Protestors Storm 18th Green at Travelers Championship, Leaving Players Shaken

During the final round of the Travelers Championship, multiple protestors disrupted the finishing hole, waving cans of colored gas and chanting slogans related to climate change. This left golfers, including Akshay Bhatia, feeling scared and shaken.

Amidst the intense competition at the Travelers Championship, a bizarre and alarming incident occurred on Sunday as multiple protestors breached the 18th green, disrupting the crucial finishing hole.

Protestors Storm 18th Green at Travelers Championship, Leaving Players Shaken

Akshay Bhatia, a rising star in the PGA Tour, was among the golfers preparing to conclude their final round when the protestors sprinted onto the green, waving cans of colored gas. The chaos forced play to be halted.

"I was scared for my life," Bhatia told CBS Sports' Amanda Balionis. "I didn't really know what was happening. All of a sudden, four or five people come out running on the green. It's kinda weird, but thankfully cops were there and kept us safe. Just weird stuff."

Protestors Storm 18th Green at Travelers Championship, Leaving Players Shaken

Authorities quickly intervened, handcuffing the protestors and escorting them off the green. However, the incident left a lingering sense of unease among the golfers.

"I mean, I was in shock and my heart rate was high," Bhatia said. "It got low, and then once that kinda happened, I freaked out. I tried to go where everyone was. So, it was hard to do it. Just weird."

Protestors Storm 18th Green at Travelers Championship, Leaving Players Shaken

The protestors wore T-shirts emblazoned with the extinction symbol and the slogan "No golf on a dead planet," indicating their motivation to raise awareness about climate change.

Despite the disruption, Bhatia managed to compose himself and complete his round with a par putt, securing a fifth-place finish. However, he acknowledged that the incident had an impact on his performance.

"I could've been more aggressive in trying to pursue Scheffler and Kim, who were battling for the lead with each other," Bhatia said. "I put myself in great position to get my third PGA Tour win of my career after going 17-under through my first three rounds of the tournament. But I couldn't make that final move on Sunday, shooting just 1-under."

The incident has sparked a discussion about security measures at sporting events, with players expressing concerns about being targeted by protestors.

"It's a tough situation," Bhatia said. "You want to be able to play golf and not have to worry about something like this happening. But at the same time, people have a right to protest. I just hope that it doesn't happen again."

Following the incident, the PGA Tour released a statement condemning the protestors' actions and emphasizing the importance of player safety.

"The PGA Tour strongly condemns the actions of the protesters who disrupted play at the Travelers Championship today," the statement read. "We are grateful for the quick response of law enforcement and security personnel, and we are working with them to enhance our security measures to ensure the safety of our players, fans, and staff at all of our events."

The Travelers Championship ended with Scottie Scheffler defeating Tom Kim in a playoff to claim his fourth PGA Tour victory of the season. However, the incident involving the protestors will undoubtedly overshadow the tournament's outcome, raising questions about the intersection of sports and activism.