A controversial livestreamer has been barred from attending PGA Tour events indefinitely after being removed from the Waste Management Phoenix Open, a person familiar with the matter told the Guardian, though the tour has declined to publicly confirm any specific disciplinary action.
Security and law enforcement removed Jack Doherty from the tournament grounds on Friday after he appeared to pay a spectator to shout during a player’s pre-shot routine, according to videos circulating online and accounts of the incident.
“The WM Phoenix Open is a bucket-list event with one of the most unique fan experiences in all of sport,” a PGA Tour spokesperson said. “The PGA Tour and the Thunderbirds are committed to protecting the integrity of the competition and providing an exceptional experience for all fans. Disruptive fan behavior will not be tolerated and anyone violating the Fan Code of Conduct is subject to immediate ejection.
“We appreciate the swift action of tournament security and local law enforcement to identify and address disruptive behavior.”
Doherty, a 22-year-old streamer known for filming confrontational public pranks, with titles including “I crashed into a cop car” and “I got banned from Disney”, has amassed an enormous online following through high-energy stunt and reaction livestreams, content that platform algorithms often amplify because it generates strong engagement through confrontation, shock and unpredictability.
He was removed from the tournament grounds after appearing to encourage a spectator to shout as the golfer Mackenzie Hughes addressed the ball from a fairway bunker in exchange for money, according to videos circulating on social media and accounts shared online. Security staff quickly moved in to identify those involved and remove them from the area.
Jack Doherty attends the Jake Paul v Anthony Joshua fight at Miami’s Kaseya Center in December. Photograph: Lauren Caulk/The Guardian
Some outlets and social media posts later claimed Doherty had been issued a lifetime ban from PGA Tour events. The tour has not publicly confirmed the scope or duration of any restriction.
Hughes later suggested the interruption had little lasting impact, saying security responded quickly and that while such moments are unwelcome, crowd behavior at the Phoenix Open has occasionally tested the boundaries of golf’s traditional etiquette.
Footage circulating online also appeared to show a tournament official informing Doherty that he would not be permitted to attend PGA Tour events for the foreseeable future.
The Waste Management Phoenix Open, staged annually at TPC Scottsdale and golf’s best-attended tournament by some distance, is widely considered one of the most raucous stops on the PGA Tour calendar. Much of that reputation is tied to the stadium-style 16th hole, where thousands of well-lubricated fans pack grandstands in an atmosphere closer to a football game than a traditional golf tournament.
The event has long marketed itself as the sport’s most fan-friendly tournament, with music, hospitality zones and festival-style crowds spread across the course. Organizers have tightened fan-management measures in recent years after previous editions saw spikes in crowd-related incidents, including in 2024 when gates were temporarily closed and alcohol sales briefly halted because of overcrowding.
The episode underscores a broader challenge facing professional sports leagues as venues balance open fan access with an era in which spectators can instantly broadcast and monetize interactions from inside events. While fan filming has long been common, some leagues have begun reviewing policies around livestreaming, harassment and behavior designed specifically to generate viral content.
The shift has surfaced elsewhere in professional sport, including recent incidents at WNBA games in which sex toys were thrown onto the court, prompting league warnings and security reviews.
It remains unclear whether any tournament-specific or tour-wide restrictions beyond the reported ban have been formally issued, or whether Doherty could attempt to attend future events in another capacity, such as through hospitality or third-party access.
The PGA Tour and tournament organizers have not indicated whether any additional guidance or security measures will be introduced following the incident. The general manager for the Waste Management Phoenix Open did not immediately respond to a request for comment from the Guardian.