October 2014. Gleneagles, Scotland. Patrick Reed stood over a crucial putt on the 7th hole during his Ryder Cup singles match against Henrik Stenson. The European crowd was relentless, their cheers echoing across the Scottish Highlands every time the American faltered. But when Reed drained that putt, he didn’t just celebrate—he turned to the gallery, raised his finger to his lips, and delivered a defiant shush that would become one of golf’s most iconic gestures. Fast forward to 2025, and that same bold response has resurfaced, this time at a PGA Tour event far from the Ryder Cup’s heated atmosphere.

Garrick Higgo didn’t plan to channel Patrick Reed’s legacy at the Sanderson Farms Championship. But when a vocal spectator shouted “Take that, Higgo!” after Steven Fisk made a crucial putt during their final-round battle, the South African responded instinctively. His birdie on the 16th hole was followed by the same finger-to-lips gesture that Reed made famous a decade ago—a moment that had fans buzzing and Higgo scrambling to explain himself afterward.

The drama unfolded on hole 16 at the Country Club of Jackson. Fisk had just drained a remarkable 40-foot birdie putt. That’s when someone in the crowd decided to make it personal. The taunt cut through the Mississippi air like a knife.

Higgo heard it loud and clear. His response? A brilliant 12-foot birdie of his own—his fourth consecutive birdie on the back nine. Then came the gesture. He playfully put his finger against his lips with a smile, directly mirroring Reed’s famous 2014 Ryder Cup moment.

The South African was quick to clarify his intentions afterward. “I didn’t mean anything by it,” he explained to Golf Channel. “It was it was just fun. I mean, I didn’t mean anything by it. But it just came out.”

Higgo elaborated on the exchange with characteristic honesty. “When Steven made the pot, somebody in the crowd was like, ‘Take that, Higgo.’ Or something like that,” he recalled. The 26-year-old admitted he was expecting Fisk to make the putt anyway. “Growing up I was always taught to expect that the person was going to make the putt,” he said.

The moment revealed a side of Higgo fans rarely see. He’s generally not an animated player on the course. But this tournament meant something different for him. After battling a hip injury that nearly required surgery, Higgo had reworked his swing and training regimen to avoid going under the knife. His fighting spirit was on full display in Mississippi.

“I feel like my biggest asset is I fight really well,” Higgo said after the tournament. “My mindset was to try and birdie every hole coming in. And I feel like if I could do that and I didn’t win, then that would be fine.”

Patrick Reed’s Ryder Cup Shush Created Golf’s Most Polarizing Figure

Reed’s shush gesture fundamentally changed his public persona. The moment occurred when Stenson holed a 20-foot birdie putt, causing the Scottish crowd to erupt. Reed was left with a 10-footer to halve the hole.

When Reed’s putt dropped, he turned to the crowd and placed his right index finger to his lips. The reaction was immediate and intense. Rather than quieting the crowd, Reed was booed loudly. He had to scream to the small U.S. contingent: “Come on!”

U.S. Captain Tom Watson defended Reed’s passion. “I like this young man’s attitude, I like his fire,” Watson stated. This endorsement from the legendary captain helped legitimize Reed’s emotional approach.

Reed went on to win his singles match against Stenson 1-up. He finished the tournament with 3.5 points from four matches. The gesture earned him the nickname “Captain America” and established him as one of golf’s most polarizing figures.

While separated by over a decade, both moments represent pivotal points in golf’s evolving relationship with fan engagement. Reed’s gesture was born from genuine frustration and competitive fire. Higgo’s moment was more lighthearted, reflecting a younger generation’s comfort with crowd interaction.

The juxtaposition reveals how golf continues to wrestle with its identity. The sport maintains traditional values while embracing the passion that modern audiences crave. Both players demonstrated that sometimes the most memorable moments come not from perfect shots, but from raw human emotions.