Language!!!

Masters 2024: Mics catch Zach Johnson yelling 'F--- OFF'; former champ says it wasn't directed at patrons

By Christopher Powers

April 12, 2024

AUGUSTA, Ga. — Earlier this year, former U.S. Ryder Cup captain Zach Johnson got into it with fans at the Waste Management Phoenix Open. That situation, and a number of others that occurred at TPC Scottsdale that week, led to much debate over if the WMPO atmosphere had officially gone too far. One couldn't help but escape the thought of "stuff like this would NEVER happen at Augusta National."

Or would it?

No, no one in the crowd at the 2024 Masters heckled the 2007 Masters champion, per se. But there was what sounded like a semi-sarcastic cheer back at the 12th tee on Friday when Johnson holed out for a triple-bogey 6. The type of cheer that implies the patrons are saying "finally, he's done."

Johnson did not appear to appreciate that, the Amen Corner feed on Masters.com picking him up looking back toward the tee and saying "F--- OFF" in the direction of the patrons.

Boy, that is one bold, bold move. It's one thing to drop a few F-bombs in anger toward yourself, a la Jon Rahm. It's another thing entirely to direct an F-bomb TOWARD the Augusta National patrons. Seems like something you can only get away with if you own a green jacket, which Johnson does.

UPDATE: Johnson was asked about the comment after his round Friday and he denied that the outburst was in reaction to the patrons. Here's the transcript from his interview:

ZACH JOHNSON: What are they saying that I did or said?

Q: It's been reported that you swore at some of the patrons.

ZACH JOHNSON: That I swore at the patrons? That's laughable. That's completely laughable. I can't hear the patrons, No. 1. No. 2, I just made a triple bogey on the 12th hole that evidently is going to make me miss the cut, which at the time I knew was pretty sensitive in the sense that I needed to keep making pars. If I've said anything, which I'm not going to deny, especially if it's on camera, one, I apologize, and two, it was fully directed towards myself entirely because I can't hear anything behind me. Does that make sense?"