Zach Johnson has gone on an emotional rant about the WM Phoenix Open at TPC Scottsdale following an interview with local Arizona reporter Theo Mackie.
“I’m done with everything” Zach Johnson is unsure he will ever return to the WM Phoenix Open following last week’s scenes on the PGA Tour.
Johnson, 47, was seen on camera becoming agitated when he was teased about the 2023 Ryder Cup by a few PGA Tour fans.
The two-time major champion finished T60 on 3-under par after shooting three rounds of 70.
After the match, Johnson told Az Central’s Mackie that he might not play in the Phoenix Open again.
After competing on the PGA Tour for 21 years, the 12-time winner revealed that the tournament has been “inappropriate and crossed the line.”
Not only did Johnson receive open criticism from American golf fans behind the ropes during the WM Phoenix Open last week, but it was also reported a lady got injured on the Stadium Hole par-3 16th and a fight broke out between spectators.
A number of other viral videos from the Phoenix Open were doing the rounds on social media over the weekend, which you can watch here.
Elsewhere, Billy Horschel unloaded on a golf fan who was speaking out while his playing partner was hitting a shot.
Ben An tweeted the Phoenix Open had got “out of control” by Saturday afternoon.
In Johnson’s latest interview, which you can read in full below, he asked his own questions to Mackie and then said how the reporter had caught him at an emotional time having played 54 holes in two days.
Johnson concluded the interview by saying: “I’m done with everything”.
Here’s how the interview played out between Johnson and Mackie:
Mackie: Obviously we saw your interaction with the fans there. Just wondering if you felt like — obviously this tournament embraces the fun, but if you felt like it crossed a line a little bit this week?
Johnson: If it crossed the line this week? What’s the line? I’m asking you a question…
Mackie: That’s for you to set it. Did you feel like things were over the top in a way that was inappropriate over the course of the week, especially on Friday and Saturday?
Johnson: This tournament has been inappropriate and crossed the line since I’ve been on Tour and this is my 21st year.
Mackie: At some point was that a good thing? Or has it never been your cup of tea?
Johnson: Bottom line is I don’t have to play if I don’t want to but I keep coming back.
Mackie: Why do you keep coming back?
Johnson: I don’t dislike the golf course. I like the greens. I try to avoid playing on the west coast and these are overseeded Bermuda so that’s usually how I base my schedule. Usually it’s bouncy so I can get loft to my hands. But it was wet this week, so typically, I base it on the golf course.
Mackie: But if it were up to you, the crowds and the insanity would be reined in, not just this year but every year?
Johnson: I’ll answer it by saying, we have a choice to play here or not play here. So — who do you work for?
Mackie: The newspaper here. I’m just trying to get a feel for how guys are feeling about the event after yesterday…
Johnson: There comes a time when — I’m not sure when the line is — people start falling from the rafters and fights start happening in the stands. Now that it’s at this stage, how do you bring it under control? due to the fact that it has become autonomous. The Thunderbirds should definitely take action, in my opinion. They must be embarrassed. Because something bad will eventually happen to someone, either severely or even worse. A woman is about to fall twenty feet.
Mackie: Do you expect to be back next year?
Johnson: Well I’m almost 48, and I don’t know. I don’t have any idea of I’m going to come back or not. That’s a team decision, wife decision. You’re hitting me at a very emotional time right now so if I were to say if I’m going to come back, I’d probably say no. But at the same time, I have no idea.
Mackie: Why do you say it’s an emotional point?
Johnson: Because I just played 54 holes in two days and I’m beat, and extremely — I’m done. I’m done with it.
Mackie: With this?
Johnson: I’m done with everything.
What do you make of Johnson’s latest comments about the WM Phoenix Open?