The Travelers Championship has been just the birdie-binging palate cleanser golf fans needed after the grind for pars that was the U.S. Open. Alas, just when world No. 1 Scottie Scheffler and hotshot young gun Tom Kim were walking the final fairway, with Kim in close and a chance to force a playoff, protestors decided to spoil the fun.
Whatever issue this gaggle of idiots were railing against, could it not have waited until Kim putted out? Apparently not.
Here is the scene of the protestors rushing the green at the Travelers Championship right before Scottie Scheffler takes his potential winning putt. Wild scene pic.twitter.com/CWm4fwgKrH
— Fairway Updates (@fairwayupdates) June 23, 2024
Protestors storm the course at the PGA, demanding faster pace of play.
Crowd responds with chants of “asshole” and “USA”. pic.twitter.com/55zHACL5BY
— Jeff Macke (@JeffMacke) June 23, 2024
That one dude got absolutely decked. You could still see some red dye from the smoke bomb set off right near the hole. Thanks to how swiftly the on-site lawmen responded, though, the yellow one near the greenside bunker didn’t have a chance to fully go off.
The protestors, who appeared to be with climate group Just Stop Oil, were quickly escorted out in handcuffs, but not without a fight.
Didn’t see that coming. Protesters tried to make a mess of the 18th hole at the @TravelersChamp. Cromwell, Connecticut police stopped them as the crowd cheered “USA, USA, USA” pic.twitter.com/GJKKgBPMoF
— David Dusek (@Golfweek_Dusek) June 23, 2024
Like a boss, the 22-year-old Kim — already a three-time winner on the PGA Tour — canned his uphill putt from about 10 feet away to make Scheffler work overtime if he’s going to rack up yet another win.
ICE IN HIS VEINS. 🥶💥
Tom Kim forces a PLAYOFF at the @TravelersChamp!
📺: CBS pic.twitter.com/pca6mJTtuA
— Golf Channel (@GolfChannel) June 23, 2024
Scheffler’s birdie putt was only about a revolution short, which would’ve given him the Travelers Championship title. Hell of a shot Kim hit into the final green, too.
Tom Kim just INCHES away from a walk-off eagle! 😨🎯
📺: CBS pic.twitter.com/kIlSdG45kN
— Golf Channel (@GolfChannel) June 23, 2024
Shooter McGavin has the only appropriate response to this whole distracting situation of the protestors.
When the protestors disrupt the finish of the Travelers Championship pic.twitter.com/30VRRl9ZSU
— Tom Downey (@WhatGoingDowney) June 23, 2024
What a job by Kim to not let the protestors faze him, stare down the beyond-reproach best golfer on the planet, and put up a 4-under 31 on the back nine to give Scottie all he can handle. Whether Kim goes on to win or not, he can hold his head high.
Even some of Scheffler’s peers like U.S. Open champ Matt Fitzpatrick are starting to wonder if it’s even worth teeing up when Scottie is in the field.
2024 signature event winners:
Sentry: Kirk
Pebble: Wyndham
Genesis: Hideki*Scottie switches to a mallet*
Bay Hill: Scottie
Players: Scottie
Heritage: Scottie
Wells Fargo: Rory (Scottie DNP)
Memorial: Scottie
Travelers: Scottie tied for the lead— No Laying Up (@NoLayingUp) June 23, 2024
We do we even bother 😭 😂 https://t.co/VBXsfAENUT
— Matt Fitzpatrick (@MattFitz94) June 23, 2024
Too bad Justin Ray doesn’t have a “distracted by protestors but goes on to win” specialty stat for us. This will have to do to properly contextualize Scottie’s dominance.
With a win today, Scottie Scheffler would be the first player to reach 6 wins in a PGA Tour season before July since Arnold Palmer in 1962.
— Justin Ray (@JustinRayGolf) June 23, 2024
Who’s more dominant? Scottie Scheffler on the PGA Tour in 2024, or the arresting officers/security force who took down the protestors? Comment below with your takes.
Didn’t see that coming. Protesters tried to make a mess of the 18th hole at the @TravelersChamp. Cromwell, Connecticut police stopped them as the crowd cheered “USA, USA, USA” pic.twitter.com/GJKKgBPMoF
— David Dusek (@Golfweek_Dusek) June 23, 2024
Update: The protestors forced the 18th pin placement to move for the playoff. Thanks, geniuses.
