The final moments of the PGA Travelers Championship were halted by a group of climate change protesters on Sunday.
As World #1 Scottie Scheffler prepared to putt for the victory on the 18th hole at TPC River Highlands in Cromwell, CN, crazed attendees from the Extinction Rebellion environmentalist pressure group stormed the green.
Video footage shows the activists lighting smoke grenades and throwing colored powder without due regard to the significance of the moment. Scheffler, who has dominated the PGA Tour so far this season, was about to make a birdie putt before the demonstration took place – a shot he would miss to allow Tom Kim to force a playoff hole.
The activists were quickly tackled to the ground by security and law enforcement officers, with fan-filmed footage showing mass boos and anger from the moment play was disrupted.
Fortunately for Scheffler, he would go on to make par on the playoff hole and clinch his sixth PGA Tour victory in ten starts.
Much like those on the 18th hole, social media users were critical of Extinction Rebellion’s actions with some calling for them to be jailed.
Others praised the tackle on one of the demonstrators by security guards on the scene.
While there was some initial confusion as to whether it may have been a protest by fellow sports’ disrupters Just Stop Oil, one response called for an investigation into how these groups – which often secure high-price tickets for major events – have continued to fund their disruptive activities.
