Golf influencer Paige Spiranac criticized Zach Johnson after the former US Ryder Cup captain was caught telling Masters fans to “fuck off” on Friday.
Johnson, who led the U.S. team at last year’s Ryder Cup in Rome, was having a tough second round at Augusta National.
He was struggling to save a double bogey on the 12th hole when he missed a putt from about 10 feet.
After walking up to his ball and hitting it from close range for triple bogey, a wave of applause erupted from the patrons gathered around the green.
Enraged by the gesture, he angrily shouted ‘fuck you’ and was clearly picked up by nearby microphones.
Paige Spiranac slammed Zach Johnson after he was caught angry telling fans to fuck off
The former Masters winner was furious after missing a putt that would have saved a double bogey
It compounded a miserable day for Johnson, who finished with seven overs in his first two rounds.
It compounded a miserable day for Johnson, who finished with three overs to take his total score to seven overs. It means he won’t make the cut this weekend.
Spiranac was not impressed with Johnson’s behavior and took to social media to attack him.
She wrote: ‘Augusta’s clients are incredibly supportive and mild-mannered.
“You can’t find a nicer environment to play golf. The fact that ZJ said this shows that it’s softer than baby poop.” What a bad look.
Speaking after his round, Johnson apologized and insisted he was actually cursing himself out of frustration.
Spiranac was not impressed with Johnson’s behavior and took to social media to attack him.
He said: ‘After my double bogey putt? Or after my triple putt… I guess it doesn’t really matter. I don’t understand the situation at all. What are they saying I did or said?
—That I cursed the clients? That’s ridiculous. That’s completely ridiculous. I can’t hear the customers, number one.
‘Number two, I just made a triple bogey on the 12th hole which is obviously going to make me miss the cut, which at that time I knew was quite sensitive in the sense that I needed to continue making pars.
‘If I said something, which I’m not going to deny, especially if it’s on camera, one, I apologize, and two, it was completely directed at myself because I can’t hear anything behind me. Does that make sense?’
Johnson coached the U.S. team at last year’s Ryder Cup in Rome, which it lost to Europe.
Johnson is a former Masters champion. He won the Green Jacket in 2007 after narrowly beating Tiger Woods and South African duo Retief Goosen and Rory Sabbatini.
The 48-year-old also won the Open in 2015 and has amassed 26 victories as a professional golfer.
Despite his success, this is not the first time Johnson has clashed with golf fans this season.
At the typically rowdy Waste Management Open in Phoenix in February, he was seen getting angry at a group for making too much noise.
While it is unclear why the American became so angry, he was filmed saying: “I’m sick of this.” Just shut up!’
Speaking after his round that day, Johnson said: “You’re hitting me in a very emotional spot right now, so if I said am I going to come back, I’d probably say no.” But at the same time I have no idea.