Shocking moment PGA Tour staffer accidentally drops a chair during player’s backswing… and he goes on to lose $1.7m playoff
In what was setting up to be an intense playoff at the WM Phoenix Open, a mishap from a security guard there to protect the players ended up costing one of them millions of dollars.
Former Masters champion Hideki Matsuyama finished his final round at TPC Scottsdale tied with American Chris Gotterup after a chaotic final round.
As Matsuyama held off the likes of Michael Thorbjornsen and Scottie Scheffler, he struggled with his driver as Gotterup birdied five of his final six holes to force a playoff.
On the 19th hole played that day (a replay of No. 18), Matsuyama pulled driver to attempt his tee shot over water.
But just as he started his backswing, a loud metallic clang rang out near the tee box. Matsuyama managed to stop his swing just in time, but it caused onlookers to whip their heads around to see what happened.
It turns out, a security guard stationed by the hole dropped a chair right at the top of Matsuyama’s swing.
Hideki Matsuyama needed to bail out of his tee shot in the playoff hole at the Phoenix Open after a security guard standing by the 18th tee dropped a chair as he was mid-swing
Matsuyama managed to stop his shot in time as he and his caddie turned around to investigate the noise. The crowd also turned to look and began jeering the offending party.
Matsuyama’s second attempt at the shot crashed into the water and he lost the tournament
Chris Gotterup won the tournament – his fourth PGA Tour win – and a $1.7m prize
Matsuyama and his caddie turned in the direction of the noise – as did the patrons, who all began jeering at the guard for their clumsiness.
It ended up having more of an effect on the Japanese golfer than he may have anticipated.
After composing himself and swinging again, Matsuyama pulled his tee shot to the left – careening off a pole and into the water.
Meanwhile, Gotterup remained flawless and sank a 27-foot birdie putt to win the tournament.
It’s the 26-year-old’s fourth PGA Tour victory and his second of the 2026 season after clinching the Sony Open in Hawaii in January.
Meanwhile, Matsuyama has gone a calendar year without a victory – having last won at The Sentry at Kapalua in January 2025.
It marks the Japanese star’s second defeat in a playoff, his first since falling to Abraham Ancer at the WGC-Fedex St Jude Invitational in 2021. He now moves to a 4-2 record in playoffs – including two wins at the 2016 and 2017 editions of the Phoenix Open.
