Fan altercations at PGA Tour events have made headlines recently after Rickie Fowler reacted to a spectator during the third round of the Cognizant Classic.
Fowler hit back at a fan after he missed a putt on the 16th hole at PGA National. The incident involving the six-time Tour winner isn’t the first spectator issue to happen in 2025.
Rory McIlroy was left seething at the Genesis Invitational after a fan criticised his caddie, Harry Diamond. Maverick McNealy, who finished runner-up at Torrey Pines, also faced some unjust spectator comments.
Dan Rapaport hits out at ‘gross’ comments aimed at Maverick McNealy
During the Signature Event, McNealy was the subject of ‘daddy’s money’ chants from fans. McNealy’s father, Scott, is the founder of a tech company, Sun Microsystems. The business was bought in 2010 by Oracle for $7.4 billion.
As a result, some onlookers at Torrey Pines thought it was necessary to remind the 29-year-old of his privileged upbringing.
Journalist Dan Rapaport, who covers pretty much every single PGA Tour event, was less than impressed.
During a brief chat with McNealy, Rapaport highlighted the noises he’d heard. “There were quite a few people chanting daddy’s money at you which was gross,” he said.
“I thought it was disgusting; you can’t blame a guy for, like, where he’s born. That’s not something that you chose.”
Maverick McNealy reacts to spectator chants at the Genesis Invitational
During the same chat with Rapaport, McNealy responded to what he’d heard at Torrey Pines.
“My parents told us growing up that we had a lot of opportunities and that we had wonderful opportunities,” the American said.
“But, my parents said you’re going to have to be nicer, treat people better, work harder, and you know all of that because there will be some people who want to play that card and say you are where you are because of the opportunities you were given and your background growing up, which I am unbelievably grateful for.”
McNealy continued: “That’s also part of the reason I gravitated towards professional golf. It didn’t bother me because I like to think if you take the time to get to know me, you know that’s not me.”
The 29-year-old hasn’t played since finishing second at Torrey Pines. McNealy still sits seventh in the FedEx Cup standings and has earned over $3m in prize money already in 2025.
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