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Phoenix Open fans boo and heckle Bubba Watson off the green

Clutch your pearls -- the Phoenix Open fans are hammering Bubba with insults and boos at the rowdy 16th hole.

Scott Halleran/Getty Images

Bubba Watson started his week at the Waste Management Phoenix Open by telling the press that he was “only there because of his sponsors.” That is probably a grenade you want to lob on your way out of town and not before you have to play two or four rounds in front of the rowdiest and most merciless crowd on the PGA Tour.

The crowd is in its wildest and most boozy state at the famous par-3 16th hole. So it comes as no surprise that Bubba has been crushed with boos and insults there in his first two trips. On Thursday, they booed him right through his tee shot -- those “Quiet Please!” signs the marshals hold up are useless here.

Bubba shut them up by draining a birdie putt there on Thursday, but the scene was much different on Friday. Bubba had a bad three-putt for bogey and the crowd cheered raucously while the PGA Tour Live stream clearly picked up a string of heckles like “You f**king loser!” and “Your biggest fan is embarrassed right now!”

How very improper and un-golf.

That was before 10 a.m. local time and Bubba, despite that bogey, is inside the top 10 currently and should easily make the cut. So it will only be worse on Saturday, when the crowd is at its largest when Bubba comes through with what will probably be a later afternoon tee time.

UPDATE: They booed Bubba pretty much non-stop when he was on the hole on Saturday.

A video posted by Nathan Pforr (@pforrdeck) on

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Golf’s Biggest Party: The Phoenix Open is more than just a tournament

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