PGA Tour issues lifetime event ban after streamer causes disruption at 2026 WM Phoenix Open
What happened at TPC Scottsdale
A social-media streamer, Jack Doherty, has been barred from attending PGA Tour events after an incident during the 2026 WM Phoenix Open at TPC Scottsdale in Arizona. The removal occurred during the tournament’s second round on Friday, February 6, 2026, when Doherty was seen attempting to prompt a spectator to disrupt play as Canadian professional Mackenzie Hughes was preparing to hit.
Video from the scene shows Doherty offering a spectator $100 to shout an insult during Hughes’ motion. The spectator complied, drawing an immediate response from on-course security and police. Doherty and the spectator were then escorted away from the playing area.
Player response and immediate enforcement
Hughes continued his round after tournament staff intervened. He later described the interruption as something that can occur amid the event’s high-energy environment and said security handled the situation quickly before he played his next shot.
A PGA Tour security representative is heard on video informing Doherty that he was being removed and would face consequences if he attempted to attend PGA Tour events in the future. Separately, police on site warned Doherty that returning would lead to arrest for trespassing.
How the WM Phoenix Open addresses disruptive conduct
The WM Phoenix Open, marketed as “The People’s Open,” is known for large crowds and a stadium-style atmosphere on select holes. Tournament policies also explicitly prohibit behavior that distracts players or disrupts competition. The event’s fan code of conduct states that disruptive behavior—including foul or abusive language, throwing objects, and attempts to disrupt play—can result in immediate ejection and potential criminal trespass.
Organizers also advise spectators to respect play and follow instructions from tournament staff, noting that noncompliance can lead to revocation of entry.
Why the incident matters for event operations
The episode highlights how tournament staff and law enforcement can escalate from removal to formal trespass measures when conduct is viewed as deliberate interference with competition. For professional golf—where silence and concentration are part of standard competitive conditions—actions aimed at disrupting a player during a swing or rehearsal can trigger swift enforcement under venue rules and local trespass authority.
Date and setting: Friday, February 6, 2026, during the second round at TPC Scottsdale.
Conduct at issue: Encouraging a spectator to shout an insult to distract a player during play.
Consequences: Ejection from the tournament grounds and a ban from PGA Tour events, with law-enforcement trespass warnings.
Tournament rules prohibit behavior that attempts to disrupt play and provide for ejection and potential criminal trespass.