Scottie Scheffler opens up on viral Presidents Cup fan confrontation: ‘I was very frustrated’

American pro Scottie Scheffler doubled down on his scolding of a fan who shouted amid his International opponent Nico Echavarria’s backswing during Sunday singles at the Presidents Cup.

The World No. 1 — who paused play to tell the fan “there’s no place for that” — explained afterward that the fan’s behavior was a “big distraction” to the competition, which took place at the Medinah Country Club in Medinah, Ill., just outside of Chicago.

“There’s just no place for that. I was very frustrated,” Scheffler said after the U.S. beat the International team 17-13 to win the Presidents Cup. “It was honestly a big distraction. I think, for me, just because we compete and work so hard to put ourselves in these moments.

“When you have some fan who decides to insert himself into the tournament, you can say, I think, whatever you want to players, but I think there’s an amount of respect there. You should get about 30 seconds when you’re over the ball and hitting your shot or getting ready for your shot where fans are pretty silent.

“It just didn’t really sit well with me. He would never hit a shot as poorly as he hit, I think, off the 14th if there wasn’t a fan yelling in his swing. It was just very frustrating. I don’t really want to talk about it all that much. It was frustrating.”

Scottie Scheffler of the U.S. Team attends a press conference following Sunday’s Singles on day four of the Presidents Cup 2026 at Medinah Country Club in Medinah, Illinois, on September 27, 2026. Getty Images

Echavarria trailed by three through 13 holes against Scheffler when the Colombian teed off on the par-4 14th and a fan shouted out in his backswing.

“Go Scottie,” the fan could be heard shouting.

“There’s no place for that,” Scheffler said as he was walking toward the tee box. 

Nico Echavarria of Colombia and the International Team and Scottie Scheffler of the U.S. Team walk on the 16th green during Sunday’s Singles on day four of the Presidents Cup 2026 at Medinah Country Club in on Sept. 27, 2026. Getty Images

Scheffler conceded a 32-foot putt for par to Echavarria, which tied the hole.

Echavarria explained that he was heckled more than once on the course.

“It didn’t happen just once. It was a tough environment and it’s unfortunate that someway the crowds can affect performance like that,” he said.

The U.S. team poses with the trophy during the trophy ceremony following the Sunday’s Singles on day four of the Presidents Cup 2026 at Medinah Country Club on September 27, 2026 in Medinah, Illinois. Getty Images

“But we have the No.1 player in the world who is a class act and I wasn’t expecting for him to give me that putt for par and he did and we tied the hole.”

The Americans won their 11th straight Presidents Cup title against the Internationals.

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