BMW PGA leader Scott Hend almost punched 2 drunk fans on Sat.
Scott Hend is one round away from the biggest win of his professional career. He was also one more smart remark away on Saturday from potentially knocking out a few rowdy hecklers.
The Aussie carries a one-stroke lead into the final round of the European Tour’s BMW PGA Championship, shooting a third-round, 1-over 73 that ended with an eagle 3 on Wentworth Club’s finishing par 5. It was his second eagle there in as many days. He’s at 9-under 207.
It was a great way to finish considering the turmoil inside the ropes for Hend, which included ricocheting his ball off a tree with his second shot and nearly hitting himself in the latter third of the round.
It was also soothing considering the heckling he was getting from several fans, presumably fans of the British hero and Masters champion Danny Willett. Willett and Hend were paired together in Saturday’s final group.
“Danny was getting all the crowd support and I had no problem with that but there were a couple of guys out there who were really over the top and it wasn’t very nice what they were saying,” Hend said.
“It was quite rude and personal and if it was up to me I would have had them thrown out.”
Before talking to the hecklers as he left the 14th hole, Hend gave Willett a heads up that something was about to potentially go down — namely, perhaps one of the spectators.
“I didn’t see any marshals around but when I mentioned to Danny I was going over to speak to them (the hecklers) he was just waiting for it all to kickoff,” Hend said.
“Danny was just waiting for me to punch one of the guys in the mouth. He had been hurling abuse at me before I hit my first putt at 14 and just wouldn’t shut up from there on.”
Ryan Ballengee is a Yahoo Sports contributor. Find him on Facebook and Twitter.
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