On Sunday afternoon at the TPC River Highlands, the Travelers Championship’s final moments were unexpectedly interrupted when climate change protesters made their way onto the 18th green.
This unexpected incident caused a brief delay in the tournament’s climax but was swiftly managed, leaving behind only some paint on the green that was quickly cleaned up.
While the disruption provided an unexpected twist, it also gave the audience, both those in attendance and watching from home, a moment of unexpected humor amidst the tension of the competition’s final hole.
However, for Akshay Bhatia, who was in the midst of concluding his final round, the incident was more alarming than amusing. The young golfer, just 22 years old, was visibly shaken by the sudden appearance of the protesters.
Finishing the tournament in a four-way tie for fifth place at 18-under, Bhatia recounted his experience to CBS Sports’ Amanda Balionis, expressing the fear he felt as the events unfolded unexpectedly before him.
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“I mean, I was scared for my life. I didn’t even really know what was happening,” Bhatia explained. “All of a sudden, four or five people come out running on the green…Just weird stuff. I was in shock and my heart rate was high. It got low and then once that kind of happened I was just freaked out, I just tried get over where everyone was. It’s hard to do it. I think it was just weird.”
Despite the initial scare and the interruption, the tournament resumed shortly thereafter.
In the wake of the disturbance, Tom Kim delivered a crucial birdie putt to tie with Scottie Scheffler, leading to a playoff.
The playoff was a tense affair, culminating in Scheffler securing victory with a par on the playoff hole, while Kim settled for a bogey. This win marked Scheffler’s sixth victory on the PGA Tour in the year alone, underscoring his remarkable form throughout the season.
The incident, while briefly unsettling, became a testament to the players’ professionalism and focus, as they quickly regrouped to complete the tournament.
It also sparked discussions about the security measures at sporting events, highlighting the need for balance between open access for fans and the safety of the participants.
