Justin Thomas, affectionately known as JT, has always been a fan favorite, and there is no two ways about it. One such instance was seen when an 11-year-old boy, Tommy, got to experience playing with Thomas during a practice round at the 2023 3M Open. Thomas brought Tommy inside the ropes and even let him hit a shot with his own club, resulting in a beautiful 10-foot strike that earned applause from onlookers. “That was awesome!” someone exclaimed in the background. The golf community praised Tommy’s skills and Thomas’s generosity. But did you know the golfer can be harsh on his beloved fans when needed?

Speaking on the latest episode of Quiet Please, host Kira Dixon made a very unusual yet accurate point about Justin Thomas, saying, “I feel like Justin Thomas was literally born to be a golfer.” However, it was co-host Mel Reid who truly stole the show with her anecdote about Thomas’s attention to detail. Reid recalled a memorable encounter at a kids’ clinic where Thomas gave a young golfer a hard time for having dirty club grooves.

“You got to keep your clubs clean, man. If you’re not doing that, then you might as well not even show up out here,” Thomas reportedly said. This incident showcases Thomas’s dedication to the sport and his no-nonsense attitude. Reid noted that Thomas “fits the mold” of a golfer perfectly, and this incident only adds to his reputation as a true golfer’s golfer.

Well, that wasn’t the first time Thomas was seen being harsh with the fans. Justin Thomas had a fan removed from the Honda Classic after the fan repeatedly shouted for Thomas’s shots to land in water or a bunker on the back nine. “I feel like there’s no place for that,” Thomas said, emphasizing the importance of respect in golf. Despite Thomas’s ball landing safely in the fairway, the fan’s behavior was deemed unacceptable.

Thomas explained, “Just because you’re standing behind the ropes doesn’t mean that you can… I don’t care how much I dislike somebody, I’m never going to wish that kind of stuff upon them.” He added that he would have taken similar action if the fan had directed such behavior towards his competitor, Luke List. Well, it isn’t only Thomas who has taken some surprising measures against the unruly behavior of fans.

Rory McIlroy’s fan interaction at the Players Championship

Rory McIlroy left a fan shocked to their core at the Players Championship when he reacted strongly to heckling. During a Tuesday practice round, a fan shouted, “Just like 2011 at Augusta!” referencing McIlroy’s infamous collapse at the Masters. McIlroy grabbed the fan’s phone and walked away, leading to the fan’s removal from the course. This incident seemed to set the tone for the rest of the tournament, with security having a busy day removing hecklers.

McIlroy admitted that tuning out heckles can be a challenge, saying, “Yeah, absolutely… But I think when you’re in business mode you’re just trying to keep your head down and stay in your own little world for the most part.” His caddie, Harry Diamond, also played a role in maintaining order, calling security over to remove fans who made comments like “2011 Augusta, Rory!” The PGA Tour has a zero-tolerance policy for fan misconduct, and players or their caddies often take action when necessary. What are your thoughts on a golfer taking action against rowdy fans? Let us know in the comment section!