Akshay Bhatia was terrified when climate protesters stormed the 18th green at The Travelers Championship.
He was in the final group with Tom Kim and Scottie Scheffler, ready to finish his game. Suddenly, Extinction Rebellion activists ran onto the putting surface at TPC River Highlands, throwing red and white powder everywhere.
The golfers quickly moved aside as police rushed in to arrest the protesters. Kim birdied the last hole to force a playoff with Scheffler, who eventually won. Bhatia finished with a par, securing a T5 result.
Afterward, Bhatia told CBS Sports’ Amanda Renner that he feared for his life during the incident. “I mean, I was scared for my life,” he said. “All of a sudden, four or five people come out running on the green.”
“Yeah, it was kind of weird,” he added. “But thankfully the cops were there and kept us safe because that’s just weird stuff.”
Akshay Bhatia reflects on his finish @TravelersChamp and the incident on the 72nd hole.
— Golf on CBS ⛳ (@GolfonCBS)
Protests Around The World:
Earlier that day in Amsterdam, Extinction Rebellion members delayed the KLM Open by blocking The International Golf Club’s entrance. Many wore t-shirts saying “No golf on a dead planet.” They clarified they weren’t against golf but wanted to raise awareness about climate issues.
Fans might think these protests are getting out of hand.
The group’s statement read: “On Sunday June 23… Extinction Rebellion activists interrupted play at Travelers Championship… highlighting the worldwide danger of climate breakdown.”
For Bhatia, this disruption caused unnecessary stress as he aimed to complete his round one-under par. Scheffler called it “a bit stressful” but praised law enforcement’s quick action.
When asked if he could calm down after such an event, Bhatia admitted it was tough: “I mean, I was in shock and my heart rate was high… It got low and then once that kind of happened I just freaked out.”
What do you think? Should protests like these be allowed during sports events?
