Waste Management Open faces fresh crowd scrutiny after Jack Doherty disruption

A sideline stunt involving influencer Jack Doherty has become the biggest off-course story at the Waste Management Open, after he was removed from the grounds at TPC Scottsdale and told he is barred from attending future PGA Tour events. The incident unfolded during live play and has reignited an annual debate around where the line sits between the tournament’s party reputation and the sport’s need for quiet, orderly competition.

As the tournament heads into its closing stages on Sunday, February 8, 2026, the PGA Tour is being watched for whether it formalizes the penalty, while local authorities review what happened and event organizers double down on crowd-control messaging.

What happened on the course

Video circulating online shows Doherty approaching spectators and offering cash to prompt an outburst during a player’s pre-shot routine. The disruption occurred as Canadian pro Mackenzie Hughes was preparing to hit, with a heckle shouted at the worst possible moment—right as silence is expected for concentration and safety.

Security moved quickly, and Doherty was escorted out of the tournament. Footage also shows an official informing him that he is excluded from PGA Tour events going forward. At this time, the tour has not released a detailed public statement specifying whether the ban is permanent, indefinite, or limited to certain venues.

What the “ban” does and doesn’t mean yet

Two things can be true at the same time: an on-site official can deliver an immediate removal order, and the tour can still be finalizing the exact scope and duration of a broader attendance ban.

What to watch for next is a formal clarification on three points:

• Duration: “Lifetime” versus “indefinite” can sound similar, but they are not identical in policy terms.

• Coverage: Whether the restriction applies only to PGA Tour tournaments, or also to affiliated events and venues.

• Enforcement: How the tour will implement it—credential controls, venue trespass warnings, or other measures.

Until those details are made public, language around a “lifetime ban” should be treated as widely repeated but not fully documented in an official memo that’s been shared publicly.

Why the Waste Management Open is uniquely vulnerable

The Waste Management Open—often called the “People’s Open”—markets a high-energy environment that differs sharply from the hush typical at most golf tournaments. The famed 16th hole “Coliseum” is built for noise and reaction, and the week is designed to feel like a festival as much as a sporting event.

That atmosphere is part of the brand, but it also creates fertile ground for behavior aimed at online virality and monetization. Unlike spontaneous crowd noise, a targeted attempt to interfere with a player mid-swing crosses into competitive integrity and safety. Golf’s risk profile matters here: distractions can cause mis-hits that endanger fans, marshals, and other players.

Organizers have dealt with fan behavior issues in prior editions, including arrests and ejections. This year, safety messaging has also included reminders about heat-related illness after at least one fan required medical transport during tournament week.

What this means for players and the tour

For players, the core concern isn’t discomfort—it’s competitive fairness. A single disrupted swing can change a scorecard and shift a leaderboard, especially in a tournament where margins are thin. Even when a player shrugs it off publicly, the tour has to treat intentional interference as an escalation, because copycats are the real threat.

For the tour, the Doherty episode is a stress test for how to manage influencer-era dynamics without diluting what makes certain tournaments distinctive. A heavy-handed approach could dampen the Waste Management Open’s signature energy; a permissive approach risks normalizing disruption as entertainment.

The likely near-term outcome is a tighter separation between “loud when appropriate” and “silent when required,” enforced with quicker removals and clearer consequences for those who intentionally breach that boundary.

What to watch next Sunday afternoon

The tournament itself still matters—and so does what happens off the ropes. In the next several hours, three developments are most likely to shape the story:

• A tour statement that defines the ban (duration, scope, and enforcement)

• A law enforcement update on whether any charges or formal trespass actions are pursued

• Tournament policy tweaks aimed at preventing paid heckling or staged disruptions

If the tour publishes more explicit conduct guidance tied to “intentional interference,” it could become a template for other high-attendance stops on the schedule.

Key takeaways

• Jack Doherty was removed from the Waste Management Open after a mid-shot disruption and told he’s barred from future PGA Tour events.

• The exact scope and duration of the ban are still unclear without a detailed public statement.

• The incident amplifies ongoing pressure on the tournament to balance its party identity with player safety and competitive integrity.

Sources consulted: Reuters; Associated Press; The Guardian; PGA Tour (event information and tournament materials)