Climate activists spray smoke, powder at PGA Tour’s Travelers Championship

Days after climate activists spray painted Taylor Swift’s private jets and Stonehenge to protest the use of fossil fuels, another group of protesters set out to get their message across. This time protesters chose to disrupt a golf tournament.

“I was scared for my life,” golfer Akshay Bhatia said after finishing in a tie for fifth. “I didn’t even really know what was happening. But thankfully, the cops were there and kept us safe, because that’s, you know, that’s just weird stuff.”

Climate activists stormed the 18th green at the PGA Tour’s Traveler Championship in Connecticut on Sunday, June 23. The six protesters sprayed smoke and powder on the course — one of them wearing a shirt with the words: “No golf on a dead planet.” 

The interruption led to the finish being delayed for about five minutes. Officers with the Cromwell Police Department were able to tackle the protesters and take them into custody. 

The tournament then continued and No. 1 ranked golfer Scottie Scheffler won in a sudden death playoff for his sixth victory of the year.

The PGA Tour thanked the police for their prompt and effective response. Scheffler also commended the officers.

“From my point of view, they got it taken care of pretty dang fast, and so we were very grateful for that,” Scheffler said.