learning how to behave in the polite climate watching golf.
What to do?
Thomas addresses the incident and apologizes on Twitter.
Getting a lot of comments on the fan incident yesterday.. sorry to any and all offended by it. There was more said as we walked to the tee wishing bad things on the course for myself or Luke. Then the get in the bunker comment over and over again I felt…
— Justin Thomas (@JustinThomas34) February 26, 2018
…it was very understandable to have him escorted out. I never want to lose fans, or have people root against me. I just didn’t see a place for that particular person to be yelling at us things that weren’t necessary over and over again. I over reacted…
— Justin Thomas (@JustinThomas34) February 26, 2018
..and should not have had him kicked out. I feel bad for it, but was more doing so because again I felt the stuff he was saying was completely unnecessary. I love all my fans and to hear that I’ve lost quite a few bc of that, isn’t fun. So I’m sorry to all!
— Justin Thomas (@JustinThomas34) February 26, 2018
The Pro Player let out a F-bomb after sinking the winning putt. One that CBS curiously believed was worthy to replay three times.
“I didn’t know that was obviously going to be on TV or I wouldn’t have said it. I’m sorry. Please don’t fine me very much, PGA,” Thomas said.
“It just was an emotional win and I was happy to get it done,” he continued. “What I said, it obviously wasn’t out of frustration or anything. I did not know that was on TV, so I apologize to anybody that heard it, or everybody that heard it.”
It would be fantastic if fans at every Tour event could display the same decorum as at The Masters where patrons fear getting tossed for any number of quirky reasons including running on the grounds. The allure grabbing–and losing–the toughest ticket in sports is a constant reminder to mind your behavior or permanently lose the privileges. The various garden variety Tour stops don’t possess the cache to inflict the same punishment.
For Thomas and other Tour members, its a precarious balancing act when under the heat of the moment. You’re trying to win while some obliviot openly hopes your shot lands in water, bunkers or outside the ropes. Tiger (and other players) use the caddie/body guard technique to address crappy fan behavior. In 20/20 hindsight, Thomas should’ve used caddie Jimmy Johnson to perform gallery confrontation.
Ultimately, the players need to remove the rabbit ears and gallery marshals need to police the morons better. Outside of enduring shouts while hitting a shot, players should pretend they’re a collective team and simply ignore the jerks. Sane gallery members should point out the offenders as well.
Bad behavior is never welcome. Intelligently dealing with it is yet another challenge for a sport comfortable in polite surroundings while attempting to increase fan involvement. Increasing the sports’ popularity is terrific. Adjusting to new fans entering the game will take prudent measures as well.
